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.