stay: break, OK, release...

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celloyogi

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On the forums I've noticed that some people use difference commands, break vs. OK vs. release, etc, after a stay. Is there a difference? Should I be using one for any reason if I intend to move to more advanced training? I know the phrase "break a heel" as description of something not asked for, so I'm confused about using "break" as a command to ask a dog do something.:confused2:

Eventually I'd like to get Olive into agility and/or rally. I don't want to use commands now that I'm going to have to change later, or that will sound too similar, etc. Of course I could always just teach her the basics in a different language.:wink2:
 
Usually the second command is a release command. Allowing the dog to be released from the first (stay, sit, etc) command. Does that make sense?
So, you give the command "stay". And to release the dog from the stay, you say, "break", or any of the words. The words dont' really have "meaning" per se.

I use the word "okay". The ONLY time I hate it is when I have Koji in a sit/stay and my instructor is talking to me about something (we do agility) and I say, "okay" to her and oops, just released Koji. I have also heard people use "free".

I would try to pick something that you wouldn't use in everyday language. Break, free, release. Not something you'd say while talking to another person (typically). And honestly, it doesn't matter what word you use. You could use the word mustard for all the dog cares. You just train the word to be a release word and that's what you use.

As long as your consistent with the word, it doesn't matter what you use. Oh, and any of those words above are okay to use with agility. For rally, I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure.
 
k9kreationz said:
Usually the second command is a release command. Allowing the dog to be released from the first (stay, sit, etc) command. Does that make sense?
So, you give the command "stay". And to release the dog from the stay, you say, "break", or any of the words. The words dont' really have "meaning" per se.

I use the word "okay". The ONLY time I hate it is when I have Koji in a sit/stay and my instructor is talking to me about something (we do agility) and I say, "okay" to her and oops, just released Koji. I have also heard people use "free".
Click to expand...

I knew the first part, that the second command is a release command. I just wasn't sure about the reasoning for the different words used. Makes sense about using "okay" - I never really liked using it anyway for just the reason you described.

Maybe I should use "mustard". That would be hilarious! No one would ever accidentally release Olive from a sit, unless maybe we were at a barbecue or something.:biggrin2:
 
My dogs know two words: "stay" means do not move and stay in this exact spot until your are released by a verbal cue. Motion does not release. I only use it in obedience and I never call a dog out of a stay. Justice and Ember release word is ok and Diva and Birch is break. I change because of the issue that Cheryl has with OK. I use to too much in everyday life. The stay the dog relaxes because they know I will not ask them to do anything and I will come back and get them.

"wait" is stay in position until you get the next command ie come, fetch,jump etc. I could say break(and do in agility) or it could be release to retrieve or jump ro go out. I will call a dog out of wait, or do anything else out of wait. I will see the dog paying close attention to me because they know something else is coming soon. The release words are the same or I just give the next command. I should mention that say sit and saying nothing and walking away is the same as "wait" I just use "wait and a hand singal as extra reminders.
 
celloyogi said:
I knew the first part, that the second command is a release command. I just wasn't sure about the reasoning for the different words used. Makes sense about using "okay" - I never really liked using it anyway for just the reason you described.

Maybe I should use "mustard". That would be hilarious! No one would ever accidentally release Olive from a sit, unless maybe we were at a barbecue or something.:biggrin2:
Click to expand...

LOL. I think people started getting away from "okay" for the same reason. So they started going to break, release, free, etc. Just synonyms for "okay, you're done, you can come out of position now".

The one kinda cool thing? When you use the release command word a lot in sports, I think the dog knows to listen to you. I've never seen Koji release on an "okay" by someone else, unless he knew they were the person running him. So, if my instructor says "okay" to me while we're talking, he won't release. But if I say it, he will. See, so mustard is fine at bbq's. :lol:
 
I use "okay" to release from anything--a contact, a stay, a wait, anything.

This reminds me, though, to mention that I use "stay" and "wait" differently. Stay means you'll come to me when released, and wait means I'll come to you--though sometimes I get lazy and use them interchangeably!
 
I use OK as a release and, like Cheryl, will use a different word with my next agility dog since I use OK too much in regular conversation. I'll probably use 'free' because it's short and easy.

I use 'wait' in agility for the table and start line stays. Basically 'wait' means to stay there until the next command.

Hmm, I should try using 'wait' instead of 'stay' in rally for signs like 118 - Halt, Leave Dog, 2 steps, Call to Heel, Forward. This sign would be perfect for the wait command instead of 'stay' since it's a 'wait here until next command' type of action. I'll have to think about this.
 
To future muddle the matter...
I do not use word stay as I find it redundant:smile2:
ANY stationary position i.e. sit, down has " maintain" implications. Once asked Sit my dog will stay until either release word is given/ in my case is "free"/ or other cue given, lets say Down follows Sit so Down will become release word in this case.
When I build stationary position like "Sit pretty" once I have duration of 1-2 seconds I will build it to the release word, i.e. Sit pretty until release word or another cue is given.
 
SheltieChe said:
To future muddle the matter...
I do not use word stay as I find it redundant:smile2:
ANY stationary position i.e. sit, down has " maintain" implications. Once asked Sit my dog will stay until either release word is given/ in my case is "free"/ or other cue given, lets say Down follows Sit so Down will become release word in this case.
When I build stationary position like "Sit pretty" once I have duration of 1-2 seconds I will build it to the release word, i.e. Sit pretty until release word or another cue is given.
Click to expand...

I wondered about that, the "stay"-type command being redundant. If I put Olive in a sit, or down, etc., I always expect her to stay there until I tell her otherwise. So really, I'm using stay (for now, anyway!) just to reinforce what I already expect her to do. This seems logical, because otherwise what would be the point of any command requiring a dog to assume a stationary position (as opposed to shaking a paw or something). Maybe I'll end up re-thinking everything once I get Olive to agility/rally level stuff, but classes aren't open for that until around December anyway, so we have time.
 
Dogs like black and white rules, generalizing and "grey" cues are not their strong point.
When I ask dog to sit it means sit till released. Plain and clear criteria. No butt lifting, no paw shifting.
If I ask dog to sit and not maintain- which sit is correct- what if my dog puts the butt on the ground for the less of the second and lifts right up? Is sit suppose to be 1 second, 5 seconds, 10 seconds?
What if the dog changes position between you saying sit and stay? Lots of muddy grey criteria IMHO... I think it is just more difficult for the dog and handler has to be very precise what is and what is not criteria for stationary position if they use sit without maintain meaning.
 
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