WAIT is a lot like stay, only your dog doesn't have to be still. WAIT means: don't go past a certain point.
You might use WAIT if you want your dog to stay in the kitchen while you go to the living room. With the WAIT command, your dog can move anywhere in the kitchen, but cannot leave.
Think carefully about whether you want your dog to stay (don't move a muscle) or WAIT (you can move, but don't follow me) Some situations require that you tell him to stay and some require that he WAIT.
So, using the example of wanting to keep your dog in the kitchen and not follow you into the living room, let’s go through the steps to teach WAIT.
- Stand at the doorway to the kitchen.
- Hold the palm of your hand toward your dog and say WAIT very slowly and raising your voice at the end. Say WAIT and draw the word out.
- Then stand in the doorway facing your dog so he can’t get out. He can go anywhere in the kitchen, but not out the door. Repeat WAIT.
- A little bit at a time, start to back up farther away from the door.
- If your dog tries to come through the doorway, walk back to the door with him, lead him into the kitchen and repeat WAIT.
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- Stay close to the door until you feel he understands; then back up a couple of steps. If he does that well, then you can back up more. Gradually increase the distance as you can.
- These steps should be done over several days. Don't expect your dog to learn it the first day.
Remember the difference between wait and stay.
Which one do you want to use?
