Teaching your dog to stay can be an important command for keeping your dog safe in various situations, such as crossing a busy street or greeting guests at the door. Here are some free tips for teaching your dog to stay:

1. Start with “Sit”: Before you can teach your dog to stay, he needs to know how to sit on command. Once he’s sitting, you can add the stay command.
2. Use a verbal cue and hand signal: When you’re teaching your dog to stay, use both a verbal cue and a hand signal. The verbal cue should be “Stay,” and the hand signal can be a flat palm held up in front of your dog.
3. Start with short distances: Start by asking your dog to stay for just a few seconds, and gradually increase the length of time as he gets better at it. When he’s successful at staying for a few seconds, gradually increase the distance between you and your dog.
4. Reward good behavior: When your dog stays in place, reward him with praise and a treat. This positive reinforcement will encourage him to continue to stay.
5. Release your dog: Once your dog has stayed in place for the desired amount of time, release him with an “OK” or “Free” command. This will let him know that he can move around again.
6. Practice in different situations: Once your dog has learned to stay in a quiet environment, practice the command in different situations. Practice in a busy park or with friends and family over to help your dog generalize the command.
7. Keep it short: Don’t overdo it with the stay command. Keep each training session short, just a few minutes, and make sure to end on a positive note.
8. Use positive reinforcement: Remember to always use positive reinforcement when teaching your dog to stay. Don’t punish your dog for not staying, instead, reward him when he does stay.

In conclusion, teaching your dog to stay can be a helpful command to keep your dog safe in various situations. By following these free tips, you can teach your dog to stay and keep him safe. Remember to be patient, use positive reinforcement, and practice in different situations.