The "Wait" life skill helps restore safety and sanity to life with your dog!
Does your dog become so excited that she can't wait to get leashed up? Or does she pounce to gobble up her food before you've placed it on the ground? Anytime your dog is barking, jumping, or dashing wildly, it's harder for you to focus on ordinary life and get anything done!
This is why we love the "Wait" life skill. It's a versatile cue that reduces chaos during everyday life with a dog. When do you use it? When you drop your phone while you're walking your dog, and need a moment to pick it up. When you just need a momentary pause from your dog to get everything back on track. Or any other situation where you need to call a quick halt to the activity before proceeding again.
Wait lets you interrupt a dog's behavior for a brief period, putting everything on hold for safety and good manners. Use Wait to pause before traveling a crosswalk, to reduce chaos at mealtime, and for loads of everyday purposes.
How to Teach Your Dog to Wait on Cue
- You’ll begin by teaching this skill using small treats in a bowl held at waist height.
- Begin by noticing when your dog naturally performs the desired behavior (remaining still and silent for a brief duration). Reward that behavior with a treat and the word “yes!” This is called “marking” the desired behavior.
- As a next step, you’ll repeat this pattern with the bowl lower to the ground. Eventually, you'll associate a cue word with the desired behavior and reward. You'll also follow success with a release word.
- With practice, the association becomes stronger, and you can use the Wait cue at mealtime.
- As your dog becomes more proficient, you can practice the Wait cue when there is a different distraction in the environment.
