Place:

This command involves a flat matt. Put it in the middle of the room or outside where you are working. While in a heel go over the matt a few times, so you can desensitizes the dog to the matt. Some dogs will not want to even touch the matt. So you will need to use a lot of body language. When he walks over it, praise him. Now you are ready to introduce the place command. From a heel position walk towards the matt, when you and the dog are on top of the matt, point with your right pointing finger towards the matt. At the same time take your left hand and put it in a “down from the side” hand signal. Stop briefly, the dog does not know what place means, but when he looks up and sees the “down from the side” hand signal, he knows to lie down.

If he does, great, praise him and go back into a heel position. If the dog doesn’t lie down on the matt, then deliver a “down from the side” correction saying “NO” down. If the dog gets off the matt then correct him back to the matt saying “NO” down. You are using the “down from the side” hand signal to teach the dog to place. After just 1 or 2 workouts you can drop your left hand back down at your side and just point towards the place and he will lie down. You will need to do 3 to 4 workouts before you move on to distance to the place.

Distance to the Place:

Have the dog in a heel position and stop about one foot from the mat, say “place” if the dog doesn’t walk to the place correct him/her. “No”, place and make them lay on it, then praise profusely. Stay at this distance until the dog will walk to the “place” by their selves. Then increase you distance in sections.