I don't know if this is the best way to teach it or not Lynne, but I use the crate. I slowly open the door and when he starts to come out I slowly close it again saying wait.Once he's waiting I call him out to me. I'm not saying slam it in her face but I did it with 2 of my dogs because I didnt want them charging out of the crate with other dogs around. The command seemed to easily transfer to any other place and retrieves.

Rhonda, that seems like it might be a nice transition to what Jessica suggests.

Steve, I do have a 'wait' command, which she is not solid on yet. She may get the point better when starting from the crate. Thanks!

I was having a problem with my wait command, and another trainer pointed it out to me. I was doing several things wrong. First the dog was cuing on movement instead of waiting for a release word. I was repeating the command several times, and dragging the wait word out. Say it one time with confidence, and remember to go back often to reward the dog. After I could walk away comfortably, we added the toy, and started just dropping it a few feet in front, then tossing it. He learned very quickly what he had to do to continue the game.

I'm with Sue on this one. I would not repeat the command or drag it out ("waaaaiiit...waaaiiiit...") Say any command once. And no command should be given that you cannot enforce (especially when training that new command). So in this case, you need a way to be able to enforce "wait." Using a door makes it easy (crate door works perfectly, or a door to go outside) Say wait. Begin to open the door. If dog moves, close the door. Wait a beat, then try again, if the dog moves, close the door. It won't take a smart dog long to realize the game.

You can teach "wait" on leash as well--I use "wait" to mean "stop and don't move forward until I say so" but I don't care if the dog sits or stands. Every few paces on a walk, just randomly stop and say "wait." If the dog moves forward, you've got the leash there to enforce the wait. Once they have that down, then you can introduce distractions like a ball. But I think starting with trying to teach "wait" with a high distraction, off-leash, will be difficult.

 Quote: tracy collins

I'm with Sue on this one. I would not repeat the command or drag it out ("waaaaiiit...waaaiiiit...")

Yep, I'm guilty of that long, dragged out 'waaiiiit'

Great tips from everyone. Think I'll start w/ the crate and then progress to the door, until I know for sure she knows what 'wait' means.

I taught "wait" and "stay" inside the house before I tried to use them outside. First I used the crate, then the door.

I'd open the door of the crate and when he started to come out I'd close it and say "wait". It wasn't too long before "wait" meant wait for my command, but I didn't take it much farther than that with the crate.

At the front door he'd be leashed. I'd open the door and as he started to go out I'd say "wait" and close the door. I did that for quite awhile and now he waits at the open door for me to let him know he can go outside.

We also trained the "stay" command. Leash him, put him in a down, say "stay" and for the next 30 minutes every time he gets up grab the leash and put him back.

Next was outside. If I was going to throw a ball and I told him to wait or stay and he started to take off I just lowered my and and didn't throw the ball. Do that over and over. That got him to waiting until I threw the ball to chase it. Then I leashed him again, told him to stay, stepped on the leash and threw the ball. Rinse and repeat.

Next I made it part of the game. Whether playing tug or throwing the ball, I'd put him in a stay and walk off and do whatever I was going to do and then release him. If we are playing tug now, and I say "drop it", he lets go of the tug. Then, on his own, he lays down and waits for me to release him so he can chase the tug again.

 Quote: rich pallechio

I taught "wait" and "stay" inside the house before I tried to use them outside. First I used the crate, then the door.

That's where I'll start. She's very polite when it comes to getting out of her crate (she generally sits until the door is fully open)so I've never felt the need to enforce the 'wait' there.
We worked last night at the door, and she did very well, but I can see I need more repetitions for her to really understand what I'm asking...