How to teach your dog to go to a designated spot and stay there until released. Covers building duration, adding the verbal cue, and sending from a distance.
Place asks your dog to move to a designated spot and stay there until you release them. It has two parts: the movement to the spot, and holding position once they arrive. A release cue, such as "free" or "OK," tells your dog when the behavior ends.
Any surface with defined edges works. A mat, a dog bed, or a raised platform all give your dog a clear physical boundary they can feel underfoot. Use the same spot throughout training. Changing surfaces before the behavior is solid makes it harder for your dog to generalize.
Start with your dog close to the spot. Lure them onto it with a treat, or let them investigate and mark the moment all four paws land on the surface with a verbal "yes" or a click, then treat while your dog is still on the spot. Repeat until they move onto it readily.
Once your dog gets on the spot reliably, begin rewarding for duration. Wait two or three seconds before rewarding. Follow that with your release word and let your dog step off. Each rep with a clear start and end teaches your dog to wait for the release rather than deciding when to leave.
Once your dog goes to the spot readily and holds it for a few seconds, introduce the word "place" just before they move. After several sessions, step back a pace and send them from there. Return to your dog to reward rather than calling them off the spot. Walking back to reward teaches your dog that the behavior continues until you release them.
Most dogs hold Place with you nearby within a handful of sessions. Sending from across the room takes longer. Distance and duration are separate skills that build one step at a time. Over time, the spot itself becomes a signal to settle, and many dogs start going to it on their own.
Holding a position does not automatically mean your dog feels calm. Do not use Place to pin an overstimulated puppy down indefinitely. Keep practice easy, reward soft choices such as lying on one hip or resting their head, and release before frustration builds. If your puppy cannot switch off, check the possible causes in Why Won't My Puppy Settle?.