Wait! is different in my opinion in that the dog is eventually going to get to have the thing they are waiting for. In Leave It! they never get the thing they are told not to touch.
Wait! is very easy to teach.
- At meal time, ask you dog to sit as you hold his bowl of food in your hand.
- Ask your dog to Wait!
- As you bend over to put the bowl down for serving, if his bottom leaves the ground, stand back up with out putting the food down.
- Say "No, Wait"
- Repeat until your dog (including puppies as young as 7 weeks) sit still as you put the food down
- Then give a cue word like Eat
- Stand and walk away
You should be able to have your dog wait even as you leave the room!
I don't make them wait very long. Maybe a minute or two -- just to instill impulse control. But I will tell you I once had a friend pet sitting for me and she forgot to tell Vinnie to eat and he waited about 15 minutes! Needless to say there was a pool of drool on the floor.I've seen some people use a word like "Amen!" and in essence teach there dog to say the blessing. It doesn't matter what words you use prior to the cue word, they simply have to wait for the cue!
Apply this same technique as you ask your dog to wait for the door to open. Doors include the crate, access to the yard or a walk, exiting the car, etc. Simply start to open the door, and if his bottom leaves the ground, the door closes. You practice until the dog can sit and wait with the door wide open without exiting until you give a cue.
Note: For the doorway exercise, always practice on-leash until your dog is reliable. It is also best to teach your dog to walk through slowly and sit on the other side vs bolting out when the cue is given.
Once your dog is sitting reliably, you can change to a Down! or even a BOW! or other trick if your dog has learned new skills.
Over time you should be able to ask him to wait to take a treat from the floor. Or wait for you to throw a ball. Etc.
It's also important for you to wait to give these cues until your dog is relaxed and calm. You won't want to create a level of over-excitement at doorways or for food. For a game like ball it may be ok. If you're training a scent and tracking dog that level of excitement is actually encouraged.
Have fun and train your dog!
Dana Brigman
The K9 Coach
Dog Training - Matthews, NC
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
info@thek9-coach.com
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The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.
My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.
My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.
Begin training with a consult with a professional trainer to be sure you're solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty -- do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.
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