The difference between Wait and Stay can mean the difference between successful management vs everyone running down the street chasing the fluffy lighten-bolt that is their dog.
Dog training commands should be simple, but can often become complicated and confusing for the dog (and human too).
For example, if one handler uses command “X” to mean one action for their dog, and then another person uses command “Y” for the same action, our dogs are left having to remember which word which person uses for which command. And, handlers are left wondering why their dog isn’t understanding and preforming simple commands.
The dog’s internal response is probably the dog version of, “Honestly, I’m not sure what either of you mean.”
To make life easier for everyone, dog, handlers, parents, kids, dog-sitters, trainers, etc., it is imperative that everyone in the house use the same command for the same behavior.
The Wait and the Stay commands are often used interchangeably.
In a home with low distractions, one dog, and no kids, this is probably not a huge problem. However, when we start layering the distractions like kids, other dogs, many visitors, etc., the difference between Wait and Stay can mean the difference between successful management vs everyone running down the street chasing the fluffy lighten bolt that is their dog.
The definitions of Wait and Stay in standard dog training are…
Wait – Hang on a second or two, (a short duration) then receive a follow-up command or release word.
Stay – Hold position, freeze in place for an undetermined length of time (could be awhile).
The difference is often hard to see at first, but in the dog’s head it is a major difference in difficulty.
Wait is something a dog can usually achieve even when they are cranked up by exciting visitors, or stressful situations.
However, the Stay is harder to hold depending on how stressed or excited a dog might be.
To understand this in terms we humans experience, we need only look to air travel. We experience differences in difficultly between a short fifteen minute wait to board our airplane, verses the delayed flight that could be hours. One is much harder than the other for different reasons for different people, but in the end, the two different lengths of delay are very different demands on us.
Here are some sample situations where I would use the Wait and Stay commands differently:
Wait
Dog wants to go outside
Ask for wait before opening the door.
Door is opened only if dog holds position for a few seconds
Aunt Millie is knocking on the door
Ask for a wait
Door opens if the dog is holding position
Once Aunt Millie is in, the dog gets the go say hello command.
Baby drops toy
Ask dog for a wait
Pick up toy before dog gets there, or redirect the dog with a touch command.
Stay
In an elevator
Ask for a stay
Dog freezes in place for the duration of the ride regardless of the number of people getting in and out
At the veterinarian
Ask for a stay for the examination, shots, blood draws
Your veterinarian will thank you
At a traffic light
Ask for a stay
Dog freezes in place for the duration of the light regardless of the distractions that go by, like bicycles, skateboard, other dogs, etc…
Your dog will learn the difference between these two commands because once you have an understanding of what the commands are, you will mark and reward the appropriate behaviors.
You give your dog the WAIT command and he holds a position for a short duration – Praise and Reward.
You give your dog the STAY command and she freezes in place for an interval between one and three minutes – Praise and Reward.
Have you been considering visiting with your dog but would like to know a bit more?
Join one of the upcoming Mini Workshops either in
Putnam County on March 2nd – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
New York City on March 3rd – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Presented by Lisa J Edwards, Best Selling Author, A Dog Named Boo: The Underdog with a Heart of Gold, these workshops will cover:
Basic handling skills for Visiting Animal Assisted Therapy Teams and All pet owners
A brief outline of Pet Partners registration, evaluation, and visit expectations
This mini workshop focuses on supportive and trust building pet handling skills. It is appropriate for:
Individuals wanting to know more about visiting with their animals before their online course
Seasoned handlers looking for additional preparation before their evaluation
Handlers who took the online course but want a more personal instruction from an experienced therapy handler, evaluator, and instructor
To find out more about these workshops, go to Pet Partners and log into the Volunteer Center. There you will be able to register for one of these upcoming workshops.
A $45 fee will be collected at the time of the workshop.
Last week I spent my time in Memphis, TN for the 2018 APDT educational conference. Our conversations and workshops included:
Aggressive dogs – safety to effective treatment
Enrichment of all dogs – puppies, puzzles, cognitive games, word discrimination (can your dog be Chaser?), and imitating humans (always something new)
Even IT security – who knew?
Shelter dog training – stress, testing, music to calm, games, and my favorite, ‘…it’s not about a walk, it’s about enrichment and training…’
‘Where does your dog sleep?’ study – Answer – with their humans – maybe not in the bed, but the same room offers the most stable non destructive and lower stressed dog – I knew that 😉
And much more I didn’t see
With all that information spinning in our heads – we had to get out and have a little fun eating ribs and listening to the blues.
If puppies have plenty of proper toys to play with, it is easy to teach them to ‘leave-it’ and ‘drop-it’ and tell them “all done” when it comes to the items we don’t want them chewing.
Puppies need to play. Like our human children, their job during development is PLAY!
Don’t limit their toys.
Instead, expand their horizons because they need to explore and chew in order to learn what is and is not appropriate.
Because of this, we can use this play to teach them how to leave their toys, drop them, ignore them, and hopefully not guard them. And, we can prevent them finding toys like boots, shoes, socks, etc.
If they have plenty of proper toys to play with, it is easy to teach them to ‘leave-it’ and ‘drop-it’ and tell them “all done” when it comes to the items we don’t want them chewing.
Pax’e is a nine week old AussieDoodle.
In teaching her to tug at my sock, she learns that commands can be fun. She learns socks are boring. And, while she may have wanted to tug with that sock instead of giving it up at first, the ‘drop-it’ command worked.
It’s never too early to start teaching, playing, having fun, and building your relationship with your pup.
Over the next several weeks/months Pax’e’s training exploits will be showcased. Sometimes with success and sometimes, maybe not.
Regardless of success, it will always be a learning process.