Place Command

The Place Command is where your dog is “placed” on a Pet cot, bath mat or chair and is to stay on that place until the dog is released from the command.

We use the “Place” command in many situations.

If you have company coming over for an event, its nice to be able to cue your dog to go to their bed, cot, or mat, so your dog does not rush your visitors.

During meal times we can cue our dog to go to their bed, cot, or mat, so they are not underfoot or crawling around looking for scraps that could potentially make them sick.

Finding the right equipment is very easy. Use what will work best for you, your dog, and the space you have.

Pet Cot (K&H, Coolaroo, Kuranda)

Bath Mat

Chair

Let’s not forget your dogs favorite treat!

Step Two: Introducing your Equipment to your dog

Getting your dog use to being on a surface like a pet cot, bath mat or chair can be difficult and scary for your dog. Sometimes this can be one of the more difficult things for your dog to over come.

Allow your dog to have access to the equipment you chose. ( I will use pet cot for the remaining of this article.) Allow the dog to see that its not scary. We can help the dog do this by allowing them to get treats off the pet cot, and treating them every time they touch it or get on.

See Video ONE

Step Three: On/ Off game

Once your dog is comfortable around the cot you can start introducing luring the dog on and off of the cot. Once the dog is on the cot, Mark the behavior and reward with a treat. Then throw the treat away from the cot and allow the dog to get it. This then starts the game over again. Get on the cot, get off the cot.

After your dog has done the on/ off game multiple times and you feel your dog understands to get on the board, you can then start to increase the duration between treating your dog and throwing the treat to restart the game. Increasing the duration your dog is on the cot before throwing the treat to get your dog off the cot, allows you to start allowing your dog to stay on place for a minute this is where you can also start incorporating saying “Place” when your dog is getting on to the cot.

See Video TWO

Step Three: The 3 D’s (Duration, Distance and Distraction)

After your dog is starting to really understand getting on and off the pet cot, and slowly increasing the duration between rewards. You can also slowly start increasing the distance you are sending the dog to place and the distance you are away from the dog. As well as increasing what distractions are around your dog. You can start to slowly add more people into the room or even ring the door bell.

See Video 3

Keeping your dog on place can be a challenge, a lot of “On and Off” can happen and be annoying.

But if we teach the dog that being on place is an enjoyable and valuable place it can be much easier.

While the dog is on place, we can give the dog kongs filled with yogurt, bully sticks, or treating often. This helps make the place a very enjoyable and valuable place to be, and makes it much easier for the dog to stay on place for long periods of time.