Place is one of the most useful real-life commands you'll ever teach. It means "go to your designated spot and chill there." It solves begging at dinner, jumping on guests, and chaos when you're trying to work. It also gives your dog their own space. A place that's always safe, always theirs, always calm.
Why This Command Matters
Every dog needs an "off switch." Place provides that. Instead of constantly managing your dog during meals, video calls, or when guests arrive, you send them to their spot and they stay there. It's also portable. Take the mat to a restaurant patio, a friend's house, or the vet office. Place travels with your dog and gives them a sense of security anywhere.
Hand Signal
Point to the mat or bed with an outstretched arm. Some trainers also tap the mat. The visual signal is clear: go to that specific spot.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Choose a mat or bed and load it with value
Pick a specific mat, towel, or dog bed. For the first few days, randomly toss treats onto it whenever you walk by. Don't ask for anything. Just let your dog discover that this mat is a treat magnet. They'll start going to it on their own.
Reward them for getting on the mat
When your dog steps onto the mat, toss a treat ON the mat right away. If they lie down on it, even better. Give extra treats. Build up slowly: reward for approaching the mat, then for one paw on, then for fully on, then for lying down on it.
Add the command "Place"
Once they're voluntarily going to the mat, start saying "Place" and pointing to it. When they get on and lie down, reward. Practice from different angles and distances.
Build duration on the mat
Ask for "place," and once they're lying on the mat, begin rewarding at intervals. Treat after 5 seconds, then 10, then 20, then 30. Gradually stretch it out. If they get up, calmly guide them back without a treat and restart the timer.
Proof with real-life scenarios
Practice "place" during dinner, when the doorbell rings (have someone help), and when you're on a phone call. These are the situations where you actually need it. Reward heavily for holding place during real-world distractions.
Recommended Practice
2-3 sessions daily, 5-10 minutes each. Mat loading takes 2-3 days. Basic "place and lie down" takes 1-2 weeks. Holding place for 5+ minutes with mild distractions takes 3-4 weeks.
Common Mistakes
Using "place" as a punishment
Never send your dog to their mat when you're angry. Place should always feel like a reward, not a time-out. They should WANT to go there.
Expecting a 30-minute place on day one
Build up gradually. A 1-minute place is a win in week one. A 5-minute place by week two. A 15-minute place by month one. Rush it and the whole thing falls apart.
Moving the mat around before the behavior is solid
Start with the mat in one location until "place" is reliable. Then gradually introduce it in new spots. Each new location is a fresh challenge for the dog.
Troubleshooting
"My dog goes to the mat but gets up after 5 seconds"
You're not treating often enough. Treat every 3-5 seconds at first. Literally sit next to the mat and drip-feed treats for staying. Build up the interval slowly. A stuffed Kong or bully stick on the mat also helps build duration naturally.
"They won't lie down on the mat, just stand on it"
Only reward the down position on the mat. If they stand, wait. Most dogs will eventually offer a down. Give a treat the moment they do. You can also lure the down once they're on the mat.
"My dog leaves the mat when the doorbell rings"
That's the hardest distraction. Start by knocking softly on a table (low-level door-sound) while they're on the mat. Reward for staying. Gradually build up to actual door knocks, then doorbell, then someone entering. This takes weeks. Don't skip steps.
Pro Tips
Have two mats. One for home and one portable. Train on both so the behavior transfers.
Feed your dog their dinner on the mat for the first month. This builds an insane positive association.
Once solid, "place" becomes your go-to for basically everything: cooking, guests, deliveries, Zoom calls.
Combine "place" with a release word. They stay until released. This clarity is what makes it work long-term.
📍 Calgary Training Tip
Calgary's dog-friendly patios (like Trolley 5, Cold Garden, and The Nash) are perfect places to test your "place" command. Bring the mat, ask for place, and reward for settling. Start with quieter patios before busy ones. Your dog on a mat at a brewery is the ultimate flex.