Teach Your Dog the "Place" Cue – A Simple Guide | Pupford

Teaching your dog to go to their place is a great way to teach them to settle on cue. It can also help prevent door dashing, begging at the table, and jumping up on guests. But how can you teach your dog to go to their place? How can you increase distractions, distance, and duration while your dog is at their place? How can you help your dog love to go to their place?

In this video, certified trainer, Amber Aquart, talks all about how to teach your dog this vital cue. So whether you have holiday guests, trick-or-treaters, a dinner, or need your dog to calm down, these tips can be especially helpful.

But before we get to the video, learn a little more about Amber. And for more from Amber, check out her courses in Pupford Academy on Separation Anxiety, Trick Training Courses 1 and 2, Crate Training, and bonus videos here.

ABOUT AMBER

Amber Aquart is a CPDT-KA certified animal trainer, certified trick dog instructor and pet lifestyle expert. She started her career as an exotic animal handler and trainer back in 2007 and began professionally training dogs in 2011. Although her primary focus has been training dogs over the last 10 years, she dedicates a special part of her focus on working with and training cats as well as how to safely integrate a multi-pet household and enrich the lives of cats and dogs.

PS- Learn about how to introduce a dog to a cat here.

As a certified animal trainer, Amber’s ultimate goal is to help people develop the best relationship possible with their pets and to be able to have the “best life with your best friend".

Amber also is the teacher for many courses in Pupford Academy, including Trick Training (Parts 1 & 2), Crate Training & Separation Anxiety.

CONNECT WITH AMBER

Amber’s Website

Amber’s YouTube

Amber’s Instagram

TEACH YOUR DOG TO GO TO THEIR PLACE - A SIMPLE GUIDE

HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO GO TO THEIR PLACE

Follow these tips to teach your dog to successfully go to their place (and love it) around guests, door knocking, distractions, and more.

FIRST, TEACH THEM TO LOVE GOING TO THEIR PLACE

Make sure the place you have designated for them is the most rewarding place for them to be.

Tip from Amber: Put all of your dog's favorite treats right next to their bed. Here are some of Amber's favorites. Then make sure to put the treats directly onto their bed instead of feeding them from your hand.

STEPS:

1. Get your dog to go to their bed
2. Give them their favorite treats on their bed
3. If your dog offers a lie down, give them a jackpot reward (giving them a large amount of treats to show them this is something especially good they just did). The longer they are there, the more treats they are delivered
4. Use a release word, like "break" or "okay" to get your dog to come off their bed
5. Practice this several times

INCORPORATE DISTANCE, DURATION, AND DISTRACTIONS

1. DURATION

First, work on increasing the amount of time that your dog is on their bed. You want to gradually increase the amount of time that your dog is on their bed.

2. DISTANCE

Once your dog is okay being on the bed for longer periods of time, you can add distance between you and your dog. Remember to practice the 3 D's separately, as to not confuse your dog and to set them up for success. If your dog gets up when you increase the distance between you both, take a few steps closer.

3. DISTRACTIONS

Start off with an easier distraction, and work up to things that are more distracting for your dog. Move a toy around in your hand, knock on the door, walk around, etc. If this is too difficult, go back a step to be sure your dog understands what it is you are asking of them.

TEACHING YOUR DOG THE PLACE CUE AT HOME VS VET, ETC

A question we get a bit is if you should be using the same cue word for working on this at home on your dog's bed vs when you go to the vet, going into the car, or even posing for photos. Teaching your dog to go their place bed, and place elsewhere should be different! Amber likes to teach a more casual place cue where the dog just needs to get up on something and remain there either in a stand or sitting position. She uses a different verbal cue like, "go get up" for this and uses it at the vet on the scale, to get into the car or to pose for photos!

FINAL OVERVIEW

When working on this cue, break down real-life scenarios before they actually happen. Practice having them go to their bed when you don't especially need them to, give them a special treat on their bed, and be consistent in practicing! Then once your dog has a better understanding of the place cue, you can bring a friend, neighbor, familiy member, etc. over to practice this.

Remember that when it comes to any kind of training, to be patient with yourself and your dog! Do you have other questions about teaching your dog to go to their place? Let us know in the comments below!