Understand Stay Basics

Use this before you begin building duration, distance, or distraction into a stay.

Key Ideas

  1. 1Cue the stay, then always follow with a release cue like "free" or "break" once it's over.
  2. 2Start with short stays your dog can succeed at, rather than testing duration too soon.
  3. 3For a sit-stay: return all the way to your dog and feed directly to their mouth while they remain in position.
  4. 4For a down-stay: feed on the floor between their paws to reinforce staying down.
  5. 5Favor the down position for longer stays since most dogs find it more comfortable.
  6. 6Reserve sit-stays for shorter durations, especially on slippery surfaces.

Set stays short enough that your dog can succeed and wait for the release cue.

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