Training Exercises



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The Release
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Wait
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WAIT

Wait is a useful command to teach in addition to stay. If we reserve the stay exercise for occasions when we want our dog to remain calm & relaxed in one place, we can use wait when we just simply want them to 'hang on a minute', such as while you open the car door or place their food bowl on the floor

Stage 1

 Hold on to your dog's collar or have someone else hold him on the lead, show him a food treat, give the command 'wait' and put the food on the floor just out of his reach. Ignore all attempts by the dog to get the food and of course be sure that he doesn't get it. If he chooses to sit, lie down or just stand still then praise him verbally, if he then attempts to get the food stop the praise and continue to prevent him from getting it. If you can praise him whilst he is waiting and he still doesn't move then you can release him with an OK and he is free to take the treat if he wishes.

Stage 2

 Continue to practice this building up the length of time. Whilst you are doing this you must vary the time scale for each wait. Some very short ones interspersed with some longer ones keeps it more interesting for your dog.

Stage 3

 With your dog on lead, (tether him or have a helper) instead of placing the food down, roll it across the floor after giving the command. When he moves, which he is bound to do the first time you throw food, go and get the food yourself, or have your helper retrieve it for you and repeat until the dog waits. He can then be released. Do this also with a toy.

Stage 4

 Teach your dog to wait in the sit, down & stand by asking for the position you require, followed by the wait command and the food on the floor. If he moves out of the position that you originally asked for then pick up the food and start again.

To teach him that 'wait' isn't always followed by a release.

Ask your dog to sit & wait. Place the food at an appropriate distance and then ask for a down. If he responds to the down command he can be released. If he goes for the food instead, make sure that you get it first.

With a helper holding your dog on lead ask him to wait in a sit or a down and place a piece of food about 6 feet away from his left foot then go and stand about 6 feet away from his right foot in the opposite direction. Now ask him to come. If he chooses to come to you, reward him for the recall and release him to take the other piece of food. If he chooses to go for the food on the floor, the helper will prevent it and he gets nothing!

The practical application

In the car. Give the command 'wait' as you open the door and be ready to close it again (carefully) if he doesn't. Continue in this way until he will wait in the car with the door wide open before being given the OK It may be wise to have someone holding the dog on lead in the car.

At feeding time. Ask for a wait whilst his meal goes down and simply pick it up again if he doesn't.

Notes

At no time at all should you need to get cross (however mild) or exasperated or change your tone of voice whilst teaching this exercise. Your dog will learn much quicker by relating only to whether or not he gets the food reward.

Be careful that your dog does not train you to say OK by moving.

A reminder about the release. Praise only when your dog is doing what you asked. Praise given after a release is devalued.

Practice taking his lead off and putting it on again whilst he is waiting. Beware of teaching your dog that the lead coming off means the same as OK One day your lead may break or the collar come undone when you are walking near a busy road!