August 1, 2025
Hot Take: You Don't Need To Say "Stay" In Dog Training: Here's Why Release Cues Work Instead! #310
Shaped by Dog with Susan GarrettAbout this episode
Visit us at shapedbydog.com Hot Take: You don't need to say "stay" in dog training! I'm sharing how clear release cues give dogs greater clarity and confidence. I'll take you through how I introduce this concept early with my puppies, how Crate Games helps build a strong foundation, and what it all looks like in everyday training, including when working with more than one dog. When our dogs truly understand what's expected, they gain confidence and confident dogs make brilliant choices. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why I don't use the word "stay" and what inspired this episode. • How cues get eroded over time. • What "controlled behaviors" mean for dogs. • How I introduce the release word to my puppy. • What my dogs' cues are for leaving position (and why they don't need "stay"). • Why I never use "sit" to stop my dogs at the door. • Why I teach "go chill" separately from control positions. • Step-by-step training for clarity when working with two dogs. • The difference between outdated "stay" training and modern-day release cues. • Why Crate Games builds impulse control and clarity from the start. • How release cues help build reliability and understanding. Crate Games Get Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/ Resources: 1. Podcast Episode 52: The Five Most Common Words in Dog Training and Which Ones I Never Use - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/52/ 2. Podcast Episode 155: 10 Ways To Teach A Sit WITHOUT A Food Lure! Unreal Results For Puppies And Dogs Of All Ages - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/155/ 3. Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/151/ 4. Podcast Episode 266: Hot Zone And Stays – How One Dog Training Nuance Can Fix Anxiety And Duration - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/266/ 5. YouTube Video: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3ylCyQ2bJQSCwo_ERiVHj3 6. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/C8BaOL7LB4Q