The handler is out of sight for three minutes. Seventh week: By the seventh week your dog well understands when he is being trained and when he is released from training. Take him to a familiar training area where there are buildings, trees or bushes you can easily hide behind. Do not try to hide behind a single tree, a car or other object which might enable him to see a part of you.

Go through several exercises he does best to let him know he is training. Heel him where he can see the corner or edge of your hiding place. Order him to stay and then walk briskly and confidently away without a backward glance. The first several times you should not be out of sight more than a few moments. When you return, pause momentarily before praising and repeating the exercises. It is important that your dog have confidence that you will return to him. This can be accomplished by being out of sight for short periods of time at first and gradually extending the time to three minutes. First, disappear from his sight at short distances and gradually extend to the distance of as much as 100 feet.

If your dog breaks from the position to wander off or look for you, you will need a person to signal you so that you can take the dog back to the exact same spot and sternly give him the command to stay again. You may give him a jerk backward with the training collar to further emphasize his staying in that position.

The handler is out of sight for five minutes. Eighth week: This exercise may be taught in the same manner as the long sit. Again, return to the training area that has a building, hallway or dense bushes that will hide you completely from his view. Place him in the down, give a firm command and signal to stay and walk briskly out of sight. Return after a short time and gradually extend the time to five minutes and the distance to 100 feet. Use the correction methods of the long sit.

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