By David DiBenedetto

I recently started Pritch on place board training. (I know. I should have begun this earlier. But remember, I’m a newbie and I promised to share the good and bad of my journey down the gun dog road. Thankfully, I have a damn fine dog who just might rescue me from my own ineptitude.)

For those who don’t know, a place board is usually a wooden platform raised a few inches off the ground (see the photo to the left). The idea is simple: Teach the dog to sit on the place board when you command “Place.” (I’m doing this with Pritch on a short lead combined with the use of treats, but there are a number of other methods.) Once the dog has learned the command, it’s time to work her on different styles of place boards, like say a carpet square. Eventually, you can use the “Place” command to have your dog sit on a flat boat seat or outside of a duck blind.

Once Pritch has mastered “Place,” I’ll use the place board during our retrieving sessions. As she approaches me with the bumper I’ll begin to command “Place.” And she will (hopefully) assume her position on the board. It should help with the blow by problems not to mention start us on the road to “Steady.”

We’ll keep you posted. If you’ve had some success (or not) with the place board let’s hear about it.

Comments (8)

from pinopolis wrote 2 years 46 weeks ago

this is an interesting post. i hadn't heard much about placeboards, but lately i keep reading what a great tool they are. will be curious to hear how pritch does.

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from Quackwacker wrote 2 years 46 weeks ago

David,

I have started this same command last week and my pups are picking it up pretty good. Its a very useful command when in the blind.

Good Look, and Pritch looks great!

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from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 46 weeks ago

Thanks, Quack.

Pritch is picking it up very quickly, too. Looking forward to the day I can use the command in a duck blind. -D

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from muskiemaster wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

I don't know if I'm going to do this with my pup but post later on about how the training is going I'd like to see how this works. Maybe a video or something when she has perfected.

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from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Sounds like that could be a solution for Pritchard running by you on the return of a retrieve.

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from OTMBoykins wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Best of luck with the placeboard training. That is one of the best tools I have in my bag.

There are a few articles here that describe other uses of the placeboard
http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/retrievers/rj32.html

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from OTMBoykins wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

use the command in your den while watching TV.
Make Pritch sit on the place to get him used to sitting on his place for a long period of time.

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from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Excellent idea about having Pritch sit on the place board in the den while we're watching TV. For the record, she's really coming along nicely with the command. Will post a video soon. -D

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from pinopolis wrote 2 years 46 weeks ago

this is an interesting post. i hadn't heard much about placeboards, but lately i keep reading what a great tool they are. will be curious to hear how pritch does.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Quackwacker wrote 2 years 46 weeks ago

David,

I have started this same command last week and my pups are picking it up pretty good. Its a very useful command when in the blind.

Good Look, and Pritch looks great!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 46 weeks ago

Thanks, Quack.

Pritch is picking it up very quickly, too. Looking forward to the day I can use the command in a duck blind. -D

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from muskiemaster wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

I don't know if I'm going to do this with my pup but post later on about how the training is going I'd like to see how this works. Maybe a video or something when she has perfected.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Sounds like that could be a solution for Pritchard running by you on the return of a retrieve.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from OTMBoykins wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Best of luck with the placeboard training. That is one of the best tools I have in my bag.

There are a few articles here that describe other uses of the placeboard
http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/retrievers/rj32.html

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from OTMBoykins wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

use the command in your den while watching TV.
Make Pritch sit on the place to get him used to sitting on his place for a long period of time.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 45 weeks ago

Excellent idea about having Pritch sit on the place board in the den while we're watching TV. For the record, she's really coming along nicely with the command. Will post a video soon. -D

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.