The “stay” command is usually used in combination with the commands for sit, stand and down.   This command is useful should your dog be eminent danger by crossing a busy street, should he get loose by some means.  It is also useful when you are teaching your dog not to jump all over visitors.  By giving your canine the command to sit and stay, you are allowing the guests to initiate the greeting if they choose to do so.
     The verbal signal is “Jenny, stay.”
     The hand-signal is using the flat of your right hand, palm facing the dog, sweeping in slowly towards the dog’s face ending in front of the dog’s nose, with no contact.
     The challenging part of this command, is to place the dog in a sitting position, give the command and then the trainer walks to the end of the leash.  The trainer must keep a close eye on the puppy/dog.  No movement must be allowed.  He must stay in the position you placed him in.  His head and eyes may follow you but the rest of the body must stay.  Correction must be immediate, with the movement corrected with the word “No” and placing the dog back in the original position, giving the command “stay” and try again.  If the dog gets the idea even for a few seconds, immediately praise the dog.  Keep trying for longer stays.  Walk half way around the dog in one direction, then reverse and go in the other direction.  Jump over him if you’re confident he won’t move.  Get a longer leash and go further away.  Disappear behind a tree for a few seconds.  Praise the dog at each success.  Remember tone of voice is what the dog will respond to before he knows or understands the command.
     It is important that to this point, to ensure a consistency in training, that the individual commands heel, sit and stay are reinforced on a daily basis.  As stated earlier, the command “stay” is used in combination with other commands as well.  It is important that up to this point only the “sit, stay” command be used, to preserve the training sequence.
     Remember when training your dog to heel, you used the left leg as body language to tell your dog you are moving.  To prevent confusion on your dog’s part, initiate your movements with your right leg.  So the sequence should be as follows; sit-stay with both trainer and dog stationary, increase time for stay; then sit-stay with trainer, using his right leg and moving away from the dog; and then this is followed by increasing distance and length of stay.