Curious to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

Since a dog shouldn't move from a position (ie down), isn't giving the command "stay" unneccessary?

Why then, is it so commonly used and do you use it? I find I use it more for myself than the dog...

Thoughts?

Well, the stay command is legal in AKC obedience. I think most of the pet and obedience trainers in the US use it.

For Schutzhund, that is a no no. I don't ever teach a stay command, I don't ever use it as a bridge to help teach another solid command.

But, that is essentially the purpose of a "stay" command. A second cue to help bridge between commands during begining training. Some people use it and then phase it out, others just use a "sit" and "stay". Like the AKC obedience sit-stay or down-stay.

i used stay at first, but like robert said i phase it out now, because technicially the dog should sit or down until the next commend is given or until the dog is release. however i do use stay for when i am going outside doors and i don't want the dog to follow.

I used it when I was doing AKC. But never use it anymore. In Akc they use to train healing were you stop ,the dog stops and sits, if you start the dog would resume healing. If you wanted the dog to stay sitting as you walked off you would "stay" him.
We now expect them to stay unless we give the foss or heal command.
Just be sure to teach a release command so the dog is not confused

I like Tammy only use "Stay" when exiting a door and I want my dog to not follow, on the field he never hears it, like VanCamp say's "A no no" waste of a good word really.

Release word, that is the key to getting around using another cue to help keep the dog in position.

For example, the sit command, you teach the dog to sit for the reward and the second his booty hits the floor he gets it, then you give another treat or two to keep him there and very quickly give a release command like "OK" with a bunch of excitement. Doing it that way clearly marks the begining of the command and the end.

Eventually you make it so the dog doesn't get up till a release word or another command.

I trained my dog with it and then phased it out as others posted they did, but was that neccessary?

Is the "stay" command needed at the early learning stages then, or can the release word method be used from the get-go?

And is it easier for a dog to understand one way or the other?

Yes, you can surely use the release word from the get go. Thats the best way to do it. That way the dog never gets the idea that he can get up at the point of reward. Thats the point. But, you can surely impliment a release word if you are not already.

I don't think it is necessary to use the stay command. I find it easier to avoid unnecessary cues, rather than phasing them out. But, to each his own. . .

I teach all my dogs to heal (from a sit) when I leave with the left foot and stay put when I leave their side with me right foot first (without using the verbal commands).

This is as easy as sin to teach. You do need to first teach the 'fuss' and the 'blieb' (stay) though. All you have to do is concentrate so that every time you say 'fuss' you start with your left foot (easiest for dog to see) and every time you say stay you leave with your right foot. Dogs sense the SLIGHTEST body motions (that's why many of us have probs with 'anticipation') so a whole different leg movement is incredibly easy for them to learn just through repitition. The end result is: they heel without a verbal command and they stay without one too. The only hard part is NEVER mixing up your feet but I find it becomes second nature to us humans too after a while. It also is very useful for trials as you are helping your dog without anyone being able to tell.

True but they also learn it by saying nothing as long as you step out with the same foot every time and pair it with a heel command every time.

I like to keep people aware of their body language in training. By making them, aware of footwork and body language the importance of attentiveness on the dog is enhanced. I feel their skill as trainers and handlers become more focused in part because they must make a few concise thoughts before they start an exercise from the heel position. Demanding focus on the dog as much as we demand focus from the dog is a good start.

Over the years, I have observed my students and others and made note of commands like the stay, will turn into a habit. This is good and bad. It is good in that they are consistent. It is bad because the focus on the dog is eventually removed by because it is natural to eventually "trust" the dog that has been well trained this can lead into not seeing developing problems for competitive dog or certificate mandated k9's.

A nonverbal does not give most trainers this mental latitude and so they focus on not only footwork and body language they focus on the dog. This makes the practice of consistent method enhancing they training session especially with novice trainers/handlers.