This gives him structure during the day when we’re together and reminds him that he doesn’t just get to do what he wants at home. At home, if he’s not in his crate, he’s most likely in place. I use the place command all the time, every single day, in a variety of situations. And they do it like it’s their job, because it is. Put simply, “place” means “go-to-the-spot-I-tell-you-and-stay-there-until-I-release-you.” In this command, your dog has no choice but to stay there.
When your dog chooses their own job, it usually displays in undesirable behaviors, such as: It gives your dog a job to do instead of the job they choose for themselves. The place command is an essential command that will teach your dog to settle down in any situation. And sure enough when we went back to the car, Sitka was exactly where I had left him, waiting to be released. When I told her he was in the car with the door open, she was aghast, especially because we had been chatting for a few minutes. I left Sitka in the car with the door open because it was warm out. The other day, I brought dinner to a friend and needed to make a few trips back to the car. It is the command that allows me to go to breweries, do my work in peace, allow trail users to pass, enjoy a meal with friends, and practice good behavior in hotels or in friend’s homes. It is the command that will awe other dog owners who struggle with their dog’s inability to .out.
The Place Command is a magical cue that can be used in a number of situations. Today, it is among my most important commands for my dogs and was the first thing I taught Sitka after I adopted him. I don’t know how I ever lived with a dog before I knew the Place Command.