How to train your dog to stay still or wait

Wait is another valuable dog training command to keep your dog safe or to instill some basic manners. 

Use this command to:

• Get your dog to stay still

• Avoid being tripped up when going up or down stairs

• Wait while you catch up to them (if they’ve gotten too far ahead on a walk)

• and in many other situations…

Charlie waits patiently like a good dog

The Training Method for Wait

1. As with all rewards based training, only move to the next step when the dog is successful at the step you’re on. 

2. Pay attention to your own body language when you teach this, because your dog won’t understand the words you’re using, they’ll be looking at your entire body and trying to figure out what you want them to do. 

3. Once you’ve finished all the steps, practice in different places and around distractions

Step 1

• Ask your dog to sit

• Say ‘wait’

• Take one step away from them

• Step back to your dog and treat

Step 2

• Ask your dog to sit

• Say ‘wait’

• Take two steps away from them

• Step back to your dog and treat

Step 3

Lengthen the time the dog waits by: 

• Increasing your steps away from your dog

• Circling around your dog

• Walking into a different room

Step 4

• Increase difficulty by adding in distractions and by practicing in the garden, at the dog park, when getting out of or into the car.

Remember that if your dog is unsuccessful and moves out of position, you need to go back to the previous step and practice some more.

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