To teach a ‘wait’ behaviour, start by placing a piece of food in front of your puppy. Say “wait” and gently move the food slightly away, watching for your puppy to resist following it and show a moment of stillness. Even a brief pause is enough to begin with. As soon as your puppy holds themselves in place, mark the success by releasing them with an “okay” and give them the food. This helps your puppy learn that staying calm and waiting is what earns the reward.
