Dog Training - The Stay Command
Dogs have a significant capacity for training their trainers. Apart from making us wave our hands in an unnatural fashion and bark odd words, we regularly fetch treats and throw balls for them. Not useful to us, but the dog enjoys it.
To ensure you're the one who's in charge assert your alpha status on a regular basis. One of the best methods to do this is by frequent use of 'the stay' command. Just what it sounds like, the stay requires the dog to remain stationary while you move about which, unfortunately is the reverse of the usual situation in too many cases.
Make sure your dog has fully grasped the 'sit' command before you start using both the word and hand signals. I snap my fingers and simultaneously flip my extended index finger down at an angle to the ground - that way the dog hears and see the command without tying up my hands with a clicker. It works surprisingly well.
Then with the puppy or dog in the sit, I thrust a hand in the dog's direction palm first and fingers raised giving the voice command 'stay!' There's no need to yell, it just need to be distinct and audible over any background noise. Try and keep the hand movements precise and make sure they're unique to that particular command.
Then take one step back.
Most dogs will tend to follow, so repeat your hand gestures for sit and stay. Don't try stepping back again until the dog is sitting solidly with his bottom firmly on the ground. If it's bobbing up and down then he inevitably try following you. Keep repeating until you get the correct behaviour and then praise lavishly.
Now try taking that one step back again.
Once you're sure the dog will remain stationary after one step back, take two. Then four, then eight. Do it very gradually over several days. As you move further away the less control you have. And this is where problems often set in.
The dog naturally wants to follow the alpha (leader).
One trick for overcoming this is put the dog on a long leash. Then place a helper behind the dog with the leash running behind them. As the dog stands and steps forward to follow you, the helper should give a gentle tug on the leash. At the same time you should issue the voice command and hand gesture. Be firm but gentle you're looking restrain not punish the dog. Make sure your partner stays silent as dogs can become confused about whom to obey.
Some dogs will tend to lie down during the exercise, especially as you back away a few feet. In this case you may have to train an 'up'-'sit' combination before trying to master 'stay'.
Breeds and individuals will vary in how long this will all take. It can take many repetitions over many, many days before they consistently obey, but almost all get it eventually.
After the stay has lasted a few seconds, you can issue a 'come' command with a unique tone and hand gesture. Make it something you can do precisely, but aren't likely to do during normal activity.
When the dog comes, praise lavishly and repeat the exercise, making the stay last longer as the dog learns. If you can get him to sit and stay in the garden while you go in the house you know you've succeeded. Don't forget to release him the command though!
Of course, he'll be expecting you to bring back treats and a ball to throw so don't disappoint.