Hi Kerry,
Jack has provided you with an excellent way of overcoming your current dilemma, but have you considered what caused the problem in the first place? In situations of high excitement is the cause a lack of understanding by the dog of what SIT means, or what STAY means, or a bit of both? If you use these two commands then which command do you use when the dog moves? Is it NO, SIT, STAY or GET BACK IN YOUR PLACE (assuming the dog has been taught this command
)? In my view, SIT, whether given verbally or with the whistle, has multiple meanings which include but is not limited to; stop forward motion, put your butt on the ground, stop doing whatever you were doing,
do not move until I tell you otherwise, pay attention. In other words, SIT is a one word command that must be obeyed under all circumstances. If you accept this logic, then the command STAY is unnecessary and should be deleted from your vocabulary. For example, when Joe Vella takes Blackie to the Hide he gives the verbal command SIT to settle the dog in the appropriate position and then this is followed by a reinforcing whistle SIT before Joe leaves the dog. Now if the dog moves it is very clear to the dog which command has been broken and it is very clear to the handler which command should be given when correcting the dog.
One of the attractions of this approach is that the SIT command can be proofed in a wide range of situations likely to cause the dog to move e.g. the dog can be commanded to SIT before its kennel door is opened and it is invited to come out, you can SIT the dog immediately before and immediately after entering or leaving your vehicle, you can SIT your dog at meal time both during the preparation phase and before it is allowed to eat, you can heel your dog off lead and without altering your stride command SIT (voice or whistle) and the dog should comply and watch you wander off into the sunset. Perhaps one of the most challenging proofing tests is to SIT your dog near the Firing Point and leave it there while you or someone else works another dog. The list goes on and on and the benefits are wide ranging including in tight situations on that 250m training Blind.
Best of luck, RWT