behavior
Place training
How to teach it (in one paragraph)
Start with a raised cot the dog notices. Lure onto the cot, mark and reward. Add a cue word ('place') once the dog offers the behavior on its own. Build duration one second at a time, then add distance, then distraction. Release with a consistent word ('okay,' 'break') so the dog knows when 'place' is over.
Why a raised cot works better than a rug
Elevated cots have a clear tactile boundary the dog can feel with all four paws. Rugs blur into surrounding floor. Cots are also portable (deck, porch, hotel room, trainer's class) so the cue generalizes.
Why it matters
Owners who train a solid 'place' report the largest quality-of-life gain of any single behavior. Guests arrive, dog goes to place. Dinner is served, dog goes to place. Delivery driver knocks, dog goes to place instead of the door.
Frequently asked questions
- How long can I hold place?
- Build gradually. Two minutes at three months old, ten minutes at six months, thirty+ minutes at a year, with breaks. Never use place as isolation punishment.