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Updated 2026-09-29

Building a reliable stay

Teach the dog to hold a position until released, building duration, distance and distraction separately.

Dogs3–5 minutes, once or twice daily
Dog and guardian demonstrating reward-based building a reliable stay

Four-stage reward-based training progression: set up, mark, reward and progress
Set up an easy success, mark the wanted choice, reward promptly and add only one small challenge at a time.

Step by step

  1. Step 1

    Start with one second

    Cue sit, wait one second, mark and reward in position, then release. Short and successful beats long and broken.

  2. Step 2

    Build duration first

    Add a second or two at a time, returning to reward in position. If the dog breaks, the step was too big.

  3. Step 3

    Add distance separately

    Once the dog holds 15–20 seconds, take one step back and return. Build steps gradually, always returning to reward.

  4. Step 4

    Add distractions last

    Practise near mild distractions — a toy on the floor, a person walking past — only when duration and distance are solid.

  5. Step 5

    Use the release word every time

    The stay ends only on 'free'. Never call a dog out of a stay while training it.

Troubleshooting

  • Breaking early means the criteria rose too fast — drop back to the last easy level.
  • Reward in position; rewarding after the release teaches the dog the release is the good part.