How to Teach Your Hunting Dog to Stay

Hunting dogs must excel at a variety of important commands before they can function successfully on real expeditions. Among these is the "stay" command, which prepares your dog for the "heel" and "come back" commands. Begin when your dog is still a puppy, after he's learned to "sit." Let these short steps guide you in teaching your hunting dog to "stay."

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin training the dog for five minutes per day. Choose any quiet location free of distractions. Attach the leash to the dog's collar.

2. Stand on the dog's right side. Tell the dog to sit and praise him for sitting.

3. Say "stay," and then immediately slide the palm of your left hand down the dog's spine and back up again. Let your hand stop sliding when it reaches a point in front of the dog's nose.

4. Praise the dog if she stays while performing Step Three. Say the praise words firmly but slowly to avoid exciting the dog. Release the dog's leash for a few minutes to allow her to roam free.

5. Tug the dog's leash if he does not stay. Say "no" quickly to get the dog's attention. Then repeat Steps Two through Four.

6. Progress to walking a little bit away from the dog if she does stay. If the dog begins to move, tug on the leash and say "no." Return the dog to the sitting position and try walking away again.

7. Increase the walking away distance each time the dog stays successfully. Repeat Step Six until the dog can stay at least two minutes.