How to Train a Reliable Stay Command: A Practical Guide for Dog Owners
Is your dog struggling with impulse control or breaking the stay command when distractions arise? Teaching a solid stay isn’t just about getting your dog to sit still—it’s about building focus, patience, and reliability in everyday life.
Many dog owners find stay tricky to teach, but with the right approach, you can help your dog understand how to hold position until released, even in busy environments. Whether you’re training a new puppy or fine-tuning an older dog’s skills, this guide will help you build a strong, reliable stay.
Why Stay Matters
A well-trained stay can make life easier in so many ways. You can use it to:
Keep your dog from rushing the door when guests arrive
Maintain control in busy environments like sidewalks or pet-friendly stores
Capture great photos without your dog breaking position
Build impulse control for advanced training or everyday life
The key to success is making sure your dog understands what signals the stay is over.
Teaching the Stay Command
1. Start Small and Be Clear
Begin with short stays and clear stays.
Ask your dog to sit or down
Reinforce this by feeding in place
Say “break” (or another release cue) and encourage your dog to move
Repeat so your dog learns the difference between staying and being released
This step helps your dog understand the end signal.
2. Build Duration
Once your dog understands the concept, start increasing how long they can hold the stay.
Gradually add a few more seconds before releasing
Reward at random intervals while they stay
Work up to a minute, then two, then three
One technique I like at this stage is reinforcing eye contact instead of looking at the treats in your hand or pocket.
3. Add Distance
When your dog can stay for longer periods, begin adding distance.
Step away briefly, then return and release
Slowly increase how far you go
Work toward turning away, walking around, and even leaving the room.
If your dog is used to the eye contact from the previous steps, don’t worry; your dog will learn to offer eye contact as you return. You can still work up to stepping away and even walking out of the room.
4. Introduce Distractions
Dogs often struggle with stay when real-world distractions come into play. Some ways to challenge your dog’s stay include:
Dropping a treat on the floor
Rolling or bouncing a ball nearby
Practicing while another dog walks past
One exercise I like for advanced training is rolling a ball under dogs in a stand stay or bouncing a ball over dogs in a down stay. A well-trained dog isn’t staying out of fear of correction—they’re staying because they understand the behavior. You can see this in the dog’s body language. We play games in our advanced classes that involve bouncing a ball over dogs and much more. The dogs conquer these challenges and have been trained through patience, play, and positive reinforcement.
5. Train in Different Locations
It’s important to practice stay in a variety of places.
Try different rooms in your house
Practice at the park, on the sidewalk, and in pet-friendly stores
Work on stay with new distractions like kids playing or other dogs walking by
The more you challenge your dog in different environments, the stronger their stay will be.
Need Help with Training?
If your dog struggles with holding a stay, gets distracted easily, or needs more structured training, working with a professional trainer can speed up progress.
Private lessons provide one-on-one guidance and troubleshooting.
Group classes offer structured training with built-in distractions.
Puppy training programs help young dogs develop impulse control from the start.
A well-trained stay isn’t just about obedience—it’s about creating a dog that is calm, focused, and reliable no matter where you go. If you need help refining your dog’s stay or building better manners, reach out for a training session.
I’d love to hear what your dog’s biggest stay challenge or accomplishment is—let me know what you’re working on!
