Stay, wait and leave it are each important training exercises that are often confused. When your dog understands the difference between each one, it really improves your ability to communicate clearly to your dog what you want them to do.
So what DO they mean?
First off, let’s take a look at each individual training exercise to see what they are intended to mean. The meaning of training exercises is not set in stone! But this is how I like to differentiate between these three exercises so my dogs know what I mean…
Stay
“Stay” means do not move from that spot until I come back to get you. Stay communicates to my dog that they can relax where they are because we/they are not moving for a while.
Common uses:
- Stay on your bed.
- Stay at the gate.
- Stay outside the shop.
Need to teach your dog to stay? No problem! Here is a video all about how to get started:
Wait
Wait means freeze until I release you to do something with my release cue (“free”). Wait communicates to my dog to keep a close eye on me and be ready for the release cue.
Common uses:
- Wait for food bowl
- Wait at the crossroads
- Wait at doorways
Need to work on wait training with your dog? Take a look at this video for all the ways you can use “wait” with a little bit of practice:
Leave it
Leave it means take your focus away from whatever it is that you’re interested in and focus on me instead. Simple!
Common uses:
- When your dog finds rubbish in public.
- When you drop something that you don’t want your dog to pick up.
- When you want your dog to stop obsessing about birds/cats/other dogs.
Not sure how to get Leave it started? Or maybe you need to learn how to make it work in public? Check out this video:
Common Mistakes
Stay v Wait
I find that stay and wait can be used randomly and interchangeably. There is a difference between wait and stay that is important and very useful day to day in communicating with your dog what to expect and what you want them to do.
Stay = long term with no release (your dog knows to stay in place for a while).*
Wait = freeze until I release you (your dog stays focused on you and ready to act on your release).
* We could add a third cue here which is “settle” which means “relax”… but that is a discussion for another day.
Leave it v Wait
I also find that wait and leave it are often confused and used interchangeably. When it comes to control around food, treats or toys or other items I say “wait” when I’m ultimately going to give it to my dog. I say “leave it” when my dog is never allowed to have the food, treats or toys or other item.
Leave it training is how you prevent your dog eating something dangerous or getting into mischief. To my mind leave it should be a clear instruction to completely leave something alone.
Leave it = leave that thing (you are NEVER having it) and look at me.
Wait = freeze until I release you and then you can.
So… have you been using stay, wait and leave it like I do?
You are of course free to use different cues and meanings to me. That is your right as a dog owner and a human! I just recommend that you get really clear on what each one means so that you can teach and communicate clearly with your dog.
Please get in touch if you have any questions and please feel free to leave a comment below.
