Obedience · Akita
How to Teach an Akita the Place Command
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Short answer
Teach your Akita the Place command by luring and shaping a calm settle on a designated mat using high-value rewards and clear release cues. This positive approach channels the breed's independent guarding instincts into a structured rest, helping them voluntarily disengage from household commotion.
The Akita is a dignified, courageous, and fiercely loyal guardian whose independent mindset is often mistaken for stubbornness. Teaching your Akita the Place cue channels their natural guarding instincts into a structured, peaceful settle rather than reactive patrolling. Because Akitas can be aloof toward visitors and intolerant of unfamiliar dogs, a designated mat provides a clear boundary where they can relax instead of feeling compelled to manage the household. By pairing high-value rewards like roast beef or freeze-dried liver with unambiguous criteria, you will build a cooperative working partnership with your Akita. This intermediate obedience cue empowers this large spitz to voluntarily disengage from household commotion and remain calmly positioned until released.
How to do it
Step-by-step
Tick off each step as you practice it — your progress is saved on this device.
Step 1: Introduce the Boundary Mat
Place a distinct, non-slip elevated cot or sturdy orthotic mat in a quiet corner where your Akita still has a line of sight to the room. Lure your dog onto the mat using high-value rewards like real chicken, mark with a clicker or verbal marker the second all four paws touch, and deliver treats directly between their paws. Practice this for three to five minutes twice daily, keeping repetitions brisk to prevent your independent dog from losing interest. If your Akita hesitates to step onto the unfamiliar texture, mark and reward two front paws first before expecting full body commitment.
Step 2: Name the Behavior and Fade the Lure
Point clearly toward the mat and say "Place" a split second before your Akita steps forward onto the target. Mark the moment all four paws land on the surface and immediately deliver a treat onto the bed to keep their head low. Practice three daily sessions of five repetitions each, ensuring you stop while your Akita is still engaged and eager. If your dog ignores the point cue, temporarily reintroduce a subtle treat lure in your hand and gradually fade your hand motion across successive attempts.
Step 3: Shape a Spontaneous Down and Add a Release Cue
Once your Akita steps onto the mat reliably, wait silently without giving verbal cues until they naturally settle into a down position. Mark the exact moment their elbows touch the surface, feed several treats in succession to reinforce stillness, and then say "Free" while tossing a low-value kibble off the mat to reset them. Dedicate two 5-minute sessions each day to this sequence so your dog realizes that the mat itself is the place to settle. If your Akita remains stubbornly standing, wait patiently for up to thirty seconds without repeating prompts, or lower a treat slowly to the floor between their paws to induce the fold.
Step 4: Build Duration and Encourage Physical Relaxation
Cue Place and withhold the marker for five to ten seconds while your Akita remains settled, gradually extending the wait toward two full minutes. Deliver treats at intermittent intervals directly onto the mat, deliberately rewarding signs of relaxation such as rolled hips, soft eyes, or a resting chin rather than tense vigilance. Practice this once or twice a day in five-minute increments, always ending with your "Free" release before your dog chooses to get up on their own. If your Akita breaks position early, step calmly into their path, guide them back to the mat with neutral body language, and shorten the duration by half on the next rep.
Step 5: Introduce Distance and Handler Movement
Send your Akita to their mat, wait for them to lie down, take one step backward, immediately step back in, mark, and reward. Gradually build your distance over several days until you can cue the behavior from ten feet away and walk across the room without them breaking the stay. Keep these sessions brief at around five minutes per day, moving with calm and purposeful steps to avoid triggering your Akita's prey drive or play arousal. If your dog breaks their stay to shadow you, shorten your distance to a simple lateral step or body pivot until their foundation is stable.
Step 6: Proof Against Real-World Distractions
Introduce low-level household stimuli while your Akita is resting on their mat, such as family members walking past, soft door knocks, or dropped items. Mark and deliver high-value jackpots of roast beef while your dog chooses to stay anchored rather than jumping up to investigate or guard. Conduct 5-minute proofing sessions daily, using a back-clip harness and a lightweight long line indoors as a safety backup to prevent self-reinforcing boundary breaks. If your Akita goes over threshold and leaves the mat toward a trigger, increase your distance from the distraction, reset them calmly on the bed, and reward simpler stationary focus.
For the Akita
Pro tips
- Opt for an elevated mesh cot or cooling pad, as double-coated Akitas overheat rapidly and will abandon plush, warm beds to lie on cold floors.
- Deliver rewards directly onto the mat between your dog's paws rather than from your waist, which builds strong value for the surface itself and discourages pop-ups.
- Maintain a calm, neutral demeanor during training; aloof Akitas will tune out emotional frustration and harsh tones, but they respect calm, steady consistency.
Owners ask
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Akita stand stiffly on the mat instead of lying down?
Akitas possess strong guarding instincts and naturally prefer standing alert to monitor their territory. Lower their arousal by delivering continuous treats flat on the mat between their front paws to physically draw their posture downward. Never push on their hips or back, as this breed's oppositional reflex will cause them to brace and resist even harder.
How do I prevent my Akita from guarding the place mat from other family pets?
Because Akitas are prone to resource guarding and dog intolerance, set up the mat away from high-traffic corridors and separate other animals with physical baby gates during training. Never allow other pets to approach or step onto your Akita's bed, ensuring your dog feels completely secure in their space. If tension arises, pick up the mat when you are not actively supervising and training.
My Akita walks away after just two or three repetitions. How can I keep them engaged?
Akitas are highly intelligent, independent thinkers who quickly disengage from repetitive, monotonous drills that seem pointless to them. Keep your sessions under five minutes, eliminate excessive repetitions, and significantly raise the value of your reinforcers by using warm meats, tripe, or string cheese. Finishing each session on a successful repetition while your dog still wants more will preserve their motivation.
Can I use the Place command to stop my Akita from charging the front door when guests arrive?
Yes, but you must thoroughly proof the cue against simulated doorbell rings and knocks before expecting compliance during real arrivals. Because Akitas are innately aloof and protective around strangers, keep them on a flat collar or harness attached to a long line to manage safety and prevent threshold breaches. Reward heavily for stationary calm, releasing them only once both your dog and the visitors are settled.
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? Email us — we review every report, fix the guide and update its date. Our guides are general education, not a substitute for a certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist.
