“Stand” is a position that not many people think to teach their dog. Its uses aren’t as immediately obvious as “sit,” “stay,” or “lay down,” but it is still a great skill to teach your pup. Stand on command can easily be taught using some treats as a lure.

Why Train to Stand on Command?

This behavior comes in handy when you need your dog to stand still as you put on their harness, wiping them down after they come back inside when it’s been raining, and for grooming or vet visits. You can also use it to put your dog in a neutral position before leading them into a different position for a new trick. If you plan to enter competitions like conformation or behavior training in the future, “stand” is a great starting point. It helps get them ready for the next step and cues them to focus on you.

Here’s what you need to do to get your dog into a stand position. Have a pocketful of treats on hand along with your clicker, and as always, keep your training sessions short and positive.

  1. First, tell your dog to sit down. Stand in front of them, and grab a treat.
  2. Hold the treat in front of their face, but don’t let them take it. Slowly back away from your dog so that as they attempt to follow it, they stand up. If you want to use a hand signal other than pulling your hand toward your body (the way you use the lure), be sure to do that signal simultaneously that you are leading them.
  3. As soon as they stand up, mark the behavior with a click and praise. Give them the treat while they are still in the standing position.
  4. Repeat this multiple times. As they get better at following the lure, start removing it and just doing the hand motion. Keep quickly marking and praising them before rewarding them.
  5. Once they are good at following your hand signal to stand, you can incorporate a verbal cue. This could be “stand,” “up,” or anything else.
  6. Keep up the training sessions for as long as your dog needs to master this trick. Then, you should begin practicing by having them stay in “stand mode” for multiple seconds. If they already know “stay” or “wait,” this should be pretty easy. Once they can hold the stand for 30 seconds, try adding distance, distractions, or handling (petting, lifting the tail, stroking their legs, etc.).

Are You Running into Issues?
Some dogs may be hesitant to leave the sit position if you’ve worked hard on “sit” before teaching “stand.” If you’ve got a pup that doesn’t want to leave the ground, there are a few things you can try. You can raise your excitement level—do a silly voice to encourage them, or pat your thighs. If that doesn’t work, try having them in “lay down” instead of “sit” before luring them into a stand. This might work better for your pup. Make sure the treats you are using are high-value since they will likely be more successful at getting your dog up.

Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training is a Bradenton-based canine obedience school. We help Sarasota and Manatee County dog owners to train their dogs to integrate happily into their families. Call today if we can assist with your dog training requirements.