Training "stay" command

[reba]

We are searching for basic obedience classes for the pups. After 8 years of nothing within a 2 hr drive, a new training center has opened up just 10 minutes from us!!! Hubby and I went to observe the trainer last night. Trainer seemed knowledgeable, has obedience titles on her dogs, rescue work with GSD's, had control of the class etc. Last night was the third week of an 8 week basic class. The dogs have been working on sits, downs. Last night the trainer started them working on the stay command, meaning first you tell your dog "rover, sit (or down or stand)", wait until they are doing either the sit or down....then you place your hand in front of their nose and say "rover, stay". the other dogs I have trained we did not teach 'stay'....the reasoning is if I give the sit command, it is understood that I want them to remain in that position until I give them the release word --mine is "Free" or another command such as "here" for a recall.
In my opinion the "stay" command is not necessary.

What has been your experience with this situation?

[damp]

I have never used the stay command either and I too find it unnecessary, besides it is considered a double command in some training programs e. g. Schutzhund.

I find it much more important to teach a release command.

[RottiMomCT]

I use the "STAY" command when I want the dog to stay where I put him, no matter what I do, and remain there until I return.

I use the "WAIT" command if I am doing a recall exercise, and will call the dog to come to me.

He knows the difference. I know that if I do not tell him to either STAY or WAIT, he'll move. My bad, not his...

IMO - WAIT is for when you call the dog TO you - STAY is fr when YOU are going to come back to the dog...

[joquendo]

The STAY command is very important in obedience. When I tell my dogs to Stay, they cannot move from that spot until I give them the release command - mine is "OK".... then they are free to move around or do what ever they want.

Now the Wait command - is used as a command letting my dogs know that I want them to stay here for a short period of time ... I know that it will only be for maybe 30 seconds or so I use wait when I am going out the front door, and I put my dogs in a "sit" I tell them to wait... the wait is until I open the door and allowing me to walk through the door then I tell them come... or if I am giving out treats, I give them the "sit" command and wait, meaning they should be patient until I get around to giving each one a treat.. without them jumping around.. my dogs do know the difference. It is important that you use the right word so as not to confuse the dog during obedience.

I hope that made sense;)

[Judi W]

This is dependent upon the venue in which you are planning on competing. If something helps the performance and is without fault in that venue - use it. If not, don't. In AKC, using the stay command is not faulted or considered a double command. In ScH it is. In the reverse, in ScH, a handler can give a fetch command after the dog has gone over a jump and it is not faulted. In AKC that would earn you a big zero and a flunk not just for the exercise, but for the whole thing. In ScH a dog can fail to go over the jump and still receive a passing score. Not so in AKC.

So, use whatever tools and/or commands that are permitted and help improve the performance for the venue you are going to be competing in. If I were not doing AKC and only ScH, I would take advantage of the extra fetch command allowed on the retrieve over the jump. Why not???? If I am doing AKC and not ScH, I'll take advantage of the allowed "stay" command .

[damp]

Originally posted by joquendo
When I tell my dogs to Stay, they cannot move from that spot until I give them the release command - mine is "OK".... then they are free to move around or do what ever they want.

When I give my dog a command… sit, stay or stand… he can’t (read: is not allowed ;) ) to move until I give another command or the release command.


I believe it’s all in the learning!!!

[LORHEL]

I use stay alot also, especially when Makita gets the idea its time to go kitty chasing also.... I also make her wait at each corner, as I look for traffic... she knows to stop and then I say in my animated voice "ok" once the coast is clear...

I think stay is important, depending on your situations. :)

[reba]

that the concept of staying put is not important. It definately is. I was just questioning the logic of a 'stay' command. Are there times that you ask your dog to sit or down or stand that you DON'T want them to remain as is until further notice??? I just can't think of an instance where it would be beneficial to NOT hold their position.

I do teach 'stay'..... I just call it "sit" or "down" or "stand"

Whatever command I give them, they are to remain until released or asked to do something else. I know that when I say "sit" they will not move or lay down. I know that when I say "down" they will not move or sit or stand. I don't :) need :) to say an extra word.

I would think with the "wait" command they would learn to anticipate the recall and break early? Not sure if this is what happens, I never say anything more than sit or stand or down. When I train the recall I mix it up and not always tell them 'here', sometimes I ask them to down, if they are down I may ask for a sit or a stand, that way they learn to wait for the command and not anticipate.

Thanks for all the feedback. I was really curious what others do in this instance.

[Judi W]

I don't see what the problem is. As long as you are teaching your dog to maintain its place, I don't know of any instructors that would take exception to your not using the command. This is a non-problem.