PRACTICING LONG STAY COMMANDS

Try leaving your dog from the heel position on a sit or down-stay command, stepping off with your right foot as you issue the stay signal with voice command, dropping the length of your lead directly in front of his nose as your left foot is proceeding into its first movement of your second step.

As you plant your left foot on the ground, the handle of the lead must go over the thumb of your left hand, and your right foot should be moving forward into your third step, and continue to the six foot length of your lead. Turning to face him with a flash of your right palm and a repeat voice command to stay, tell him he's a good dog, repeat your stay signal and voice command as you once again step forward on your right foot.

Depending on whether you want to move directly into him to perhaps adjust his position, or just to pat and reassure him, or continue to go around him to return to the heel position, requires different handling techniques with the lead.

These differences are important in order to efficiently correct any errors, as well as to avoid giving any unintentional cues that might cause him to break his command. If your intent is to keep him sitting or down while in front of you at a distance, you'll need to control the lead with your left hand. If he should break the stay command, just tell him "no" as you repeat the signal of the command that he broke (in this case either sit or down), and without speaking, collect the lead with your right hand, keeping the signal open, and placing the lead half way down into your left hand. If your intent is to return to the heel position, you'll need to hold the handle of your lead with the right hand, sliding your left hand down the length of your lead as you approach him.

So, when you're at the six foot distance in front of him, as your about to move toward him, repeat your stay signal as you step forward with your right foot. Move directly forward, collecting your lead into your left hand, step right up to your dog, pat, praise, adjust, repeat the stay signal, and step directly back as you drop the length of the lead, and return to the six foot distance in front of your dog.

Repeat your stay signal once again as you step forward on your right foot, place the handle of your lead into your right hand, slide your left hand down the lead as you extend your arms enough to keep the extra slack out of the way, and proceed to your right around your dog. As you step past his head, is when he's likely to break position. If he does, place the lead into your left hand, repeat your signal with your right, do not speak, correct his position, drop the length as you step all of the way back, praise from this distance, repeat your stay commands, and try again to return around him.

As you do so, if he breaks position as you approach directly behind him, correct him as you would from the side. This time, plan your move so as to plant your left foot at the heel position, as you move without hesitation into the stay command, passing by him with your right foot, moving directly to the end of your lead. Repeat this several times, just moving forward and returning around from behind him and leaving him seated as you pass by.

After several tries, plan your move so that when you are directly behind him you will plant your right foot at the heel position, and pass his shoulder as you step out of the stationary heel position and into the forward heel with your left foot, hand signal, and voice command to heel. Take three steps, speaking with each step and come to a halt, asking for a sit or down. .