Wait

“Wait” is a short pause before something good — food, a door, jumping out of the car. Lighter than “Stay” and incredibly useful every day.

🐾🐾 · ~7 days · 5 min/session

Learn first: Sit

Step-by-step

1. Start with the food bowl

   Ask your dog to sit and start lowering their food bowl. If they lunge forward, lift the bowl back up without saying anything. Dogs figure it out fast: lunging makes the bowl disappear, calm makes it come down.

2. Add the word “Wait”

   Once your dog waits for the bowl to reach the floor, say “Wait” as you lower it. Pause for a second or two, then release with “Okay!” or “Eat!”. Gradually stretch the pause to five seconds.

   💡 The release word is the reward here — no extra treats needed.

3. Transfer to the door

   Say “Wait” and start opening the front door just a crack. If your dog moves forward, calmly close it. Open wider only while the dog holds still, then release them through.

   💡 This exercise can save a life — a dog that doesn’t bolt through doors doesn’t bolt into traffic.

4. Transfer to the car and stairs

   Use the same principle when opening the boot or car door. The dog waits until you give the release word, and only then jumps. Repeat at stairs, lifts and gates — anywhere bolting is dangerous.

5. Practise in daily life

   Weave a “Wait” into ordinary moments every day — before food, before the leash, before play. Short daily reps keep the cue sharp without formal sessions. Keep pauses brief: two to five seconds is plenty.

Common mistakes

• Blurring “Wait” and “Stay” — decide what each cue means and stay consistent.
• Releasing while the dog is straining forward — that rewards the straining.
• Pauses that are too long at first — “Wait” is a pause, not an endurance test.

Problems & solutions

My dog vibrates with excitement and breaks instantly.

Make it easier: keep the bowl higher, open the door by millimetres and release very quickly. Frequent wins are what teach an excited brain patience.

It works at home but not at the car door.

The car is a high-excitement context. First practise with a parked car and no walk afterwards to lower the stakes, and keep the leash on for safety.

Reward ideas

The access itself is the reward — the food, the walk, the exit. Add a calm “Good”; treats are rarely needed.