Why I Started Teaching “Place” Instead of “Stay”
Building Calm, Confident Dogs That Think for Themselves
Most dog owners are familiar with the classic stay command — but in my experience, teaching place creates far better structure, reliability, and emotional balance for your dog.
The Problem With “Stay”
The stay command is often misunderstood and inconsistently applied. Most owners forget to include a release cue, which leaves the dog guessing how long they’re supposed to hold the position. Eventually, they make the decision for themselves — usually when they get bored or distracted.
This creates confusion and inconsistency, and it makes the stay command unreliable in real-life situations.
Why “Place” Is More Powerful
The place command does so much more than tell your dog to “stay put.” It gives them a job — a clear, visual target that sets them up for success. When a dog knows exactly where to go and what’s expected of them, they’re more confident, calm, and focused.
By assigning your dog to a raised cot or mat, place becomes a visual and physical boundary. It’s easy for the dog to understand: “This is my spot.” From there, you can build accountability and duration with clarity and consistency.
“Place” Includes an Implied Stay
Here’s one of the biggest advantages: when you teach place correctly, you don’t need both a stay and a place command.
That’s because place already carries an implied stay. When your dog is sent to their place, the expectation is that they remain there — calm, still, and focused — until you give them a release cue like “break” or “free.”
This eliminates redundancy in your training language and creates a clearer, simpler communication system for your dog. You’re not constantly switching between commands or confusing your dog with overlapping expectations. Instead, place means: go there, stay there, and relax until released.
The Zen Zone for Your Dog
Beyond obedience, place becomes your dog’s decompression space — their zen zone. It’s where they learn how to relax, regulate their emotions, and even practice being bored (which is a skill most dogs need to develop).
When your dog learns how to do nothing calmly, you’ll see improvements across the board: less reactivity, less anxiety, and better focus when it’s time to work or play.
Real-Life Applications
Once your dog understands place indoors, you can start adding challenges — training in public, around guests, or in high-distraction environments. Over time, this builds rock-solid reliability.
You can use place when:
Your dog is hyper and needs to settle.
Guests come over (no more jumping or chaos).
You need to manage emergencies, like off-leash dogs or unexpected distractions.
The Power of the Release Cue
With place, the release cue (“break” or “free”) is key. It tells your dog when they’re allowed to move — reinforcing clarity, control, and trust.
This clear communication is what makes place so reliable, even in high-stress situations.
From Cot to Confidence
Start with a raised cot — it’s an easy visual for your dog. As they master the behavior, transition to more challenging settings. Eventually, when your dog understands the concept, you can remove the cot altogether and use place anywhere.
At that point, place isn’t just a command — it’s a mindset.
Bottom line:
Teaching place instead of stay transforms obedience into emotional balance. It gives your dog a job, helps them self-regulate, and builds a calm, confident companion who can handle the world with you — one “place” at a time.
