Like other posters I also use a release signal with all my commands. Therefore until the command is released the dog is expected to hold the command. Our release is 'okay' with a chin touch. This is good practice when training commands because it consistently lets the dog know when the command is finished. Without the release it is arbitrary to them whether or not the sit is done after the but touches the ground or two minutes later. So a 10 minute down is a down, not a down stay for us. That said we do use the stay command to have our dogs freeze in a command. The biggest difference in the stay is that a lot more formal. In a down if my dog shifts weight, lays on the side that is okay; in a stay I expect them to not move anything but their head.
I agree with the others that I wouldn't use the stay as a general practice to handle high level distractions with your dog. It is better to keep them moving and also to use an alternate command (such as leave it) to indicate that hey, I want you paying attention to me, not to x, y, z. However, there are times when it is helpful for a dog to be in a stay even with the highest level of distractions, so I also practice it occassionally and think it is one of many valuable commands. I think your biggest hangup based on the OP, is that you are increasing the difficulty much to fast, which is why you are only having the problem at this point:
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Like I said my biggest issue with the stay was when the dog enter this radius he deemed play time close enough.
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To expect your dog to perform during class where all the dogs are focused and settled vs. the free for all post class are greatly different in difficulty. That is likely why your dog is failing; you have had success in lower level distractions but you expect the same results in high level distractions. Once your dog knows any command you
gradually up the difficultly over time and move back a step or two if your dog isn't having success with the increased difficulty.
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Maybe I am not working them long enough for him. What are good times to start with to work on a long stay?
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Your dog is only 12 mo, so I don't think that not practicing enough is the problem; training takes time.