How to Teach the Dog to Wait? 5 Easy Steps

Discover proven techniques to teach the dog to wait patiently for various situations, such as food, door openings, treats, and more. Learn how to establish impulse control and instill the valuable command of “wait” in your furry friend.

Teach the Dog to wait

Teaching a dog to wait is an essential skill that promotes discipline, safety, and overall good behavior. Self-control games are a great way to teach a dog impulse control to be more polite and patient – through games with rules designed for impulse control, your dog will learn that patience brings rewards.

Teach the dog to wait for Food

• Before introducing the concept of waiting for food, ensure your dog has a solid foundation in basic commands like “sit” and “stay.”
• Establish a predictable feeding schedule, and gradually introduce short delays before placing the bowl on the ground.
• Teach the dog a specific hand signal and verbal cue to associate with the command “wait” during mealtime.
• Praise and reward your dog for exhibiting patience by waiting calmly for their food. Start with short delays and gradually increase the waiting time.

First Game: Waiting for a meal

Meal time is a golden opportunity to exercise. Teach the dog that his polite behavior is what makes the meal arrive.

Step 1: Hold the dog’s food bowl high enough (thigh or waist height for example) that the dog cannot reach it. They told the dog “Wait!” When you lower the bowl slowly in small increments (literally a centimeter or less at first).

Take a grain out of the food bowl and give it as a reward for waiting patiently
and staying in place every time you take the bowl down.

If it moves towards the dish more than once, you have moved too fast.
If this happens, lift the bowl back up to make it easier for him to succeed and try again.
Just be sure to lower the bowl slowly and gradually.

Step 2: When the bowl reaches the floor, reward him with a handful of berries. As soon as you reward him, pick up the food bowl right back. Repeat this process several times.

Step 3: Start leaving the bowl on the floor longer (1-2 seconds at first) before you reward him. If he waits patiently, give him a reward, pick up the bowl, and repeat the process several more times.

Step 4: Increase the amount of time your dog has to wait and add distractions. For example, instead of leaning over the bowl while he waits, you can stand up and walk away for a moment before you reward him.

Step 5: Now, he will have to wait patiently until you give him permission to eat (word or sign of your choice). After he has waited patiently for a moment or two, say the word of release and let him enjoy his meal. This is a great dog self-control exercise that shows your dog that amazing things happen when he can
control himself.

Second Game: How to teach a dog to wait at the door

Teach your dog to sit and wait before going through any doorway, whether it’s the front door, the car door, or a room entrance. If you have trained your dog to wait for the food bowl, it will be easier for him to generalize the behavior to other activities, such as waiting at the door.

The exercise should be done at a “neutral” time, not when your dog is stressed to go for a walk/to defecate and release energy, but when you have returned from a walk and he is calm.

Stock up on snacks. Stand with your dog by the door (it’s better when he comes on a leash)
Say “Wait”

• Open the door just a little.
• If the dog starts to go out, say “Oops!” and close the door.
• Repeat this step until he remains waiting in place without moving.
• Reward him for staying.
• Try to open the door more and more with each attempt.
• Reward the stay.
• Do this over and over until you can open the door completely without your dog moving.
• Go on a trip with him, even a short one.

Third Game: Waiting in front of food in hand

Start by keeping several dog treats on hand. Close your fingers and present the dog with the cupped hand full of treats at the level of his nose (or a little higher at first).

• Let the dog sniff the hand so he knows there are treats inside.
• Ignore any interaction he makes with your hand such as licking, chewing, or trying to open it with his foot.
• Once he gets bored and stops interacting with your hand, reward him with a snack.
• Repeat this step until he deliberately moves away from your hand and you can open your palm without him jumping on it.
• Take the reward from the full hand using the other hand (the second-hand rewards).
• Later you can challenge the dog, like asking him to make eye contact before he receives the reward.

These initial exercises will help your dog form basic behaviors of impulse control which is the basis for acquiring good manners for the rest of his life.

Teach the Dog to Open the Door

Teaching the dog to open the door is not simple training. You have to wait for weeks for this training. Just follow the given steps and fulfill your desire.

Master basic obedience commands: Ensure your dog understands commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” before attempting door-opening training.

Introduce a door-opening cue: Choose a distinct cue word or phrase, such as “open the door,” to associate with the action of your dog pushing the door with its paw or nose.

Utilize positive reinforcement: Reward your dog with treats, praise, and affection each time they successfully open the door on command.

Practice in controlled environments: Begin training indoors with a lightweight door or a doorbell for practice. Gradually transition to real doors, ensuring your dog’s safety and comfort.

Teach the Dog to Wait for a Treat

Teach your dog to wait for Treat with the given methods.

• Teach the dog a separate command specifically for waiting before receiving treats.
• Place a treat on the ground or a flat surface, instruct your dog to wait, and only allow them to approach and take the treat when given a release command.
• Start with short intervals and extend the waiting time as your dog becomes more proficient at patience. Be consistent and reward their successful waits.
• Introduce mild distractions like toys or noises to test your dog’s focus and reinforce their ability to wait for the treat.

Conclusion

Teach the dog to wait, is a valuable skill that promotes discipline, safety, and overall good behavior. By implementing the methods outlined above, you can establish impulse control, reinforce patience, and create a strong foundation for obedience training. Remember to be patient, and consistent, and always reward your furry friends for their progress. With time and practice, your dog will become a well-behaved companion who can wait confidently in a variety of situations.