How to Teach Your Dog to Stay in 4 Simple Steps

All effective dog training techniques revolve around one simple principle - positive reinforcement. If you'd like to have your dog sit and stay when told to, then you need to understand how to apply positive reinforcement in your training methods for the most effective and quickest results.

First of all, make sure that your dog understands a "release" command first so they know when it's OK to move from the "stay" position. This command can be whatever you wish, but it's got to be something that you've used consistently with your dog so they will recognize it.

Now, have your dog sit or lie down in front of you and place your hand, palm open, in front of your dog's nose and give the command "Stay."

Next, say "Good Boy/Girl" at the precise moment that your dog shows the behavior you want, in this case sitting still and staying there.

Now give the release command immediately after (within a couple of seconds), followed by treats and lots of praise.

It doesn't matter at this stage how long your dog stays there for; you should always reward even the smallest results, even if they only stay for a second or two.

From here, you can lengthen the amount of time your dog remains in the stay position very gradually, and slowly move farther away. They will soon learn what sort of actions result in rewards and they will learn to follow your commands in order to get the treat, now and in the future.

Eventually, your dog will instinctively follow commands without wanting or expecting the treat, and at which point you've developed another discipline into your dog's behavior which will allow you to take better control in all situations, both for safety benefits and for overall control.

Use this simple technique in 5-minute sessions and make sure you repeat the process once a day.

If you'd like to know even more ways to train your dog to be well behaved, play safe and respect your every command, then visit the best dog training book today and see how anybody, including you and your dog, can learn to live in perfect harmony without frustrating and aggressive episodes of bad dog behavior.

Using Dog Agility Training

Tap Your Dog's Skills With Agility Training

Training your dog for agility competitions is an excellent way to tap into her natural strengths. Use flexibility, energy, speed and instinct - things every dog already has - to help your dog build up her abilities. She'll be using all the skills and natural abilities she'd have used in the wild to protect her den, track food, and travel across rough terrain.

Just What Is Dog Agility Training?

Dog agility training is a kind of competition using a special course. In it, dogs must use skills like running, climbing, jumping and obstacle-avoidance. This is a team effort between the owner and the dog, with the dog performing most of the hard labor. Agility training is perfect for hunting or working breed dogs. The course must be run in a set period of time, with the fastest animal winning.

Agility trials are judged by professionals, and the winners receive prices. However, this is more than just a competition or form of training - it's also a popular and fun sport for owners and dogs alike.

How To Participate

To get involved, puppies must be nine months of age or older. Retirement usually happens when the dog is around eight years old, but health and fitness levels are the real factors that determine this.

Every dog breed is admitted, but it's important for your dog to have the right kind of personality. Dogs that would rather relax aren't as well suited for agility training as dogs with plenty of spare energy - this sport needs a lot of speed and vigor.

You're also looking for dogs that are consistently obedient to basic commands and which have a lot of trust in their owners. Otherwise, dogs may be reluctant to perform some challenges, including balancing on narrow beams or running through tunnels.

Dog Agility Training Benefits

Dog agility training enhances the basic, innate abilities of an animal. Dogs in these programs become more confident and alert, while improving skills like problem solving. Owners find that their communication abilities and their bonds with their dogs are strengthened by the process.

Agility training puts some real physical demands on a dog, improving endurance, coordination and fitness levels, as well as general behavior.

How Much Training Do Agility Dogs Need?

Most dogs need six to nine months of training every day if they're going to be ready for the harder parts of an agility competition. Dogs can be helped to prepare with games, including catch, tug of war and fetch. These games help strengthen the muscles the dog needs in agility work and communicate the idea that this is fun to do. Then, the dog can do more challenging exercises like distance and obstacle jumping, and can run through long tunnels. Over time, your dog will come to trust you intensely, and will really enjoy your training sessions.

There's even more to training your dog for agility competitions, but these are a few basic steps to get you started. They can help you find out whether you and your dog are ready for work of this kind.

Take a little time to check out the agility competitions nearby. Watching the process and checking out the kinds of challenges will enable you to imagine how your dog would do, and will give you a first hand look at what goes on.