Advanced Obedience - Distance & Distractions
This handout goes over how to teach commands from a distance and adding distractions to stay.
Overview
Once your dog is proficient with certain commands like sit, down, stand, place you can start teaching them do these behaviors while you are farther away from them.
You can start adding distractions to their stays to help proof that they fully understand they need to stay put no matter what’s going on around them.
It can be helpful to start practicing these with them on an elevated dog bed/cot.
Commands at a Distance
Teach your dog that “Sit” and “Down” mean to perform those actions wherever they are, not just in front of you. Dogs are situational learners, so if you always ask for “Sit” while they’re in front of you, they’ll assume “Sit” means sitting only in that position.
Start Close: Start 1-2 steps away from your dog. Ask them to "Sit" or "Down" (teaching "sit" from "down" first can help).
Move Towards Them: Immediately after giving the command, move toward them while using the hand signal, so they finish the behavior with you in front of them.
Mark and Reward: Mark with "Yes" when they complete the behavior, reward with a treat, and ensure they stay in their position (Sit-Stay or Down-Stay).
Alternate Commands: Alternate commands: If they're in a Down, ask for Sit, and vice versa.
Repeat Until Mastered: Repeat until they perform the behavior without moving toward you first.
Increase Distance: Once they succeed 5/5 times, step farther back and repeat the process.
Adding Distractions to the Stay
Before adding distractions, your dog should hold a stay for several minutes and tolerate you walking far away or out of sight. When introducing distractions, make it easier by staying closer, shortening the stay duration, and using frequent rewards, even if you've begun fading treats for known commands.
Walk Circles Around Them
Start with basic movement: Place your dog in a stay position (sit, down, place, or stand). Take a few steps back, then move a step or two to the side.
Mark and reward: Praise and reward your dog for staying put. Gradually increase the distance you move around them.
Practice behind them: Walking behind your dog can make them stand up, so work on this in small steps until they remain in place.
Add more movement: Once they’re steady with you walking around them, try running around them.
Introduce exaggerated distractions: Use dance moves, flailing, or loud noises to test their focus. Avoid clapping or patting if these actions typically signal your dog to come.
Use a Toy
Start with simple distractions: Place your dog in a stay position. Take a few steps back and hold a toy off to your side. If your dog stays put, mark and reward them.
Introduce movement: Drop the toy next to you while your dog stays put (keep them on a leash or back-tie for control). Mark and reward for staying.
Increase difficulty: Toss the toy further out and increase your distance from your dog. Mark and reward each time they remain in place.
Add variety: Toss the toy in different directions—straight ahead, to the side, or even over their head.
Keep sessions short: Since this is more challenging, release them frequently and let them play with the toy as a reward.
Use with "Wait": Tell your dog to "Wait," toss the toy, then release them with a command like “OK,” “Get It,” or “Fetch.”
Real World Distractions
Proofing with real-world distractions: Look for opportunities where your dog can practice staying and waiting in more challenging environments, such as when kids are biking by, a squirrel runs past, or in a busy, noisy area with traffic or crowds.
Use dog parks as a training opportunity: If your dog is ready and you’re confident in their recall and behavior around other dogs, dog parks provide great distractions like other dogs, owners, and thrown balls for obedience work.
Start with distance if not ready for the park: If dog parks are not yet an option, practice obedience outside of the park at a comfortable distance from the action.