Where It Goes Wrong

Most place problems trace back to a few habits:

• Rewarding off the mat. The treat must land on the surface, or you are paying them for leaving.
• Adding too much at once. Distance plus duration plus distraction in one rep sets them up to fail.
• A fuzzy release. No word, or a different word each time, teaches them to guess.
• Repeating the cue. Say "place" once. If nothing happens, make it easier, don't nag.