How to Teach Your Boston Terrier to Stay (Step by Step)


Teaching your Boston Terrier the “stay” command is one of the most important lessons you can impart on your pup.

The stay command is a vital part of keeping your pup safe, especially when out and about in public places or when other people are over.

Boston Terrier in the Stay Position

To help your Boston Terrier learn this useful skill, here’s a step-by-step guide with detailed instructions on how to teach them how to stay.

Teaching Your Boston Terrier The Stay Command

What is the purpose of the stay command?

The stay command is used to keep your pup safe, especially when out and about in public places or when other people are over.

How long will it take to teach my Boston Terrier the stay command?

It is going to take, on average, 12+ tries before your Boston is going to pick up on this new command.

These findings come from a poll conducted on the Boston Terrier Society’s Twitter community. With over 44+ Boston Parents responding, the majority state it takes their Boston 12+ attempts before they learn a new command.

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See the poll here…I may have spelled try funny, but the information is all the same 🙂

What should I not do when teaching my Boston terrier the stay command?

Do not use physical punishment when training your Boston Terrier the stay command. This will only serve to confuse and scare them, making it more difficult for them to learn the desired behavior.

What other essential commands should I be teaching my Boston Terrier?

Some other essential commands that you should be teaching your Boston Terrier include “come”, “sitOpens in a new tab.”, and “down”. These commands will help keep your pup safe and under control in a variety of situations.

Read this list of essential obedience training your Boston should know before you start teaching them tricks: Opens in a new tab.The 10 Most Important Commands To Teach Your Boston Terrier!Opens in a new tab.

Posing Boston terrier puppy

Step By Step – Teaching Your Boston The Stay Command

Step 1: Sit your Boston in front of you.

Start by having your Boston Terrier sit in front of you, then ask them politely to stay. If they do not comply, gently guide them back into position with a treat in hand as a reward for staying put. It may take some time for them to get the hang of it, so be patient and don’t give up!

Repeat this step until they are comfortable with staying put when asked.

Step 2: Increase the challenge.

Once they have mastered staying put while seated, it’s time to advance the lesson by making it more challenging. Start by standing up and taking a few steps away from them while still giving them the “stay” command. If they start to move towards you, use treats or verbal praise as rewards for remaining in place. Keep practicing this until they can maintain their position even when you walk further away from them.

Step 3: Add distraction.

The next step is teaching your Boston that the “stay” command remains even if there are distractions around them, such as another person or animal walking by or loud noises like fireworks going off nearby [I don’t know about you, but there is no way Bella my Boston is staying if fireworks are going off :)].

📖 By the way — if you want all of this in one place, I wrote The Complete Boston Terrier GuideOpens in a new tab.. 14 years of real-world advice on health, training, and care. Grab it on Amazon →Opens in a new tab.

This step requires lots of patience and consistency on your part but will ultimately be worth it once your Boston has mastered the skill!

Give positive reinforcement whenever they remain in place despite distractions – remember that treats always work wonders!

Final Thoughts

Teaching your Boston Terrier how to stay can be an difficult task, but with patience and dedication, you’ll have a well-trained pup in no time at all!

Following these steps will help ensure that your pup learns this valuable skill quickly and easily – remember that repetition is key!

If you want to learn more commands and tricks you can teach your Boston Terrier, be sure to visit our article, 49 Commands And Tricks You Can Teach Your Boston!Opens in a new tab.

Donnie Gardner

Donnie Gardner is the founder of Boston Terrier Society and author of The Complete Boston Terrier Guide. He has been raising Bella his Boston Terrier since 2010 and resides in Kansas with his wife, daughter, two sons. He created Boston Terrier Society to help owners make informed decisions about their dog's health, training, and care. 📖 Get his book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/06k3klcb

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