TEACHING THE" STAY" COMMAND

[PATRICIA BELCHER]

Hi I was wondering exactly how to teach the "stay" command. Nika knows sit and lay down but I do not know how to teach the sit stay or the down stay.
Any help is appreciated!!

Thanks



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NIKA'S MOM

[Orville Story]

At first I use my hand to help the dog. I give the command "stay" then I step out in front and turn into the dog holding up my hand to indicate stay. If the dog breaks I place the dog back into the same spot. I don't repeat the command or say anything to the dog, I just place him back into the same spot. It is important to releash the dog quickly at first and the build more and more time to the stay. At first I am pleased with a 5 second stay, then after about 3 lessons a 15 second stay is good, after about 6 lessons the dog do 30 second stay.

Once the dog has the stay down I do things to proof the stay such as slightly pulling on the lead. Again if the dogs breaks put him back. Then you increase time and distance. Then you can work on sit, down and stand stays. If you can have your dog do a stand stay under distraction for 3 minutes while you are out of sight you have done well. That would take most trainers a good years worth of work.

[valdes43]

If you have a pup the best way to start is during feeding times. As soon as you have your food bowl ready place him into a sit and make him stay until you give him a release word such as "free". If he attempts to go towards the bowl before his release command place right back into the sit position while remaining calm. Make sure he never makes it to the bowl. Once he hold s a stay for about 3 to 5 seconds release him to eat. As he progresses build time.


The stay command in my opinion is a "double command" that is really not nessesary. I call it a "double command" because when giving a "sit" or "down" command the dog should be able to automatically stay in position until realeased.

[czechrott]

Valdes43,
Yes, in schutzhund, there is no "Stay" command. It's like saying "Pleeese" http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif.

AKC does use it, so it's o.k. to train for. Orville's advice is right on the money.

[valdes43]

Czechrott,

Thanks fo the clarification.

And just for the record, there is no doubt in my mind that Orville's advice is on the money. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

Also it's pretty funny that as I was writing the post there was no reply to the thread. I hit the "submit now" button and there was Orville's post. We've must've been typing away at the same time. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif


[This message has been edited by valdes43 (edited July 05, 2000).]

[ZeusTheRot]

Zeus learned stay pretty quickly by my putting him in the back of the pickup. I would give the command and walk to the other side while repeating it.

Now he does it anywhere. He is OK until about 15 seconds then decides to just lay down! Anyway, the back of the truck has become a good place to work with him. It puts him at eye level and keeps him contained.

[Zudnic]

Prior to reading Orvilles post my girl would stay but only for a short time, after useing his advice she will lay outside a convience store while I buy my smokes, staying in place as long as I'm in view. The stay can also be broken by people walking by, she loves people. Where still practicing adding different things to keep her staying. I get a friend or someone in the family to walk past as I hold my hand in the stay sign, they try to distract her etc, if she comes out I go back to Orvilles advice. I have also added placing treats inches from her nose, her favorite carrotts,she will not touch the treat untill told...Well thanx for giveing out this advice, it really works.

[This message has been edited by Zudnic (edited July 10, 2000).]

[KPanther]

Funny this comes up now........

Yesterday, with our first session with the trainer, she had us throw 'stay' out of our vocabulary. According to her training, once you give a command, such as 'down', the dog should stay down until given another command. In other words, the way she trains is to make the dog understand that 'until I tell you to do otherwise' is tacked onto every command.

And it actually works! I can see it working with Savannah already!

KP

[judy v]

I dunno about that one. I'd have to think about it awhile. I see what you trainer is saying, but, as it stands, I think I like the two commands separate. For one thing occasions may arise in which you'd want the dog to move but not to change position. For example I once taught a dog a trick which I called "Green Beret." When I yelled, "Green Beret, " he'd drop and belly crawl. Went over great at the Vet's Hospital. If both commands, down and stay, had been one, he'd still be lying there. Of course there are ways to get around the problem. I frankly don't know if schutzhund allows you to cue with footwork or not.

[This message has been edited by judy v (edited July 10, 2000).]

[valdes43]

Originally posted by judy v:
For example I once taught a dog a trick which I called "Green Beret." When I yelled, "Green Beret, " he'd drop and belly crawl. Went over great at the Vet's Hospital. If both commands, down and stay, had been one, he'd still be lying there

No offense please but I'm not exactly sure what you meant. Can you elaborate?? Sorry http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/frown.gif

The way I see it, if the dog is commanded to "sit" or "down" then he/she should stay in position until released. I do see what you're saying on switching to different commands without releasing but I just see that as "still working". Sort of like the "down on recall" or "sit in motion".

[judy v]

Sorry. I only meant that if "down" also means "stay." That's the end of it. In order to get the dog moving again, you have to release, then give another command. The down-on-recall is an excellent example. I realize that many dogs learn what you expect, and then do it. I guess I'm just being picky. After all, if it works for you, and you haven't had any problems, it must be fine.

[Carol Burke]

I think the point here is if you are not using the stay command then your sit or down command means sit until I tell you something else which could be a release or another command such as come.

I have always used the stay command for the long sit or down and wait for the recall, but lately I have omitted the stay or wait and they still stay or wait until told to do something else.



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Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[judy v]

Yes, what she said. (I sure clouded that one up, didn't I?)

[T E Tuiala]

I agree with the method Valdes uses, you will almost always find sucess when theres food available and ready. You get their attention quick smart! I taught my Sargent in the similar fashion where I would put his food before him and hold him back from devouring it saying and repeating "Stay" I would hold him from his food and repeating it, until I slowly let go of him and hes just sittin there lookin at me. Now, at around 14-15wks, whenever I put his food down and just say "stay/wait" he does so. Youll find that later on without the enticement of food, he will "stay" when told to. The pup pup puppy days are just about over I think for Sargent. *phew*!! I reakon even when hes reached maturity, he'll always be a puppy in mums eyes.. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif Good Luck!

[czechrott]

JudyV,
In schutzhund, if you "Cue" a dog with body language, you'll lose points. Schutzhund has a kind of militaristic attitude about it. In obedience, you can never use the dogs name. It is assumed that the dog knows your talking to him. Along with that is the "When your told to do something, you do it, until told otherwise" mentality. I am used to it, and to me, it makes good sense.

Oh, by the way. In the Czech Republic, for the ZVV III title, there is a special "command" for the dog to drop on the ground and crawl. I'm guessing that this came about so the handlers could escape from the country, with their dogs. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by czechrott (edited July 12, 2000).]