Method
This exercise consists of getting the dog to remain motionless (lying, sitting or standing) when his master moves away. In general, the dog does not like this at all because he wants to follow his master everywhere and all the time.
It is therefore an exercise which requires time and patience. The order can be given by saying, “ Stay ! “Or:” Don’t move ! “. When the dog is familiar with the commands: “Sit” and: “Lie”, we can teach him to stay still with the command: “Not move”.
You must first put it in the position you prefer, give it the order: “Don’t move!” And take a step back. The dog will try to follow us and it will have to be stopped with: “No! Sec.
During the following lessons, as the dog understands what is expected of it, we will take four to five steps, no more, and we will leave it in this position for a maximum of thirty seconds. As you go, you can increase the distance and time, until the dog has memorized the order.
Those who think that these exercises are too difficult and in any case reserved for those who want a working dog should know that the command: “not move” is one of the most useful exercises for companion dogs who live in the city. town and are often found in front of shops bearing the words: “Forbidden to dogs”.
The order “not move” and the anguish of separation
The hypersensitive dogs often suffer from separation anxiety, a condition of the behaviour caused by their inability to manage their lives in the absence of their master. It can manifest itself in several ways: for example by gnawing or dirtying the house when the owner is absent or by making him go crazy when he tries to teach the dog the command “not to move”, which he does. really fails to learn.
If the young dog seems particularly reluctant to perform this exercise, it is probably showing anxiety about abandonment. In this case, we must try to carry out this training between the four walls of the house rather than outside: we give the dog the order ” lying down – not move” and we simply move a few meters, in the room. same room, for example to go and sit in an armchair and read the newspaper.
In this way, the dog cannot think that it is “abandoned” in an unfamiliar place, but that it must stay wisely in its place to please us. When the dog has learned this exercise at home, it will probably know how to do it outdoors as well; but beware, separation anxiety is a serious problem and it is always better to consult a behavioural expert before having real problems.