Step 1 - Target, Sit and Down

Prerequisite Skills:

• Marker Word

• Sit

• Down

• Proximity - Your dog should be willing to be near you when called

• Lure Following - Your dog should be willing to follow a lure

• Read "Setting Criteria - 3 Ds"

Gear:

1. Treat pouch with treats

2. Place bed

Set Up:

• Bed Location: Identify a single specific location. Maintain this location for the duration of Step 1

• Training Position: Position yourself at a specific, consistent spot next to the dog bed. Your legs/feet should be within 6 inches of the bed.

  • Note 1: If you bed is rectangular it's best to position yourself along one of the short edges. This gives the dog the most area to approach, making it more appealing to engage with the bed.

  • Note 2: If you are near a wall or other object (couch, coffee table, other object, etc.) position yourself in an area that gives the dog the most freedom of movement and maximizes the ease of access to the bed.

Phase 1: Luring

Use a food lure to move your dog toward and onto the bed

Assumption: Dog is already standing within 2-3 feet of the bed and engaged in training

Step	Reward Criteria
1	Dog takes 1 step toward the dog bed
2	Dog leans over the dog bed
3	Dog places 1 paw on the dog bed
4	Dog places 2 paws on the dog bed
5	Dog places 4 paws on the dog bed
6	Dog Sits*
7	Dog Downs*

***If you dog doesn't already have a reliable Sit and/or Down it can be taught here. See "Sit" and "Down" on my website. Do NOT add in the verbal Sit and Down cue during Place work. Only utilize hand signals. Verbal cues for these 2 behaviors can be added outside of Place work.

Phase 2: Fade the Lure

See "Fading a Lure" on my website for detailed steps on fading a lure.

Step	Criteria
8	Repeat Step 5 and follow the Fade the Lure process Target - Achieve a hand signal for standing on Place The hand signal used here will become the physical Place cue
9	Repeat Step 6 and follow the Fade the Lure process Target - Achieve a hand signal for Sit on Place
10	Repeat Step 7 and follow the Fade the Lure process Target - Achieve a hand signal for Down on Place

Phase 3: Auto Sit and Auto Down

Teaching the dog to offer the Sit and Down behavior without providing the cue.

Step	Criteria
11	Cue Place using your hand signal (See Step 8). Wait 2 seconds before giving the Sit hand signal Reward the dog for Sitting if they offer it before you cue it. If the dog is consistently sitting before 2 seconds transition to Step 13
12	Cue Place using your hand signal. Wait 5 seconds before giving the Sit hand signal Reward the dog for Sitting if they offer it before you cue it. Stay at this step until the dog is consistently sitting before you cue them. Target - Dog automatically offers a Sit on Place when Place hand signal is given
13	Cue Place and reward for the auto sit. Pause for 2 seconds then give the Down hand signal Reward the dog for laying Down if they offer it before you cue it. If the dog is consistently laying Down before 2 seconds transition to Step 15
14	Cue Place but stop rewarding for the auto sit. Pause for 5 seconds before cuing a Down Reward the dog for laying Down if they offer it before you lure it. Stay at this step until the dog is consistently laying Down before you cue them. Target - Dog automatically offers a Down on Place when Place hand signal is given

Phase 4: Verbal Cue

Add in a verbal cue to signal Place

Step	Reward Criteria
15	Give your verbal cue ("Place") pause for 1/2 a second and then give the hand signal
16	Increase the pause between the verbal cue and hand signal to 1 sec
17	Increase the pause between the verbal cue and hand signal to 3 sec
18	Increase the pause between the verbal cue and hand signal to 5 sec Repeat this step until the dog is consistently going to Place before the hand signal is given Target - Dog goes to Place and lays down when hearing the verbal cue - "Place"

Phase 5: Generalization

Shifting our position. Stay within 6 inches of the bed but change your position relative to the bed

Step	Reward Criteria
19	Go to the opposite side of the bed and repeat training. Go back as many steps as necessary for the dog to understand what you are asking (this could be step 1 or step 18)
20	Pick a 3rd unique position next to the bed and repeat training. Go back as many steps as necessary for the dog to understand what you are asking (this could be step 1 or step 18)
21	Bonus: Move the bed to different locations and repeat the Place training