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There is a bit of a debate on whether a dog needs to learn stay as a separate exercise. If a dog is taught a solid ‘sit’ or ‘down’ command and has been taught not to move until a release command has been given, then maybe you will not feel the need to teach ‘stay’ as well.
One approach is to teach your dog 2 different stay commands. ‘Stay’ which means stay on that spot until I come back and release you and ‘wait’ which means be patient, something like a recall or sendaway or just throwing a ball or dumb bell ie. Something FUN is about to happen. Using ‘wait’ before a recall will not encourage a dog to break a stay if he expects to be called to you.
Sit or down and stay is probably the most difficult exercise to master. It certainly takes the most patience to teach and is one of the few exercises not to involve food as part of the dog's reward. Remember to start small and to make the exercise more difficult slowly.
Position your dog in a sit or a down at your left hand side
Gather up your lead into your left hand
There should be a straight line upwards from your dog's collar
Ask your dog to "Stay"
Take a tiny step to your right
Keep the tension on your dog's lead - don't let it fall loose
Take a tiny step forward
Pivot so that your left shoulder faces your dog
Turn to face your dog
Take a small step back towards your dog
Release your dog from the exercise with "All Done"
Never release your dog from this exercise with "Good boy/girl" - if you practice in a park and your dog hears this from another dog owner, he'll think the exercise is finished.
Stay means stay - don't budge until I return to release you.
Never ever call your dog to you. After all, you did ask him to stay.
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