10/07/2026
There are no shortage of uses for the place command. Below are some of my favorite applications for the command.
1. Guests come over
* Instead of your dog rushing the door, jumping on people, or constantly seeking attention, “place” gives them a job while guests enter and settle in.
2. You need your hands free
* Cooking, carrying groceries, getting your child ready, cleaning, or working from home becomes easier when your dog has a predictable spot to relax rather than following you everywhere.
3. It builds an off-switch
* Place teaches dogs that they don’t always need to be moving, playing, or looking for stimulation. Learning to settle is an important form of emotional regulation.
4. It creates structure during exciting moments
* Doorbells, visitors, meals, deliveries, household activity, and other distractions become opportunities to practice impulse control while your dog remains in a known location.
5. It gives you a way to include your dog without constantly managing them
* Your dog can still be part of what’s happening without being in the middle of everything. They learn that being connected to you doesn’t always mean being physically attached to you.
6. During mealtime
* Place can teach your dog to remain settled while you eat instead of begging, hovering, or stealing food.
7. When maintenance or service workers arrive
* Plumbers, electricians, delivery people, or repair technicians can move around the house without your dog feeling like they need to supervise every movement.
8. When you’re opening the front door
* Place creates distance and structure around one of the most exciting moments for many dogs, helping prevent door-dashing and chaotic greetings.
9. When your dog is overstimulated
* If the household becomes hectic, place gives your dog a familiar, predictable environment where they can decompress instead of continuing to escalate.
10. When you simply need some personal space
* Your dog doesn’t need to follow you from room to room all day. Place teaches them that it’s okay to relax independently while you go about your life.