Place Is Not A Dog Bed
If your dog already knows how to “Stay” or loves laying on their bed – that’s great! Just be aware – that’s not “Place.”
One of the staples of my training methodology is the Place command. When I first bring up the subject of Place, many of my clients assume that Place means either simply the Stay command or that it refers to the dog laying on their bed for hours at a time. Neither of these are examples of Place, and here is why:
Place is a command that changes the dog’s mental state. Its an automatic turn-off switch; a way to stop negative behaviors by bringing down the energy state of the dog. Its a way to allow the the dog to learn how to correct themselves despite the presence of stimuli. To further explain it, take a look at this YouTube video of a nanny dog and her adopted puppy. She wants to nap, and she’d like the puppy to do the same. So when the pup runs off to play, she guides him back to the designated “Place” and paws him on his side. This is the canine way of saying “remain here and be calm.” Many mother dogs (including wolves!) start this concept at a young age, as it is a useful tool in teaching self-control, boundaries, and manners. Its not a punitive measure, but rather a simple guide of “this is what we’re doing right now.”
Awesome stuff, right? Now we can take what mother dogs teach their puppies and use it to help dogs of all ages experiencing a variety of issues. Dog attacks or runs from the vacuum? Put him on Place while you vacuum, so that he can get used to the stimuli in a controlled environment without feeling the need to run or attack. Dog is a counter surfer or chews on shoes, remotes, furniture when you aren’t looking? Put her on Place while you’re cooking or doing chores around the house and can’t supervise your pup. When trained properly, Place will keep your dog contained in a designated space and either snoozing away or calmly observing – all on command!
When we first train Place, we will typically utilize dog beds to set the foundation for the concept. However, the dog bed itself is not Place. Place is a command to change the mental state. With that in mind, we can branch out into what can be utilized as Place. Towels, a slab of concrete, the back of the car, jungle gym equipment, a bench, a boulder, a cool-a-roo, a bath mat, and even a step on a stairway are all examples of what Place can be utilized with. The possibilities are endless; the only limit is your creativity and bond with your dog.
