This exercise teaches a dog how to access the feelings necessary to create a calm and steady stay. It also teaches the dog not to grab food out of your hand. The objective of this game is to teach a dog how to wait patiently with calm focus. It’s also the first step in teaching the “stay” command. Don’t worry about telling him to sit or lie down first, and don’t say anything during the exercise except to praise him when you reward him.
Begin by feeding Muttsy a few treats. I like to use diced chicken or Muenster cheese. Give him two or three treats for ‘free.’ This will give Muttsy the feeling that he can successfully get what he wants.
The next step is to stop feeding him treats and instead present the treat to him, about an inch or so from his nose. Then snap it away when he tries to grab it. Start this phase by showing Muttsy a treat, holding it between your thumb and first two fingers. Move it toward him, ending up about two inches from his nose. When he moves to grab it, snap it away, matching the movement of your hand with his head. Do this several times, and you’ll notice that Muttsy will attempt different tactics to get the treat. He might try jumping up on you, pawing at you with one leg, barking, or spinning around in circles. Ignore all these tactics. Instead, just keep presenting the treat and snapping it away when he tries to grab it. Be very patient and keep at it.
At some point, for just a fraction of a second, Muttsy will stop trying to grab the treat and sit perfectly still, trying to figure out what you want him to do. That’s when you give him the treat. Make sure to do this quickly, while he’s holding still (this quiet moment will not last long—not yet). Also, make sure to put the treat right into Muttsy’s mouth. Don’t let him take it from you. You have to give it to him. Now, you can talk—praise Muttsy as you feed him. Repeat this process until you see that Muttsy realizes he only gets the treat when he waits or pauses momentarily. If you time the treat perfectly when he holds still, it should only take about four repetitions for him to learn not to try grabbing the treat.
That’s the good news. Here’s the not-so-good news: The next time you play the game, he’ll likely forget the rules, so you’ll have to start over. This is because dogs are very context-oriented. It’s not until you repeat the game in various locations and situations that he’ll be able to apply what he’s learned.
So, do this for three days, two minutes at a time (you can do it four or five times a day if you like, but keep each session as short as possible). As the days progress, slowly increase the amount of time Muttsy can sit still, in five-second increments, until you reach about 30 seconds (or longer, if you can).
Next, start to notice any subtle indicators that Muttsy is holding still physically but not emotionally. Some usual indicators include a wagging tail, a paw that comes up off the floor slightly, ears that are pinned back, quiet whining, etc. Wait until the tail stops wagging, the paw comes down, the ears prick up, or the dog stops vocalizing, then immediately give him the treat. Soon, the dog will not only be holding still physically, but emotionally as well.
Once He’s Holding Still Emotionally, You Can Start Using the Word “Stay”
Begin by putting the leash on and holding it close to the collar (about two inches or so) with your left hand (or your right hand if you’re a lefty). Give the dog two free treats. Then give him two more, followed by two more. On the seventh treat, pull it away when Muttsy tries to grab it. At the same time, make an almost imperceptible leash correction— a subtle tightening of the leash—with the other hand, and say “Stay” in a pleasant, inviting tone of voice.
When he obeys, give him the treat, praise him, and use your other hand to pet him under the ears. Continue doing this, and the dog will start to feel that a soft tug on the collar means he’s supposed to hold still. The tug and the soft, encouraging tone of the word “stay” will also help create a calm focus.
Next, add minor distractions as you play. Shift your weight from one foot to the other, move from side to side, or crouch down. As these distractions cause Muttsy to lose focus, remind him with an encouraging “Stay” and a little tightening of the leash, then give him the treat when he settles back down.
The final step is “dropsy.” Start with two treats in one hand, hold the leash tight, show Muttsy one treat, and drop it right in front of him. Before he can grab it, tighten the collar, say “Stay” in an encouraging tone, and immediately put the second treat under Muttsy’s nose, using it to guide or lure his head back to the original position. Then give him the treat. Don’t let him eat the treat on the floor. Pick it up and add it to your pile.
Once Muttsy has mastered the emotions of this game, learning to stay becomes much easier, and he will be a happier, calmer dog overall!
About the Author:
Lee Charles Kelley, is a successful New York dog trainer who uses methods that stimulate obedience through training games geared around a dog’s natural prey drive. Kelley is also the author of six dog mysteries for Avon, featuring ex-cop turned dog trainer Jack Field. All of his novels have dog training tips artfully woven into the storylines.