If it was just tossing a stick I would end with an OK and they understood the stick was theirs to do as they wished. I often had a treat with me to give after the last toss if the item wasn't disposable.

For actual training I never had an issue keeping the training article be it a Kong for SAR or a bite tug for most everything else. When I was herding with Thunder I would work him with the tug and that seemed to give me quicker response when he was working sheep. No idea why.

With Quincy I play fetch in the house as does the wife. I know, I know! It goes against everything I've preached but I was in sitting down a lot after my surgery. Never knew I would be snuggling with a puppy or talking like a baby. Dern Poodle is ruining my whole image.

One thing I've learned in the past yrs is that when working on a new behavior I stick with only that behavior until its solid. I use to work on 2-3 behaviors at a time. Most of my dogs "got it" but this one behavior at a time seems to go faster in their learning.

Below zero last week and it was in the 60s today. Lots of sit training of and on outside.

Quincy has a nice sit and sit stay but I found today, working OB in the front yard created many distractions and quite different from working in the familiar back yard. In the back yard hearing a dog outside can be pretty much ignored but seeing someone walking their dog was a bit much so I will work the sit and sit stay like it was brand new. I would be unwise to ruin what he knows well without the extra distractions. Wife and I did a few recalls back and fourth in the front and he did excellent With those with dragging a long line.

My uses for the sit stay
Going in and out of the house, going up and down the basement steps, in and out of the yard gate and sitting for his meals. All familiar to him and getting the sit stay solid. When it comes to competition I will add much more distractions, distance and duration to all the behaviors he will learn.
Quincy has not made a potty mistake in the house since he was about 12 wks old. I can only say that just means being CONSISTENT IN ANY PART OF THE TRAINING! If you cant keep and eye on the puppy either crate it or tether it to you. Wife, as usual with house training a new puppy was a huge help with this. Quincy is the first puppy in the house for almost 13 yrs.
When walking at the park yesterday we had many dogs raising hell. 1/2 mile walking path has many houses with dogs along it and that was his first exposure to so many dogs. Worked just the quick sits, mark and reward. No effort or reason to add distance or duration with all the distractions at this early point.

Wife and i took him to a new park today. Not very busy with people walking but it was great for doing recalls between the wife and I at the length of the flexi lead. Like a rocket ship. Not working on the finish at that distance yet because he thinks it's bowling for old people right now.