How to Teach a Australian Shepherd the Place Command
The Place command is an essential tool for Australian Shepherd owners. This breed's exceptional intelligence, work drive, and high energy (requiring 90 minutes of daily exercise) make them prone to over-arousal and destructive boredom if not mentally engaged. Teaching Place—sending your Aussie to a mat or bed to hold a calm, relaxed stay—provides mental stimulation, channels their natural desire to work, and gives you a reliable way to manage their intense energy in high-arousal situations. This intermediate obedience skill also helps prevent common Aussie challenges like herding nipping and reactivity by creating a designated "off-duty" zone. With their 5/5 trainability, Australian Shepherds excel at this command when trained with consistency and positive reinforcement.
Step-by-step
- 1
Introduce the mat and create positive association
Place a small mat, dog bed, or blanket in a quiet area and scatter high-value treats on it. Let your Aussie discover and investigate it freely—do not force them onto it. Repeat this several times a day so your intelligent shepherd learns the mat predicts good things without any command yet.
- 2
Lure onto the mat and reward heavily
Use a treat lure to guide your Aussie onto the mat, then immediately reward with praise and a high-value treat while all four paws remain on it. Keep sessions very short (10–15 seconds on the mat) to prevent frustration, since this breed's high energy means longer durations will come later. Repeat 5–10 reps per session.
- 3
Add the 'Place' cue before luring
Say 'Place' in a calm, clear tone, then immediately lure your Aussie onto the mat as before. After a week of consistent reps, your dog will begin associating the word with the action. Reward generously each time, maintaining positive association without ever forcing compliance.
- 4
Build duration gradually with a release cue
Once your Aussie reliably goes to Place on cue, begin asking for 2–3 seconds of calm resting on the mat before rewarding. Introduce a release word like 'Free!' to mark when they can leave. Australian Shepherds need structure; a clear release prevents them from self-releasing out of over-excitement.
- 5
Increase duration and distance in low-distraction environments
Slowly extend mat time by 3–5 second increments over multiple sessions (never jump from 5 to 30 seconds). Remain nearby and reward frequently with treats tossed to the mat. Practice in the same quiet room until your Shepherd holds Place calmly for 2–3 minutes before moving to new environments.
- 6
Proof the command in increasingly distracting settings
Once solid indoors, practice Place during mild household activity (you walking nearby, minor noise). Gradually introduce more realistic distractions, using high-value rewards to reinforce calm focus. Never punish mistakes; reset quietly and try again, since Australian Shepherds are sensitive to correction and respond best to clarity and positive reinforcement.
Pro tips
- Use Place as a mental outlet: Australian Shepherds are work-driven problem-solvers. Frame the mat as a 'job' they excel at, rewarding calm focus heavily. This channels their work ethic productively and prevents boredom-driven destructiveness.
- Practice Place daily in short bursts alongside their 90-minute exercise routine. A tired body plus a calm mental task creates the ideal conditions for an Aussie to succeed without over-arousal or reactivity interfering.
- Avoid raising your voice or showing frustration if mistakes happen. This sensitive, intelligent breed reads your tone and may become anxious or discourage easily. Stay calm, reset quietly, and let rewards do the teaching.
Frequently asked questions
My Aussie gets up before I release them. What should I do?+
Avoid repeating the command or punishing; simply calmly guide them back to the mat and reward when they settle. This teaches that leaving early doesn't get attention or excitement. Consistency matters with this intelligent breed—keep sessions short to set them up for success, and gradually build duration as they understand the rule.
Can I use Place to stop my Aussie from herding nipping or jumping?+
Yes, Place is excellent for managing herding tendencies and arousal-driven jumping. When your Aussie shows signs of over-arousal, calmly send them to their mat. This redirects their work drive into a calm task and breaks the behavior cycle. Pair it with their daily exercise routine so they're not frustratingly under-exercised.
How long should each training session be for my Australian Shepherd?+
Keep initial sessions to 5–10 minutes, with 5–10 repetitions. This breed's high trainability means they learn fast, but their energy and work drive can lead to over-arousal or frustration in long sessions. Multiple short sessions daily (3–4) are far more effective than one long session.
What if my Aussie was already exercised for 90 minutes but still won't settle on the mat?+
Physical exercise alone may not be enough; Australian Shepherds need mental stimulation too. Before Place training, provide puzzle toys or a training session to tire their mind. If they still struggle to settle, ensure you're only asking for short durations and rewarding generously—this builds their understanding that calm focus is the job.