I taught her to wait for me by putting her on my bed - she sleeps with me - telling her 'wait' and going to brush my teeth. I also use 'wait' when I am grooming her, when I just need a minute to get my things ready, etc. So, the 'wait' command simply means to give me a minute. She already knows this - I started the moment I got her.
Stay is a completely different story. Stay means that she has to stay in the exact position I put her in until I say okay (my release word). I plan to teach her this when she is a little older and less scatterbrained. I would simply ask her to sit or lie down and lengthen the time that she stays in that position. I have a hand signal for stay and while I won't say anything when she is in her position, I don't want her to get confused when I say something else. She is very in tune to what we say - I have to talk to her constantly when she is getting a bath, etc.
So, using a hand signal, I will get her to stay in her position. The success of this method might be doubted since I haven't taught her to stay yet, but my older yorkie, Cash, knows wait and stay very well. He waits for me to say 'okay' before he gets in the car, before he gets out of the car, when I have to attach his leash, etc.
Cash is also great in stay! I can walk around him, other people and dogs can walk around him and he will not get out of the stay. I can jump up and down, circle him, hold a toy, throw a toy or put food down, and he will stay. I can even leave the room for some time and he will stay in his position.
I think 'wait' is a more practical thing to teach your dog while stay is very impressive. I hope that answers your question.
