26/04/2024
Place command can be like meditation for the dog. It's why we put such a heavy emphasis on it in our program.
Have nervous dog in public? Teach them a proper place command and they learn that a place cot is safe. Then take that dog into public in a non heavy traffic location and let them settle. They can absorb the environment in a safe space where they trust they won't be harassed and with the right amount of advocacy, you'll have a more comfortable dog in no time.
Have a dog that loses its mind when guests arrive? Place is great for door management until your dog learns to greet properly. Have the dog stay on place for 15 minutes when guests arrive, then get the dog up to greet guests on leash. We learn not to jump and that if we sit, we get pet and eventually the dog will greet everyone this way.
Have dogs that aren't sure about each other? When they can place in a room together, they can observe each other without the stress of interaction and from the safety of a dog bed. The other dog eventually becomes "boring" and they can slowly gain more and more interaction and bonding opportunities until they live together peacefully.
It's not a fix all and it's not an end all solution to all training problems. But it sure does have diverse uses and can mean the difference between a dog in a crate and a dog out in the house with you.
