Stand Stay
Basic Manners · 27 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to stay in a stand position until released, for a hand signal or the verbal cue '"stand"', amid basic distractions and at a distance.
A stand stay holds Your Dog still on their feet, which is exactly what you want for grooming, toweling off muddy paws, putting on a harness or coat, vet exams, and even the show ring. It is also handy at the door: for an excitable dog who needs to wait longer than a quick Wait, a stand stay keeps them parked and out from underfoot while you open it. Train Down Stay and Sit Stay first, since those positions are easier starting points.
For this plan you will also need:
**- A No Reward Marker:** such as "Oops," to mark the moment Your Dog breaks position and help them understand why they won't get a treat for that rep.
**- A Release Cue:** such as "Okay!" or "Break!" to let Your Dog know they are free to move out of position, especially at the end of a training session. Using a release cue consistently will teach Your Dog to hold the stay until you release them!
Training steps
Stay in a stand position for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Give Your Dog a treat for staying in a stand for 1 second.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold a treat out for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Tempt Your Dog to break position by holding a treat out 2 feet away for 1 second.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold out a treat for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Tempt Your Dog to break position by holding a treat out 2 feet away for 3 seconds.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Place a treat on the floor for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Tempt Your Dog to get out of position by placing a treat on the floor 2 feet away for 1 second. Be prepared to cover the treat if they go for it!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Place a treat on the floor for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Tempt Your Dog to get out of position by placing a treat on the floor 2 feet away for 3 seconds. Be prepared to cover the treat if they go for it!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue and hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Say the verbal cue 'Stay' and then give the hand signal for stay: a flat hand with your palm facing Your Dog and your fingers pointing up. Then tempt Your Dog to get out of position by placing a treat on the floor 2 feet away for 3 seconds.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Take 1 step to the side
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 1 step to the side and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Take 1 and a half steps to the side
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 1 and a half steps to the side and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Take 2 steps to the side
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 2 steps to the side and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Take 2 and a half steps to the side
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 2 and a half steps to the side and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk halfway around
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, walk halfway around them, and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk halfway and a step around
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, walk halfway and a step around them, and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around in a circle
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, walk in a full circle around them. Be careful not to get dizzy!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Take 1 step to the other side
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 1 step to the other side and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk 2 steps to the other side
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 2 steps to the other side and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk halfway around in the other direction
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, walk halfway around them on the other side and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk in a circle in the other direction
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, walk a full circle around them in the other direction. Be careful not to get dizzy!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around in both directions
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, walk a full circle around them in both directions.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk backwards 1 foot away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 1 step backwards and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk backwards 3 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 3 steps backwards and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk backwards 6 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 6 steps backwards and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk backwards 9 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 9 steps backwards and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk backwards 12 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, take 12 steps backwards and then immediately return.
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk forwards 3 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, turn around and walk 3 feet away with your back to Your Dog. Try to keep an eye over your shoulder for any breaks!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk forwards 6 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, turn around and walk 6 feet away with your back to Your Dog. Try to keep an eye over your shoulder for any breaks!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk forwards 12 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Standing in front of Your Dog, turn around and walk 12 feet away with your back to Your Dog. Try to keep an eye over your shoulder for any breaks!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk forwards and out of sight for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Walk somewhere within a 6 to 12 foot distance where you can move out of sight of Your Dog for 1 second and then return immediately. Listen for any breaks!
Success: Your Dog stands still.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Nice work! Your Dog can now hold a stand stay until released for the cue '"stand"', through distractions and at a distance.
Keep it strong by proofing it in new places and around bigger distractions: restart the plan on the proof steps, or play the goal games you just earned.
Ready for more? A steady stand stay makes grooming and vet handling far easier, so pair it with plans like Nail Trimming, Harness, and Tooth Brushing.