[poohbearsmom]

Personally, I don't use a "Stay" command, nor do I teach it in my puppy class.

Instead, I build upon a given behavior, and I teach a release word, "free", for instance. The dog then learns to sit (or down or stand) in a stationary position until either released with the magic word, or is asked to perform another behavior (come, down, sit, stand) and so on.

The dog would be rewarded for holding it for a few seconds with a release and a reward. To maintain the position longer, rewarding during the behavior is good as well, which reinforces maintaining the position. The timing of the human is crucial for rewards, releases, etc...

Time is built over time and consistent handling. The dog is encouraged to succeed, and corrections are mild and more of a guidance until the dog really understands what I want. Use of negative punishment (witholding the reward) and asking for a behavior again if the dog fails is better than corrections in the teaching phase. Dog must be put back to the place where I asked for the behavior if he breaks the behavior; since dogs are VERY spacially aware, this tells the dog "I mean for you to sit exactly where I asked you to sit and I meant it".

As with any behavior, distractions are brought in gradually, and environments are added as the dog is succeeding. Distractions like other dogs on walks call for a nice "leave it" command, along with a "watch me" command for eye contact, both of which can be taught quickly, and reinforced by building these distractions and adding environments. Start in the living room or back yard, and up the ante as you can gain and keep your dog's attention. It is best to catch the dog BEFORE he's revved up, and gain his attention. As you have found, once his motor's running, you don't stand a chance in gaining his attention easily. These "rules" (listen to me, and don't worry about that silly dog) are best learned through consistent and timely handling of the dog, in controlled situations, where you can set up the scenario and practice without worrying about becoming front page news.

Whether I'm teaching a puppy, a green dog, or a dog who's been trained badly, I use this same technique. Lot's of animation, movement and happy happy joy joy are helpful in keeping the dog's attitude (and my attitude) and attention held.

It might help you a lot to seek a trainer affiliated with a working dog club. A lot of the time, they have a better understanding of how the dog's brain works in drive, and by this age, dogs are rewarded with toys, rather than food, which utilizes the dog's drives and teaches the dog that FUN comes from you when the dog does what you want.

Hope this helps.