“Wait” is a very useful command that you can teach your dog. Teaching your pet how to wait is especially important if you are planning to work him all the way through to a reliable off-leash capability. It is one of the several safety commands that you can use to monitor him and keep him safe from potential danger.
There will be times when you need your dog to wait for you but not necessarily to be still. The “Stay” command would not be the appropriate command to use at those times. Also, there will be times when he will be in a hurry to have something or do something. “Wait” will be the right word to tell him that he can have what he wants, but not right away.
Because dogs live in the present moment, teaching them how to “Wait” not only adds an interesting and useful word to their vocabularies, but it also adds a concept that is very difficult for them to understand. However, your dog can understand the meaning of the word “Wait” on a short-term basis. The most effective way to train your dog to “Wait” is by tone of voice. Keep in mind that the tone of voice is one of the most effective tools that you can use in dog training. Your pet needs to be able to understand your tone to properly respond to it.
To understand how this kind of training works, keep in mind that your dog is a pack animal and that you are his pack leader. He looks to you for approval and direction. When he is doing something, anything at all, and you say a word, any word at all in a moderately disapproving tone, he will stop whatever it is he is doing because of your disapproval. For example, when you want him to wait at the bottom of the steps leading out of the park and you say “Wait” in a serious but not an angry tone, a trained dog will turn and look at you. At this point, say “Gooood dog” in a pleasant tone while he is waiting. If he continues up the steps, say “NO, WAIT!” in a firmer tone.
The difference between the command “Enough” and “Wait” is that “Enough means stopping the activity for now. On the other hand, “Wait” means a momentarily pause. In the example of the dog waiting to leave the park and jump into the car, the command “Wait” gives him the joy of anticipation. It lets him know that if he pauses for a moment, then he can continue going up the steps and that he has your approval.
Use the command “Wait” when you are putting his food down on the floor. Make him wait for a second, long enough for you to get out of the way before he starts to eat his dinner. He can wait to get out of the car or get out of the door. He can also wait for you to go first through doorways and down flight of stairs. “Wait” must always be followed by the release word “Ok” to let your dog know it is ok for him to continue with the activity at hand.
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