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Stand

The 'Stand' cue is an interesting, rarely-taught tool which can be useful when you want your dog to effectively do the opposite of 'sit', but don't necessarily want her to come to you. This teaches the dog to rise from a sitting or lying down position, but not to move after standing. Whether you need your dog to stand up and stay still for a medical inspection, as part of a game, or to ensure his safety in various situations, the 'Stand' cue is also a great way to work on your dog's impulse control and communication skills.

Some larger and older dogs also find sitting and lying down difficult, so the 'Stand' cue is also a great alternative for those who need to avoid repetitive actions which can be challenging.

As with all cues, you want to catch your dog at a time when she is doing something you like and then mark that action or emotional state with a cue word and/or praise.  The stand cue is one cue that is easy to catch and reinforce.

Training Technique

• Each time you see your dog stand and stay in one place say stand and praise.
• Try saying the cue word before you and your dog walk through a door or cross the road.
• This cue enables your dog to still be controlled and stay in one place without having to put her behind or body on the ground.  This is good if your dog finds it hard to sit or if the ground is wet, too hot or too cold.
• The stand cue is also good to use while your dog is being groomed or when she is being examined by the veterinarian.