Most dogs are active, playful, and cheerful, making them pleasant to be around. Sometimes, though, you need them to stay put, and taming this energy can be quite a challenge. When you include the command “wait” in dog training, you can prevent your pet from dashing out of your home or rushing out of a crate. Here are a few things to remember when you’re teaching “wait.”

Use the command when speaking

You do not need to spend an entire training session teaching a dog how to wait. Use “wait” when they go outside, leave the crate, or before eating. Consistency is essential; prevent your dog from lunging at the door or their food bowl once you begin teaching this command.

Take leaving the crate as an example. Start by giving the command before unhitching or unlocking the carrier. Then, open the door a little to see if he will hurry to exit. If he does, close the door. Try giving the command again, and keep closing the door if the dog rushes to get out.

You can incorporate this in other types of dog training. For example, when it’s time to eat, fill up your dog’s food bowl and have him sit. Make sure the container is at chest level so he can observe you putting the bowl down. Say the command while lowering the bowl; if he lunges forward, lift it. Praise him and lower the container when he can sit in one place while waiting.

Reinforce behaviour you’d like to see

Keep in mind that this will not produce results overnight. When your dog is just learning to wait, reward hesitation. For example, if you tell your dog to wait for a food bowl and they hover in place before running around, praise them and set the bowl down. 

When you do, tell them it’s okay to proceed, with a command like “eat” or “food.” Gradually lengthen the time they need to wait and be ready to remove access to what they’re waiting for if they try to go for it without sitting still first.

Be patient with your fur friend

Practicing “wait” for a few days will train your dog to stand or sit still until you give the command “okay,” “eat,” or whatever it is they are waiting to do. Even after they have learned it, practice “wait” from time to time, so your dog training is more effective. Your pet deserves understanding because they are family too.

Learning is a lifelong endeavour

Reinforcing “wait” will take your dog’s entire life. It will become second nature to both of you at some point, but it will take a while before that happens. When your dog begins to ignore the command, give them a “refresher course.” Train them by helping them relearn the behaviour using the techniques you used in the beginning.

“Wait” is also a building block command for other tricks. For example, you can train your pet to wait before touching or using a favourite toy. When your dog is familiar with the command, you can train them with a toy by sitting them down and placing the item in front of them. 

Say “wait” and step back, preventing your pet from touching the toy if he lunges for it. When you are consistent and patient, he will learn to touch the item only if you permit him.

Conclusion

Dog training is vital in getting pets to learn how to listen to directions and instructions. When you want a well-behaved pet, you have to show him which behaviours are acceptable and which are not. Training him to wait will help it become more evident for your fur friend.

Let The Paw Resort and Wellness Centre handle your dog’s learning. We provide dog training in Brandon, Manitoba, with several classes for everything from fundamentals to nose work and even dog dancing! People trust us, and pets love us—book an appointment today to see why!