How to Teach “Stay”

Teaching a dog to “stay” is an important lesson to help keep your dog safe, teach focus and patience, develop manners, set boundaries, and it serves as a foundational cue for other training activities.  

Remember to keep training sessions short and stop the session before the dog starts to lose interest. We want to set the dog up for success in every stage. The dog should already know the verbal cue “Sit.”

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• 6’ leash
• Secure room (low-distraction area to begin)
• Treat pouch, or bag of bite-sized treats
• High-value treats  
• Clicker (optional)

Step 1: Introducing a “Release” Cue

1. Start by asking the dog to “Sit.” Immediately mark the behaviour with a click or “Yes” and reward.
2. Mark and reward again, quickly following the first reward.
3. Stop feeding and remain still. Give the verbal cue “Release” and wait for the dog to move.
4. When the dog gets up, pet, praise, and reward them with treats.
5. Repeat several times until the dog is consistently responding to the release verbal cue.

Step 2: Increasing Duration

1. Ask the dog to “Sit.”
2. Immediately mark the behaviour with a click or “Yes” and then reward.
3. Wait 3 to 5 seconds with the dog sitting, then mark the behaviour with click or “Yes” and reward.
4. Say the release cue “Release” and then reward. Next, try the steps again.
5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 several times, slowly increasing the time the dog is sitting before giving the mark and reward.
6. Continue to increase the time until the dog sits for 15 to 20 seconds.
7. Once the dog is consistently sitting for 15 to 20 seconds, add the “Stay” cue.
8. Ask the dog to “Sit” and then say “Stay,” marking the behaviour with a click or “Yes” and reward.

Step 3: Increasing Distance

1. Once the dog is reliably sitting for 15 to 20 seconds, start to add distance with the stay.
2. Ask the dog to “Sit” and “Stay” and then take 1 to 2 steps back away from the dog. If the dog tries to get up, try moving yourself to the side.
3. As you step away, mark the behaviour with a click or “Yes” and then step back towards the dog and reward.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 several times, slowly increasing the steps taken away from the dog.
5. If the dog doesn’t hold the sit as you move away, decrease the distance taken and continue to work on reinforcing at the level at which the dog is successfully staying.

When the dog is reliably staying, try to increase the difficulty by increasing stay duration and distance while adding distractions. Always set the dog up for success by being patient and taking time at each step before moving onto the next stage.

If you need assistance, contact a professional trainer or behaviour consultant.