The purpose of training dogs how to place is to queue to a specific area, for example his mat, for calmer social interaction when guests come over or during meal times. This is a variation of the “stay,” and is a type of target exercise. The goal is to have the dog remain stationary on his mat for a tincture of time while life goes on around him.
This article will teach you how to train your dog to place.
Step 1
Put a leash on the dog. Begin no more than a foot away from the mat. Ask or tell the dog to sit in the heel position. Have a treat in one hand & the clicker and the leash in the other hand.
Step 2
Get your dog’s attention. Then use the hand closest to the dog’s body to toss a large piece of a treat (bait) out so that it lands on the opposite side of the mat.
Step 3
Release the dog, encouraging him to follow the bait. When the dog commits walking toward and onto the mat, click and let the bait already on the mat “pay” the click. The leash should be loose although you are still holding the leash at this point.
Step 4
Refrain yourself from walking to the mat with the dog. This discourages the plan to get him to do the training by himself and will confuse him later on.
Step 5
Gather up the leash slightly once the dog is on the mat. Still, do not go towards the area. Apply a bit of pressure on the leash and ask the dog to sit.
Step 6
Begin to click and reward him with treats to reinforce placing on the mat.
Step 7
Repeat the exercise, with increasing distractions and duration at a slow pace.
Step 8
Take off the leash after he masters placing with it.
Step 9
Train the dog with sounds, such as the doorbell or knock on the door. If the dog does the actions correctly, give him a treat as a reward.
Tips
- If you wish to go to a higher level, train him in the "lying down" position on the mat instead of just sitting.
- Training environment: Inside home.
- Distraction level: Low-level to start and increase distractions and duration daily.
- Training prerequisite: “Charge-the-clicker,” “Sit,” “Down,” Down from a distance”
- Daily repetitions: Train 2-3 x per day minimum.
- Always reward your dog showing him that being on the mat gets the reward!
- Encourage your dog to eat his chews and bones on the mat.
- For optimal success: your adult dog should be leashed trained, and capable of performing a "down from a distance" prior to starting this exercise.
- Perfect introduction to staying for puppies.
Warnings
- This exercise is not meant to leave your dog stationary for long periods of time. The mat is a place of reward for staying [on the mat]. Use the mat to show the dog where to be when you need him to stay in the house. Give him a bone to chew while on the mat.
Things You'll Need
- Flat collar
- 6-foot leash
- Mat
- Clicker
- Treats
