Dogs have a great knack for teaching their teachers. Aside from making us wave hands and shout strange words, we often fetch treats and go after tennis balls. While this might seem funny, it really is in our pets best interest that they learn some basic commands and teaching a dog to stay is vital for his safety.
If your dog is misbehaving, the best solution is to assert your alpha status. There are several methods to do this, but one of the most common is frequently telling your dog to "stay." When you give your dog the command to "stay," they should not move even when you do. Unfortunately, this is the opposite of what usually happens when this command is said.
A good first move is to train the dog to "sit" when told to do so. This is a key part of training and should be the basic command that any dog knows before you try to teach him anything else.
Regardless of your dog's age, they can all learn to "stay" the same way. When your dog is following the "sit" command, order them to "stay" in a voice that is firm and audible over any other sounds. Do not yell, as you do not want your dog to think they are being punished. When issuing this command, also give your dog a unique gesture for this command. The gesture I use is my hand in the STOP position, with my palm facing the dog and my fingers raised. After giving the command and gesture, take one step back.
Chances are that the dog will try to follow you, so do the hand gesture for sit and stay again. If the dog still doesn't obey, move an attractive treat or toy over the dog's head. It should be visible by the dog but only if his chin is facing upward. The dog may even turn around. Keep doing this until your dog obeys, and then let him know with warm praise. Repeat the process.
But, there is more to teaching a dog to stay than just this one step because you want the dog to stay no matter how far away you go. Once the dog will stay when you take 1 step away from him, take two steps. Then take four and then eight. Generally, the more distant you are, the less control you will have over the dog. The dog instinctively wants to follow the alpha (leader), so this may take some practice.
If your dog will not stay when commanded to, there are ways to fix this. First, put your dog on a long leash or a rope. Secure the leash to an object that won't move, such as a tree. If no object is available, another person can be used to hold the leash stationary. However, if you use this method, the dog may not know who they should be listening to, so it should be a last resort. You should hold the leash while you face your dog. When your dog moves, tug on the leash, confidently say "stay," and give a hand gesture telling the dog to stay. Be careful not to pull too hard, as you don't want your dog to fall and to think he is being punished.
If your dog lies down after you step away while practicing "stay," they will not be remaining still and will therefore not be following your command. You will have to have them sit again, and because of this, you will possibly have to teach your dog an "up" and "sit" command combination before you teach your dog to "stay." Your dog's breed and individual personality will play a role in how long it will take your dog to learn the "stay" command, but almost all dogs will eventually be able to learn this useful skill.
When your dog has mastered the stay for a short while, tell him to "come" in a tone that differs from the "stay" command. Use a unique hand gesture with it. Make it exact but not something you normally do. Select behaviors and attitudes should have specific commands.
Remember, teaching a dog to stay is a basic core component of his training so be sure to heap praise on your dog when he listens, and with every successive try let the 'stay' last a little longer than last time. You'll know when you've reached the end of your training when you can go inside and be completely out of sight and your dog will still 'stay'. After one minute, though, give your dog the OK to move freely.
We all know for a fact that dog ownership brings about a lot of responsibilities. Out of the many important duties needed in taking care of a dog, one must consider obedience training or teaching your dog a few basic commands. As a new dog owner or trainer, here are a few basic tricks that you can apply to your pet.
Trick # 1: Heel - The essence of the heel command is to tell your dog to walk directly beside you. This trick lets your pet stay by your side rather than going through various places which will make it difficult for you to take control of his sense of direction. This order is very simple and effortless which can be easily learned by your dog within a short period of time. First, you must put a leash on your dog and prepare special food treats to give as a reward for their action. Determine which side your dog would walk on and train him to stick to this side by saying a firm command of "heel" and slowly walk forward. When your dog acts in positive response, reward him with a food treat. Keep doing this repetitively until your dog finally masters the command.
Trick #2: Sit - One modern approach when it comes to giving this command is the Click method which rewards the animal for showing good behavior. Trainers use a device called a clicker to prepare the animal for a pending reward. When the dog hears the audible clicking sound, there is a reward waiting for him. One starts by giving the dog numerous treats right after each clicking audible sound. By suddenly halting the feeding of treats, wait as the dog anticipates and looks up to see the treat and will probably sit down in a while. As this happens, give the audible click and give the reward for a good performance. By doing this repetitively and saying the command "sit" when the dog begins to sit, it will gradually learn on its own the meaning of the command.
Trick#3: Fetch - This is another simple command that can be easily taught to dogs. It is a form of entertainment for both owner and pet and creates hours of endless fun. One tactic to this command is called forced retrieve. This is achieved by throwing a toy from a short distance and walking the dog to the object while waiting for them to pick it up. Give him treats instantly for retrieving the object. You can also try throwing an item while saying the command "fetch" and releasing him to chase the object. Try experimenting with various methods to see what works best with your dog. Be consistent and keep practicing and your dog will learn this trick in no time.
There are a lot of advantages when your dog has undergone proper training. It not only strengthens the bond between the dog and his owner, it also fosters deep interaction and develops his understanding resulting to good behavior. Most people can benefit from a well-trained dog because it can be left alone without becoming a nuisance which everybody can appreciate.
Both Lee Dobbins & Chanvit Phupook are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lee Dobbins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Diamonds and Install Flooring. Lee Dobbins is an avid dog lover who has owned many different types of dogs from a 90 pound Shepherd mix to a pure bred Pomeranian. She shares her years of research and experience in an Ebook and newsletter which you can download for FREE at. Lee Dobbins's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.
Chanvit Phupook has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Pets and Skin Care. For more information please visit : . Chanvit Phupook's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.