Teaching "Wait"

Teaching your dog a reliable Stay and Wait is something every good dog owner should want. See below to start with training your dog to Stay. As your dog gets better, make the training a little more difficult. If your dog makes a mistake a few times, take the training back a step. Always set your dog up to succeed.

Teaching your dog to "Wait" is a fantastic and helpful command.  It will also help teach your dog patience and help you in your every day life with your dog.

Stay:

Means to a dog:  Stay in this place until I come BACK TO YOU to release you.

Wait:

Means to a dog:  Stay in this place until I ask you to do something else.  

ANOTHER CUE will follow the wait command.

First you must start by teaching a proper Stay command.  Do not move onto teaching the Wait command until you have trained the Stay command in all 3 parts.

3 Parts to the Stay Cue:

1.  Duration (time)

2.  Distance

3.  Distraction

Release Cue:

This means to a dog, you are now free to do what you want.  Common Release Cues include:  Break, Free, & Go.  I highly discourage owners from using “Okay” as a release cue.  This is a very commonly used phrase, and your dog may be randomly released by a passing stranger.  Use commands that are not common in every day speech.

Training your dog to "Stay:  Step One."

Training your dog to "Stay:  Step Two."

To teach the Stay cue, put the dog into a Sit position next to you.  Teaching the Stay is another command you will need 2 hands for.  One hand will be giving your stop sign hand signal while the other hand delivers treats.  Put the leash under your foot to work without the distraction.  For this, you will also need a Release Cue.  Basically, you will rapidly feed your dog treats to remain in the Stay position.  We are teaching the dog that remaining in a Stay is highly rewarding.  As your dog is chewing the last treat, give your “Good,” then quickly give your Release Cue while turning on your heels and walking away.  Do not worry if your dog does not immediately follow.  After a few practice sessions, they will easily pick up the Release Cue.

To improve the cue, gradually make the dog wait longer between treats.  At first there may only be 1-3 seconds between treats.  As your dog improves, start making it harder and harder by making the dog wait a little longer between rewards.  Do not go too fast.  If you feel the dog is going to break the Stay, either treat them before they move, or release the dog before they release themselves.
It is VERY IMPORTANT to build up time before adding distance or distractions.  Building up a reliable Stay with time will make it easy to transition into training distance and distractions.  You should be able to get your dog to Stay for at least one minute before moving to adding distance.  Work on improving only one part of the stay cue at a time.  First duration, then distance, then distractions.

Other helpful links:

Heel

Come when Called Step One

Come when Called Step Two

Come when Called Off leash

Come when Called with Distractions

Trainer Tip Video: Monthly dog meds

Today's Trainer Tip:
Your reminder for monthly dog meds.

Each and every month you should be giving your dog medication for flea and tick prevention and for heart worm prevention.  Currently we are using Interceptor Plus for our dog's heart worm and other internal parasite prevention.  This should be given every month.  Devo gets a pill for his flea and tick prevention called Bravecto.  For some dogs this kind of pill can be difficult on their stomach so it is recommended to take with food.  This pill provides protection for 3 months.  Caravaggio does not do well with this pill because it upsets his stomach, so he gets the topical flea and tick prevention instead.  The topical we are currently using is called Activyl.  It is easy to apply.  You simply pop the package open and apply the liquid in between the dog's shoulder blades behind the neck.  Once this is applied, be sure to avoid touching that area on the dog until the liquid is dry.  It is also important to not bath or take the dog swimming for at least 2 days before and after applying this medicine.
These are examples of the meds available for your dog.  Your vet may recommend a different type depending on your dog's needs.  Please talk to your vet if you have any questions or concerns.


Related Blog Articles:
Trainer Tips:  Monthly Reminders
Trainer Tips:  Dog Care Essentials
Myth vs. Fact on Spay & Neuter
Trainer Tips:  Why Spay/ Neuter you pet
Trainer Tips:  Picking a pet food

Trainer Tip Video: Getting your dog used to Touch

Today's Trainer Tip:
Getting your dog used being touched/ Dog Exam.

It is very important to be able to touch your dog on any part of their body.  If your dog becomes injured you and/or your vet will need to be able to exam your dog and also potentially apply medicine to an area.  This also includes getting your dog used to being groomed or brushed.


Related Blog articles:
Trainer Tips:  Dog Exam
Trainer Tips:  Dog Care Essentials
Trainer Tips:  Lavender Oil
Trainer Tips:  Shedding
Trainer Tips:  Puppy Nipping
Trainer Tips:  Avoiding Injury

Trainer Tip Video: Socialization

Today's Trainer Tip:
Socialization

Proper Socialization:  Is teaching a dog to not react to stimuli by desensitizing him to every day things. 


Related Blog Articles from Such Good Dogs:
Proper Dog Socialization
Socialization
Dog Birthday Party
Wilma Cat
Pack Walk
Dog Friends
Island Dogs
Caravaggio Loves Cats
Dog Parks
Adding a second dog to your pack
Introducing your dog to the cat

Trainer Tip Video: How to Claim an Object

Today's Trainer Tip:

How to Claim an Object from your dog.

Trainer Tip Video: Having your dog Off Leash

Today's Trainer Tip:
Having your dog Off Leash.

A whole new video world...

I have officially decided to start doing more videos with Such Good Dogs.  
Working several jobs has made it difficult for me to make videos on a regular basis in the past.  After a great talk with my husband, we have decided it is time to start having some fun.

I will be doing videos as close to daily as possible.  The goal is to give out little bits of dog training knowledge each day while also showing you some of the fun we are having on Maui on a regular basis.

I absolutely love my dogs.  Walking my dogs every morning is my favorite part of the day.  Many of my videos will include my own dogs, but we will also be filming with all kinds of other dogs as well.  If you have any ideas or things you would like to see covered in one of these videos, please let us know.

Visit our Such Good Dogs Facebook and like our Page.

VIDEO: Teaching a "Look/ Watch Me" to your dog

Below is a video taken from this month's Basic Manners--Level One Class.  In this video, Animal Behavior Certified Dog Trainer, Athena Angelic, explains and demonstrates how to begin teaching this Cue/Command to your dog.  We have also attached the notes for training for reference.

Look / Watch Me:

We want a dog who looks to us for direction and permission.  Having a dog that is well focused on the owner will give you control over many situations.  This is the exercise you will practice when your dog becomes distracted during training.  This is meant to help focus (or re-focus) the dog back to the owner.

To do this, we place the treat directly in the dog’s nose then raise it straight up next to our eye, while standing back up.  As you raise your hand give your command word, “Look.”  Eventually we want the dog to look directly in our eyes, but to begin with, it they look anywhere in the general area of your head, say your “Good” (Reward Marker) and give the treat.

If your dog remains in position but is not looking at you, do NOT repeat your arm movements or verbal command.  Instead, hold the treat in position next to your eye while looking at the dog and WAIT.  You will wait 30 seconds to a minute.  If the dog still has not looked, give your No Reward Marker or “Uh-oh,” move positions, take a breath, and then try again.

Marker Word:

Use your chosen marker word:  “Good” or “Yes” (or the Clicker).

This is the word (or sound) that says to a dog, “Yes! That is exactly what I wanted you to do!” and is then followed with a reward.

No Reward Marker:

This is what we do when the dog does not do what we are looking for.  Try using an “Uh-oh” or “Eh-eh.”  This will let the dog know that the behavior just performed is not what we wanted, while still encouraging the dog to continue to try.  After using the NRM, physically move places (both you and the dog should move) to help “re-set” the training, then try again.  Never repeat a command more than once.