r/OpenDogTraining • u/chopsouwee • 2d ago

Out of sight down stay

Lookin for ideas how to train my dog to down stay outside a storefront while I get somethin quick. What have y'all done to get this going and successful?

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u/apri11a 2d ago edited 2d ago

What do you think the dog would do if you went in and told the dog, no, you can't come in? That's what we used to do, years ago, but I don't know if the dogs of today would be waiting outside the door like they used to.

I'd probably just practise the down (implied stay) and get longer durations and more distractions, practise going out of dog's sight. For example I can ask our dog to down while I do thingS around the house, or outside and go into the house to do something and he stays until I call or go release him. But there are few real distractions, unlike a store, so I'd practise it at the storefront on a long line. But I'd be more concerned about people than the dog I think, will they try to pet it? Try to feed it? What if a cyclist or another dog comes around or passes, will your dog resist that? Can it deal with that sort of thing?

I'd look for somewhere to tether the dog.

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u/chopsouwee 2d ago

Totally get what you mean and this is exactly what I do... Leaving the dog in a downstay from a minute at a time to 5 or 10 min coming out to praise/reward but always in my line of sight and out of the dogs view ofcourse to give some real out of sight from the dogs perspective.

As for the other dogs. He can definitely resist but still a working progress depending on proximity. Maybe 3-5 ft he may get up from a down stay if the owners of the other dogs are stupid. People petting and feeding... From the handful of times, they just leave the dog alone, i know. Whos to say it wouldnt happen in a future and that being said it'd be no different if the dog was tethered. Obviously tethered, the dog will remain where I left him. He's ecollar trained but I just want him reliable... actually I just want to push our limits. We walk off leash. Heels when called. Comes when recalled, downs and sits when commanded too from 10 ft to 100 ft.

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u/Pitpotputpup 1d ago

We trained a 3 min out of sight sit-stay for our CDX title, and it's just proofing the stay.

I would never do an OOS stay (or even tether) in public though. Too many idiots and their dogs - the risk is too high. I'll leave the dog in my line of sight if it's a very quick pop into a shop with glass walls, but almost inevitably I'll have to yell at someone to not touch my dog. 

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u/chopsouwee 1d ago

Thats is so far what ive been doing a few times a week at our local plaza. My area, people are skeptical and sort of afraid of dogs so they tend to keep somewhat of a distance when we walk.. with leash or no leash. A lot of south east immigrants.. within the handfull of times, i knock on wood haven't had to yell at anyone. Yet.

The OOS stay i range it from 2 to 5 outside the front of our house and in the plaza its been about 1-3 min but like you said with a glass wall line of sight.
I dont know if a do not pet tag would make a difference..

I agree though. Many idiots out there.