How to Train a Labrador Puppy to Stay

The purpose of the clicker is to “mark” the right behavior, giving you some time to then reward after the fact. It is a great tool to use when training stay. If you do not have a clicker, you can still use this method. Simply select a marking word that you will always use when training to “mark” the right behavior, always followed by a reward.

Start with your Lab puppy right in front of you. Say “Staaaay” in a drawn-out tone while using your hand signal. Wait one second, click/reward. If rewarding while in the stay, always bring the treat to your dog so they are not encouraged to break the stay before being released.

Repeat the previous step, extending the duration as she is ready. At this point you are just extending time, not distance. Once he is staying for 10 seconds (it may take several sessions) then you are ready to proceed to the next step.

At this point you are ready to start practicing the release word. About one in three times practicing 'stay' as mentioned in the previous steps, give the release word then toss the reward away from her so she will go and get the reward. If she breaks the stay before the release word, do not reward, ignore, and start over with a new stay.

Start to add some distance between you and your puppy during the stay. Start with a half step and just a few seconds, very gradually (over several sessions) adding some distance and continuing to extend time. Remember that puppies are limited in terms of attention span. Expecting more than a 20 second stay for a 12-week-old Lab puppy is unreasonable.

Once you have a reliable 20 second stay, with you getting at least 15 feet away, then proceed to the 'Proofing' method to strengthen her 'stay' skills.

Some people find training their Lab puppy to stay on a mat is a great way to teach a stay that will easily translate to new environments. Make sure to select a mat that is easy to take with you, such as a welcome mat that you can roll up and tuck in the car for travel.

Start training in a familiar indoor space such as your living room. Without giving any commands, lure your puppy over to the mat, click or use your marking word to let him know he is on the right track when he gets to the mat, followed by a reward.

Say “Staaaay” in a long drawn out tone, along with your hand signal while your dog is on the mat. Take even a short second of a stay before marking/rewarding. Repeat until he is staying on the mat for 10 seconds reliably.

Add the release word to your training. Start by leading your puppy to the mat, giving your stay command, and rewarding for a 10 second stay. Pause a few seconds then say “Okay!” and then toss the treat off the mat. Repeat 10-20 times.

Extend the duration and your distance from the mat, gradually. In addition, move the mat around and practice in new places. If your dog breaks the 'stay' before being released, ignore him and start over.

Once you have trained your Labrador puppy to stay, it is time to start practicing this behavior in higher distraction environments. Ultimately, your goal is to get a reliable stay no matter how much is going on in the surrounding environment. When working in unsecure areas, be sure to use a long leash or rope (25-50’ in length) to make sure you can get her back under control in a hurry for safety.

Practice in new places. Expect to start back at a shorter distance and time to let your dog be successful in a higher distraction environment before extending both.

It is important your Lab puppy learns to 'stay' in the presence of other dogs. Start this training in familiar spaces (such as your back yard) with familiar dogs (such as a regular playmate). Over time you can continue to improve on this skill by working on her 'stay' at a nearby dog event such as Agility Trials where you can expect to find plenty of unfamiliar dogs.

Another way to improve his 'stay' is to start going out of his eyesight when doing stay drills. Of course, start by turning a corner for just a second. Gradually extend duration and distance, making sure your Lab puppy is successful at least 80% of the time

You should also find some outdoor spaces where it is safe to let your Lab puppy off leash to practice his 'stay'. You can use a long rope tied to his collar or harness in order to make sure you can grab him if he tries to run off in pursuit of a squirrel!

Eventually, you will want to add an enforcement mechanism for the stay command. It is critical that your dog already has a strong grasp of the behavior, and you have spent some time proofing it before adding a consequence. A harsh tone, a “Time Out” in their crate, or a “Hard Ignore” are all techniques that positive trainers use to impose a consequence.