Step 1 - Establish Desired Behavior

Prerequisite Skills:

• Marker Word

• The list of desired behaviors that you would like your dog to utilize with the Stay cue. Common baseline behaviors include:

  • Sit, Down, and Stand

• Proximity - Your dog should be willing to be near you when called

• Lure Following - Your dog should be willing to follow a lure

• Read "Setting Criteria - 3 Ds"

Gear:

• Treat pouch with treats

Set Up:

• Environmental Selection: Select an environment where your dog is able to stay focused and build reps on the desired baseline behaviors.

Phase 1: Establish Baseline Behaviors

Teach your dog each individual baseline behavior. Your dog should be reliable 90+% of the time in the environment and typical distraction for each individual behavior prior to working on a formal Stay cue.

Pro Note: Stay is only required for cues when you don't build an implied stay in to those cues. Some people will teach a Sit or Down and include the behavior of the dog holding it until released without using a Stay cue (hence the implied Stay). Personally, I prefer the use of a Stay so that I don't have to be as consistent with my training (remembering to always give the cue, monitor criteria, and provide a release cue) every time I want my dog to Sit or lay Down for a couple seconds.