Training your dog to “stand” on command is very useful. This basic command is used to tell your dog to stand up on all four paws without moving. It is handy for when you need your dog to endure up to be examined or groomed, whether it’s by you or someone else. It’s a good foundation for advanced obedience training as well. And, if you hope to show your dog, it is essential because many competitions require a dog to stand perfectly still despite distractions. Fortunately, this is a fairly simple command to teach and most canines pick it rather quickly.
Teach “Sit” and “Down”
Before you teach your dog to stand on command, it is helpful that your pet knows the sit and down commands. Even if you’re still working on those, introducing stand is good practice and may help reinforce the other command.
Prepare for Training
All you need to teach your dog to stand is a handful of treats. If you are using clicker training, you will need the clicker as well. You will also want to find a quiet place that is free of distractions so your dog will keep its focus on you.
Introduce “Stand”
Start off with your dog either sitting or lying down in front of you. Hold a treat right in front of its nose, and give the command “stand.” Very slowly pull the treat straight out from its nose and toward you. Your dog should stand up to follow the treat. The moment it is standing, praise your dog or click your clicker, and give it the treat.
Practice the Command
The first several times you practice the stand command, you should praise and treat any time your dog stands up, even if it moves a little bit. Once the canine has the hang of it, you can begin offering treats only when it stands up directly without moving from the spot.
At the same time, you can extend the length of time your dog stands without moving.
Extend Distance and Time
When your dog is not moving on a regular basis, increase the distance between you and the dog. Start out by taking just one step back after your dog is standing and reward it for not moving toward you. Continue to increase the distance until you can back away a few steps.
You should be able to perfect the stand command in several short training sessions. Begin pausing for some extra seconds, then wait for thirty seconds, a full minute, and then longer before offering a treat. This is a good way to instill self-control in your pet, which is the foundation of good obedience training.
Problems and Proofing Behavior
If you are having trouble getting your dog to stand up, you can entice it by offering additional encouragement. Talking in an excited voice or shaking a toy in front of the dog are two good methods.
Be sure to vary the starting position of your dog’s stand training. For instance, if you began with your dog sitting, practice the stand command from the down position. This will help your dog understand that standing isn’t just associated with sitting.
Keep training sessions brief and be sure to end before your dog loses interest. This is especially important for young puppies who have a limited attention span and may get frustrated or bored after just five minutes. Finish each session on a positive note, even if you have got to revert to a command that your dog knows really well such as sit.
Proof this behavior by practicing it in environments where there are distractions. Begin with your backyard, then try it in a public park. In each scenario, your dog should be paying attention to you and not what’s going on around it.
Since groomers and vets will also need your dog to stand properly, it’s good to have other people practice this command as well. Ask a friend or family member to work with your pet for a few minutes, but show them how you do it first. This way, he or she will be able to follow your lead, which will help your dog understand that this other person is asking the same thing of it so it knows what to do. At your next appointment, give the stand command and your vet or groomer will be impressed with your training.
