How To Train Your Dog To Wait
This tutorial is part of The Ultimate List Of Dog Trick Ideas which contains 99 other tricks like this!
The idea of this trick is to encourage calm self-control in your dog. By learning that he only gets a reward when he is calm and waits for permission then your dog will be focused to learn.
Visually pleasing to both the trainer and onlookers the wait command makes your dog appear completely obedient and tuned into the wishes of his trainer, this action is useful as a prelude to something more complicated. For a simple trick to teach, the wait command is neat and effective and extremely useful.
To teach the wait command you will need a treat and a quick hand.
- Sit down on a chair and ask your dog to sit in front of you
- When your dog is sitting nicely, show him a treat and ask him to wait
- Slowly place the treat onto your knee whilst your dog is watching you. If the dog moves or reaches for the treat take it away very quickly and ask him once again to sit and wait.
- Repeat the previous two stages as many times as you need to until you can put the treat on your knee without the dog moving or trying to take it, always use the word wait.
- Eventually your dog will sit and wait despite the tempting treat on your knee often he will look directly into your eyes, pleading for his treat.
- When you are certain that your dog is not going to move you can give permission by saying “take it” and allowing your dog to take the treat.
Top tip; Build up the wait slowly, start with asking him to wait only for a few seconds then as he learns and your confidence grows increase the length of time between the command and the permission to take the treat.
Dog trainers love this trick because it teaches a dog to focus and be controlled during training sessions and everyday life.
