RETURNING TO THE HEEL POSITION

Now you are ready to return to the heel position by going around behind your dog.
As you move toward your dog, repeat your stay signal from the front, place the handle of your lead into your right hand, and side your left hand down the length of the lead, so as to keep it adjusted as you go to your right, along the left side of your dog.

As you return to your dog, if he breaks the stay command before you get directly behind him, the lead must go back into your left hand to correct him from the front. As you return to your dog, as you turn directly behind him, the lead will return to your right hand, and if he should break his position, you will correct him from the side. Long stay commands are simply a matter of understanding how long your dog will remain in the desired position before moving.

If you're dog is willing to remain in position for any given period of time, it is likely that he will be consistent, and remain in that position for whatever amount of time that he feel comfortable with it. Carefully time his limits, and just before that time span has elapsed, make a move using the appropriate signals. This should have the effect of "re- starting" his clock.

So, if you expect he'll remain sitting for ten seconds, make your move at about eight seconds into the command, and return to your original point and wait. Anticipate when he will break the command, and you'll have no difficulty extending the amount of time that he is able to stay on command. The A.K.C. requires that stay command last for only three minutes of sitting, and six minutes in the down position. That is probably due to time constraints in the show ring.

For our purposes, you determine the quantity of time that you would prefer your dog to remain in a stay command. Remember, each time you must correct your dog for breaking a stay command, is an opportunity to extend his ability to wait. Be consistent, patient, and persistent. Don't ask him to do something, and forget about following through to properly enforce the desired command. .