In this activity, you begin the process of teaching your dog to go to a specific place, and to stay until released. This is a two-part activity made up of the commands, “Place” and “Stay.”
These two commands help your dog to recognize that there are boundaries that they have to respect.
Remember that dogs have mental as well as physical needs, and they need mental workouts as well. Jobs and tasks give dogs work to do, which brings mental fulfillment.
Setting up for the Activity
For this activity we recommend that, as much as possible, you “ditch the bowl,” which means that you temporarily feed your dog their daily portions through training rewards, rather than in their bowl.
Use the hand/finger position taught in the Follow My Hands (Apple #3). Take several pieces of food in the palm of your hand, and dispense pieces with your thumb by rolling them from your palm to your fingertips.
If you are not feeling kind, calm, and confident, do not train your dog until you are in a better mental state. Kindness is a choice, calmness takes practice, and confidence comes with education, which will grow as you master this activity.
Activity Steps For Place Command
First, it is helpful to put your dog on a leash. Guide them to your designated place. A raised boundary works best.
As soon as all four paws are on the place, mark it with a “Yes!” and treat. As your dog starts to get the hang of it, change “Yes” to “Yes! Place!”
The marker needs to happen in the very moment your dog succeeds. Otherwise, your dog will be confused about what you are asking them to do. When they succeed, make sure to praise them as well.
To get him out of a sitting position, engage him in other activities (the other apples we have taught so far), which will get him up. Then repeat this training between other activities.
Activity Steps For Stay Command
With your dog is on the raised boundary mat on a leash, hold the end of the leash.
When your dog looks at you, give them the command “Stay” with a raised flat hand in front of their face.
Your hand needs to come up quickly and firmly, as if you are giving a forceful “high five” to an imaginary person. Your hand should come up less than a foot directly in front of their face.
Stand there for two seconds without moving, hand in place, and when your dog does not move off the place, mark their correct behavior with a “Yes!” and treat. As your dog starts to get the hang of it, change “Yes” to “Yes! Stay!”
The marker needs to happen in the very moment your dog succeeds. Without that specific marker, your dog will be confused what what you are asking them to do. And once they succeed, make sure to praise them.
To get them out of their position, engage your dog in other activities (the other apples we have taught so far), which will get him up. Then repeat this training between other activities.
If your dog is struggles, consider the three D’s—distance, duration, and distraction. Shorten the distance between you, or the length of time you require them to obey before rewarding, or lessen any distractions (noises, children, other dogs, etc).
Training Pattern
At first, you start by using a treat to encourage your dog to perform a desired behavior. Then reward them with the marker word “yes,” accompanied by a treat.
Second, you do the same thing, but you add the command to the marker word by saying, “Yes! Place!” or “Yes! Stay!” This associates the command with the desired behavior.
Third, you do everything the same, except that you speak the command word as you begin. You will continue using a treat in your hand to encourage your dog. Each time they are successful, say “Yes!” (no need to add the command word here), and treat.
Finally, you will begin by speaking the command, and when your dog succeeds at the desired behavior, no treat or follow-up “Yes!” is needed.
The body language of your extended “high-five” hand should always accompany the spoken command. Body language is even more important than the spoken command.
Training Over Time
As you dog succeed on a leash, you will first drop the leash, and eventually, you can remove the leash as you train.
You should also randomize the treating, so that your dog is not dependent on a food lure to follow the command.
As you dog gains a good grasp of this activity, consider the three D’s again. Now, increase the distance as you train, require a longer duration before rewarding, and add in distractions to help your dog succeed at higher and higher levels.
