Dr. Dunbar’s 28-Day Good Dog Challenge
Stay-Delays
Day 10 · Praise now, reward a little later, and your dog learns to Stay.
Today’s challenge
After each Sit, Down, or Stand, count your praise in Good Dogs before you reward. What’s your dog’s longest Stay? By midnight tonight, text me your record in Good Dogs. Bonus: send a video!
Watch Ian
Why Stay-Delays?
Many dogs, especially clicker-trained dogs, are like Whack-a-Moles. Ask for a simple Sit, and they’ll throw you a Sit-Down-Beg-Wave-Spin-Circle-Woof, a pirouette on their hind legs, a jump to lick your nose, and a Bow.
For companion dogs, yes, we want a rapid Sit or Down. But then we’d like the dog to calmly stay in that position: a reliable, solid Sit-Stay, Down-Stay, or Stand-Stay. And you can teach it simply by praising, and delaying the food reward.
In fact, you don’t even need the word “Stay.” Sit means “Sit, and stay sitting until I ask for something else.” The same goes for Down and Stand.
Step by step
- Mix up Sit, Down, and Stand in random order.
- After each position change, count your praise in Good Dogs: “Good Dog One, Good Dog Two, Good Dog Three…” Then reward.
- On each new try, add a few more Good Dogs before you give the food reward. Two, then three, five, eight, ten.
- Keep track of your count, so you know your longest Stays. Once you get past 10 seconds, use a stopwatch, and thin out your praise.
Hold on to that kibble
Don’t be in a hurry to stuff the food in your dog’s mouth. Once you have the kibble in your hand, hold on to it, and say “Off,” just like on Day 5. The longer you hold on to the kibble, the longer your dog will stay. And the more attention you’ll get.
Mix short and long
Once your dog gets the idea, mix quick position changes with Stays of different lengths. For example: Sit, Down-Stay (15 seconds), Sit, Stand, Down, Stand-Stay (3 seconds), Sit-Stay (10 seconds). Your dog never knows how long the next Stay will be, so they keep watching you.
Practice Stand-Stays
Stand-Stays are usually the shortest, because standing still is the hardest. So a one-minute Stand-Stay is worth several minutes of Sit-Stay or Down-Stay. Practicing Stand-Stays is the quickest way to get really long Sit-Stays and Down-Stays.
Make it a family competition
Write your dog’s longest Stays on a note on the fridge, and challenge everyone in the family to beat them. Who can hold on to the kibble the longest?
Watch the quality of the Stay
The quality of a Stay changes as time goes by. Sometimes your dog is riveted on you. At other times they’re getting bored. And sometimes they sniff away, look away, and eventually, go away.
Mega-praise those focused, riveting moments. If your dog even looks like they’re thinking about breaking the Stay, quickly re-instruct: “Sit!”
Most dogs give plenty of warning: a twitch of the nose, a flicker of the eyes. Catch it early. And to be honest, when dogs break a Stay, it’s usually because our attention wandered first. To get your dog’s full attention, give your dog your full attention.
Your dog may not look busy during a Stay, but holding still for a long time is a tremendous achievement, especially for a puppy. They deserve lots of praise for it.
End each Stay clearly
Your dog needs to know when the Stay is over. End it with your next instruction, or with a release word. Pick one you’d never say by accident, like “Free dog.” Ian’s dog Omaha’s release was “Hang loose,” with the hand gesture, because a Brit would never say it in everyday conversation! Another favorite: an ex-Marine who said “Dismissed,” and saluted.
Whatever you do, don’t use “Good dog” as a release. Then you can’t praise your dog during the Stay! Without a clear release, dogs learn to release themselves.
If that’s wrong, what’s right?
We assume dogs understand words like “No!” and “Bad dog!” But they’re very difficult concepts for a dog to learn. In my Sit Test, I show that even Obedience Trial Champions don’t fully understand the simplest of instructions, “Sit,” the way a child might.
And even when a reprimand does stop a behavior, it’s only part of the puzzle. Is your dog now acting exactly as you’d like? Or just frozen, not doing much of anything?
One softly spoken word, like Sit, Shush, Steady, Bed, Settle, Chew toy, or Outside, tells your dog two things: stop what you’re doing, and do this instead.
It works because the two can’t happen at the same time. Your dog can’t Sit and counter-surf. Or Sit and run out the front door. Or Sit and chase their tail, another dog, a cat, or a child. And a dog can’t Sit and jump up on you. See how simple it all is? Communication is the key.
Special tips
My dog breaks the Stay before I reward.
No biggie, and no need to reprimand. Your dog doesn’t understand yet. Just say “Sit” again, praise as soon as they’re sitting, and start the count again from zero. Your dog will soon learn that staying put is the quickest way to the reward. And next time, re-instruct the moment your dog looks like they’re about to get up, not after.
My dog breaks the Stay three times in a row.
It’s too hard for now. Don’t keep going with a bad bet. Take a break, calm down, and then try an easier position, usually Sit, with a much shorter count. Always end on a good note.
My dog gets up and walks away.
Just say “Sit” again, right where they are. Don’t switch to “Come” or “Down,” and don’t lead them back to where they were. That just confuses them. You’re teaching that Sit means “Sit, and stay sitting until I say otherwise.”
My dog offers lots of other behaviors instead of staying.
That’s the Whack-a-Mole! Only reward the position you asked for, and only after your Good Dog count. Your dog will soon learn that staying put is what pays.
My dog’s Stand-Stays are wobbly.
With your dog standing, hold a piece of kibble just in front of and slightly below their nose, and say “Off.” Then gently and rhythmically press and release on their shoulders, and slowly work your way along their back to their rump. Dogs naturally push back against gentle pressure, which firms up their legs. If your dog sits, just say “Stand” again, and press more gently next time.
Should I count out loud?
Yes! Counting Good Dogs out loud means you praise more often, and it tells you your personal best.
Where can I practice?
Anywhere! Ian used to practice Sit-Stays with his dog Phoenix in front of the TV during the commercials. It’s easy to spot the moment your dog’s head starts to drop.
What’s next
- Tomorrow, Day 11, it’s Praise & Life Rewards: rewards far more powerful than food.
- Use it every day. Whenever your dog does something you don’t like, ask yourself what you’d like them to do instead, and tell them.
Filming tips and prizes: Videos and Prizes.
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