Build Stay Duration Around Food

Use this to teach your dog to hold a stay around a food distraction.

1Sit near your dog on their platform with their meal in a bowl, positioned so they can't reach it.
2Cue the down, then mark and reward with a treat delivered between their paws.
3Repeat at a quick pace at first; cover the bowl with your hand if your dog goes for it, then re-cue if needed.
4Once your dog holds position through rapid feeding, slow your pace to 1--3 seconds between marks.
5Move the food bowl closer as your dog succeeds.
6Every 10 to 15 treats, release with your release cue. Toss the treat behind them, then re-cue and begin again.
7Do only one to two resets per session before switching to a different skill.
8Vary your timing (the "ping-pong method") rather than always making each rep harder than the last.

Reward rapidly at first, then vary the time between rewards instead of making every repetition harder.