How to Teach Your Dog to Wait

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The “wait” cue sometimes feels like a party trick. A dog, who loves dinner so, so much, showing great fortitude by waiting until they hear a release word to chow down? That’s fun.

But there are times when “wait” is much more than a novelty—it’s a cue that can do a lot to protect your dog from danger.

Why is teaching a dog to wait important?

Trina Vicente, a dog behavior specialist at the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, explained one situation where “wait” keeps her own dog safe.

“I live in an apartment complex with elevators, and every day I work with my 8-year-old dog to wait when the elevator doors open,” she said. “Because it’s a dog-friendly community, I can bet that there may be another dog on the other side of the elevator door.” 

Instances like one above are when having the “wait” cue goes from a nice-to-have trick to an essential safety tool. 

 “We don’t like to dive headfirst into situations. We have to wait and check it out,” she said.

Luckily, Vicente finds the “wait” cue pretty easy to teach a dog—especially if they already have “sit” down.

Building duration with commands your dog already knows

Teaching “wait” is a great way to build on commands that your dog has already mastered. Dogs who know “sit” have the foundation needed to develop their duration (and patience). 

Vicente said that she will typically start with the “sit” command, then ask a dog to wait before giving them a treat

What you need:

  1. High-value treats
  2. A quiet, indoor area free from distractions

The process: 

  1. Cue your dog to “sit”
  2. Count to five in your head before giving them a treat
  3. Repeat, adding the cue word “wait.”
  4. Add more time after each cue until they can hold for 20 seconds. If they go for the treat prior to reaching 20 seconds, do not reward them. Go back to shorter time frames, and only proceed when they can wait successfully.

The connection between “sit” and “wait”

With this method, “sit” and” wait” will be linked, which Vicente finds useful. When she says “wait,” her dog automatically sits. This is helpful because you can see that the cue took, and that the dog will indeed wait. 

Training tips for success

Like all effective dog training, teaching “wait” should be enjoyable for your dog. 

“Just make it really fun for everybody,” Vicente said. Use high-value treats and “throw a big party” when your dog succeeds. Keep training sessions short and end on a success. 

Likewise, “consistency is everything,” Vicente said. As with every cue she teaches, she commits to long-term maintenance for “wait.” She recommends using the cue consistently during daily routines, and that dog guardians continue to offer treats for a job well done throughout the dog’s lifetime. With consistency and positive reinforcement, “wait” can help you and your dog navigate the world together safely and confidently.

The post How to Teach Your Dog to Wait appeared first on The Farmer’s Dog - Digest.


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