How to Train a Dog to Stay: The Day Bruno Outsmarted Me...Almost

If you've ever tried to teach a dog to stay while holding a piece of steak (or, in my case, a particularly juicy dog bone), you know it’s basically a test of wills.

When we were training, Bruno, my big lovable lab mix, he had this "I'm being SO good" face that he put on—tail wagging furiously, butt sliding an inch closer every second until he's practically in my lap.

Pixie, my terrier, was sneakier. She’d stay... but only if I maintained full, unbroken eye contact. Blink once, and she was gone like a magician’s assistant.

But we worked on it. Much like a 5-year-old human, they slowly learned that their clever attempts weren't fooling anyone.

Teaching the stay command isn't just about turning them into a dog statue. It’s about building self-control, trust, and the ability to pause even when every instinct is screaming, “GO!”

And let me just say, once your dog learns they can get what they want (a reward) faster when they stop the ninja games, you'll find out how valuable STAY is for everyday life.

How to Use the Stay Command in Daily Routines

Use Stay...

• At the door to prevent darting disasters
• While you're pouring dog food to avoid spills
• To keep them from jumping in the backseat for a trip while you're trying to take the child's car seat or groceries out
• On walks to keep them from bolting after a neighborhood cat, car, jogger, or Bruno's favorite, the skateboarding club on their way to the skate park
• Around distractions to help your dog keep cool when there's chaos, like a parade, festival, or unexpected event
• To avoid temptations like a plate of ribs on a picnic table or a stranger's sandwich
• To avoid danger like a dropped pill, or xylitol mint they could mistake for a treat

In fact, it's crucial to reinforce dog training regularly by trying to incorporate it into daily routines. Not only does it keep the skill fresh. Dogs thrive on routine. It's good for dog health.

How to Teach a Dog to Stay: Step-By-Step

Here’s how I taught Bruno and Pixie to stay without losing my mind—or my sandwich.

1. Start Simple

Grab some single-ingredient dog treats that your pup really loves. Trust me, when you're asking a dog to resist their natural urges, you need a reward that feels worth it.

Pixie would do a triple back flip for a buttery beef marrow bone.

Start indoors, somewhere boring. (No squirrels, no mail carriers, no ham sandwiches.)

Ask your dog to sit or lay down first. If you haven't taught your dog to sit reliably, definitely start here.

Then:

• Say “Stay” in a calm, clear, upbeat voice.
• Wait just one second.
• Reward with a treat immediately—even if they wiggled a little. You’re building the idea: "Stay = awesome things happen."

2. Add a Release Word

Dogs need to know when it’s okay to move again.
After giving the treat, pick a word like “Okay!” or “Free!” and say it in a happy voice.

Otherwise, you’re going to have a very confused dog parked in your living room indefinitely. (Not that I’m speaking from experience…Sorry, Bruno.)

3. Build Duration Slowly

Patience is key. Think of it like teaching toddlers not to touch shiny buttons. Progress happens—eventually.

Once they get the hang of one-second stays, start stretching it:

• Two seconds
• Three seconds
• Five seconds

If they break the stay early, no big deal.
Just calmly reset with "sit" or "lay down" and try again.

Now, this is where it gets a little harder, so stay patient. And if your dog doesn't seem to get it at first, ask for a sit, treat and praise, and end the session for a little while. You're creating a positive memory of training, so they want to try again later.

4. Add a Hand Signal

Dogs learn faster when you combine a word or sound with a visual. So, hold your palm up toward them like you're telling someone to stop. Eventually, they'll respond to either the word "stay" or the hand gesture.

This comes in handy if you have your mouth full and need an immediate stay.

5. Add Distance and Distractions

Once they can stay while you count to ten in your head, it’s time to level up.

• Take a step back, then return and reward.
• Toss a toy nearby and reward them for ignoring it.
• Practice outside, where real-world distractions lurk (squirrels, neighbor kids, other dogs, random grocery bags that somehow become the most interesting thing ever).

Each time they succeed, reward BIG.
I’m talking jackpot-level treats—like handing over the best dog treats they’ve ever had.

In our home, we like K9 Connoisseur Beef Lung Training Treats. These single-ingredient dog treats are just roasted organ meat. They're crunchy. And I can break one treat into 3-4 to make one bag last through many, many training sessions.

6. Complete the Final Challenge

Hold one of their favorite beef marrow dog bones, while they stay. They can smell it, even across the room. Very tempting. Can they do it?

After you count to 10 in your head, say the release word. Then give them the ultimate reward.

For Bruno, I like to use the Goliath Bone for this challenge. If Pixie can do it, she knows she is going to get a meaty rib bone. After several tries, they realized they get what they want faster when they stop playing games.

Why Single-Ingredient Treats Make Stay Training Easier

When you’re rewarding every few seconds at first, you want single-ingredient dog treats that are:

• Small enough for quick delivery
• Smelly enough to be exciting (that's smelly to dogs who's noses are 1000X as a strong as humans. I can't smell beef lung treats.)
• Healthy enough that you don’t feel guilty about handing out 27 of them in five minutes

Ready to learn more about dog training? See if you and your dog have what it takes. Join the 7-Day Dog Training Challenge.