The objective of this training is to train your dog to go to a particular place on command. Often we are in our lounge, kitchen or elsewhere and the dog is jumping up, begging for food, interfering with our children as they play with toys and so on. Teaching the dog the place command can eliminate this annoying behavior without excluding our dog your our lives.
The dog should have a basket, bed, blanket or similar which he knows is his place and which he will return to when told.
Step 1. get the desired behavior
Get the dog to go on to the mat by luring him with a treat.
step 2. use a down position to get her lying down.
When your dog is lying down on the mat you can release the treat. At this stage you are not using the command "place". That only comes after your dog is reliably going to her place.
step 3. You may have to lure your dog off the mat
You may have to lure your dog back to the starting position so that you can start again
Step 4. try to use one sweeping motion
Use one sweeping motion to get your dog from the start position to her place in the down position on the mat.
step 5. repeat
Repeat until your dog is reliably going to her place when lute5
step 6. introduce the command
When your dog is reliably going to her place when lured, introduce the place command. Say the word "place" just before the lure movement. Your dog's body should be entirely on the mat or bed so make sure that it is of sufficient size.
step 7. don't release the treat unless your dog is in the right place
Your dog should be fully on the mat in the down position before you release the treat.
step 8. Move to a standing position
Move to a standing position and gradually reduce the hand signal.
step 9. introduce the silent stay
When you have successfully faded the hand signal you can introduce the silent stay. You do this by increasing the duration of time between your dog getting to the correct position and getting the reward. At this stage you should be very patient. Don't progress too quickly. You may have to go back a bit to help your dog understand what is needed. Remember, for this command, you can't eliminate the hand signal completely. Your dog will always need some direction about where she is to go. She could be in a different room or and entirely new place
10. introduce distance
When you are happy with the duration, you can introduce distance. This will help your achieve your ultimate goal of sending your dog to their place from anywhere in the room. Gradually increase the distance from the mat where you start the exercise.
Check out the video version of this training:
