Dog Training in Denver: To Learn “Stay” Command

Teaching Your Dog to Stay: Understanding the Implied Command for Dogs

Helping your dog understand a stay command is a fundamental part of the training process. In fact, your dog should “stay” following any command. From “come” to “sit” or “heal,” your dog should hold their place until released. This is where the “implied stay” comes into play. If you are just getting started check out our article for getting off on the right foot with your puppy.

Dog Training and Puppy Training: Why Teaching Commands Like “Stay” Is So Important

Dog training is more than working towards specialized training like therapy dog training or service dog training. A responsible dog owner who teaches commands (either in-home training or with the help of training programs) is creating a safe and enjoyable environment that will be beneficial for the entirety of the dog’s life. A canine companion with basic obedience training, and understanding basic commands, is more likely to be a well-behaved dog and will display less dangerous behaviors like running into the street or being aggressive towards other dogs. During your training sessions, your dog trainers should encourage you to teach commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” so you can manage your dog’s behavior effectively. A dog owner who remains consistent with puppy training through dog training will have a well-trained dog that is calm and obedient. Your furry friend is also less likely to suffer from stress and anxiety.

Basic obedience and commands lay the foundation for more complex training (like service dog training!). Dog training programs and in-home training sessions are the building blocks for understanding and communication between you and your dog. Work on simple commands during puppy training sessions or with your young dog. A more mature or older dog can begin learning more challenging obedience training and commands.

Basic commands lay the foundation for more complex training. They are the building blocks for understanding and communication between you and your dog. By starting with simple commands, you can gradually introduce more challenging tasks. This helps to keep your dog mentally stimulated. They are more likely to be engaged and responsive.

Why Is The “Stay” Command So Important?

Whether you have a regular pet dog learning basic obedience, high-level obedience, sports, or protection dogs, or are interested in therapy dog training or service dog training, a “stay” command is crucial and, if often, one of the first things your canine companion needs to master. A good professional dog trainer will help dog owners learn the training techniques necessary to help successfully train their dog and teach the “stay” command. You can use these dog training skills both at training sessions and in-home training.

But why is it so important for a dog’s behavior to have a good “stay” command? Dog owners and professional dog trainers agree there will be many instances during your dog’s life where they need a good or even an emergency stay. Training dogs is not only about basic obedience and specialized training but also about the unknown. A well-trained dog with a solid stay with listen to their owner despite distractions like other dogs, cars, wild animals, or strangers.

You would be surprised how fast an older dog can learn in just a few sessions or how much a new furry friend can learn about “stay” with good puppy training.

At Sit Means Sit, we take dog training seriously and our professional dog trainers are ready to help you find the perfect training program and training techniques so you can have the best-behaved dog with a perfect “stay” behavior.

While a professional trainer can help teach a “stay” command (think rally obedience training or fancy heal work) all dogs should have a default stay, or as our Sit Means Sit dog trainers call it, an “implied stay.” Your dog’s behavior should have an implied stay for whatever behavior you ask of them, whether a sit, down, or even relaxing while you talk to a friend. Let’s take a look.

“Stay,” “Wait,” and “Place”: What Is The Difference?

New dog owners embarking on their dog training journey will probably see “stay,” “wait,” and “place” frequently used by dog trainers. These common commands may seem similar, but each is used to cue a different behavior.

“Stay” instructs a dog to stay in a certain position until their owner tells them they are released. The “wait” command seems similar, but rather than staying in a certain position, “wait” directs a dog to pause their current actions. “Wait” teaches patience and impulse control, like making them “wait” before eating. Finally, “place” commands your dog to go to a specific area (like a crate or bed) and remain until you give permission to leave.

Prepare For Your Dog Training Program

Having the correct tools makes such a big difference when preparing for training sessions with your puppy or dog! Dog trainers recommend having a good collar, a long leash, and your dog’s favorite treats. Your pup should also have mastered basic commands like “sit” or “lie down.”

A conducive environment helps keep your dog stress-free and prevents them from getting distracted during training sessions.

The Implied Stay

At Sit Means Sit South Denver, we prefer to use the implied stay command. In order to do this we reward the completion of a command each time the dog completes it. We believe in allowing dogs to make mistakes and helping them understand why it is beneficial to hold the command. Once the dog begins to follow a command, we continue to repeat and reward the action.  The reasoning behind this is to teach the dog that it is to their advantage to hold a command until released, in order to receive a reward as quickly as possible.

The implied stay sets the stage for consistency throughout the training process. Rather than spending time commanding the dog to stay, the implied stay directs the dog to the hold position until told otherwise. While this does require extra time in the beginning, it eventually pays off tremendously. This eliminates the need to ask the dog to hold their position and provides more clarity for both the dog and the trainer.

It is important to note that if you choose to use a stay command, you must use consistency. Each time you want the dog to hold their position, past the completion of a command, you must clearly deliver the stay command. Here at Sit Means Sit South Denver, we work with dogs and owners to train healthy, happy dogs of all ages. By taking the proper steps in the training process you can ensure the happiness and contentment of both parties. If you are currently training a pup, we encourage you to include the implied stay in your training efforts.

How Can A Professional Dog Trainer Help My Dog Learn “Stay”?

A dog trainer can help your dog learn the “stay” command by gradually increasing the duration of the stay, adding distractions, practicing in different environments, using positive reinforcement techniques like clicker training, and providing clear visual cues to guide your dog’s behavior while ensuring proper timing and consistency with the verbal command “stay”; they will also identify any underlying behavioral issues that might hinder learning and tailor the training approach accordingly.

What Are The Best Training Programs To Help My Dog Learn Commands?

Basic obedience classes, private training sessions with a professional dog trainer, online training courses, and even “board and train” programs where your dog stays with a trainer for intensive training sessions.

Micro-Training Sessions Will Help Teach Your Dog A Better Stay

Micro-training sessions are ideal for teaching a dog the “stay” command because they allow for focused, short bursts of practice that are easier for your dog to grasp, minimizing frustration and maximizing their ability to learn and retain the behavior, especially when they are still getting the concept of staying in place; this approach also helps prevent overstimulation and keeps your dog engaged throughout the training process.

In-Home Training for Dog Owners

To teach your dog to “stay” at home, start by having them sit or lie down, then give the verbal cue “stay” while simultaneously using a hand signal like a stop sign, followed by immediately rewarding them with a treat if they remain still; gradually increase the duration of the stay by adding a few seconds each time, and once comfortable, begin to slowly increase the distance between you and your dog while maintaining the “stay” command, ensuring to always reward positive behavior and practice in different environments with minimal distractions.

The Benefits of “Stay” for Dogs and Their Owners

• The “stay” command helps teach a dog self-control and keeps them from getting in trouble! Do they run outside every time they see an open door? “Stay” helps dogs with behavioral issues stay in a specific position instead.
• Staying on command does more than train a well-behaved dog. Consistent dog training improves the communication between you and your dog, strengthening your relationship.
• Dogs tend to love training because they enjoy the mental stimulation it provides. It helps build self-control, eases anxiety, and makes behavioral issues easy to fix. A well-trained dog is less likely to exhibit aggressive behavior and more likely to be calm and obedient.

Denver Dog Training

As providers of award-winning dog training services in Denver, we are committed to training happy, obedient dogs. If you are interested in learning more about our dog training services in the Denver area, we encourage you to contact us today! Learn more about our proven dog training methodology.

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