How to Train a Blue Heeler to Stay
The name "blue heeler" refers to a breed of dog called the Australian cattle dog. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as being intelligent, energetic and stubborn. To get an Australian cattle dog to respond to commands it is important to be patient and consistent with obedience training. Training can begin when the puppy reaches eight weeks of age. The command "stay" can be taught effectively by using a positive reinforcement-based training exercise.
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Instructions
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Train your Australian cattle dog to sit and lie down on command before attempting to teach it the "stay" command. Do this by taking the dog to a quiet area of the house where there will be less distractions. Hold a special treat in your hand, such as a small piece of chicken or cheese. Wait for the dog to sit down naturally then say the word "sit" and reward the dog by giving it the treat and lots of praise. Repeat this exercise several times until the dog begins to associate the command with the action. Train the dog to lie down by waiting for it to practice the action naturally before saying, "lie down," and rewarding the dog with a treat and lots of praise. Again, repeat the exercise until the dog associates the command with the action.
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Get your blue heeler to sit or lie down and stand in front of it with the palm of one hand in front of its face. Take a step backward and if your dog manages to stay in the desired position say the word "stay" and reward it with a treat and lots of verbal praise. Say, "okay," to release the dog from the stay command. Avoid treating the dog after it has been released from the stay command as this might confuse the dog.
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Repeat the training exercise while slowly increasing the number of steps you take when moving away from the dog. Once your dog has mastered this, you can begin to increase the duration of time you ask it to stay. LoveYourDog.com recommends that you gradually increase the amount of time to help your dog succeed. Eventually, your dog should learn to respond to the "stay" command by remaining in one place until you release it from the command.
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References
- Photo Credit Duncan Smith/Photodisc/Getty Images
