Stay teaches patience. It also teaches the owner to raise criteria slowly instead of gambling with a dog that is not ready.
Training steps
1
Ask for sit or down.
2
Show an open palm and say stay.
3
Wait one second, mark, and treat in position.
4
Release with free.
5
Build duration before taking steps away.
Doodle pro tip
A clever doodle will test whether stay has a quiet expiry. Pay in position before that wiggly body renegotiates, and always end on a clear release so a break is never the dog's idea.
Success signs
✓ Five seconds
✓ Fifteen seconds
✓ One step away
Common mistake
Calling the dog to you after stay. That turns stay into a recall setup.