Placeboards

snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
I've finally got J to make me a place board from some high density foam, so it's easy peasy to carry it around. I'm going to use it specifically to straighten up my front sits, but I'm interested to hear any other drills you use them for. I know their uses are wide and varied but I've never used one, so I'm interested to hear about other applications, however wacky! :D
 
SteffiS

SteffiS

Location
Norfolk
OH made me a place board ages ago - it's so heavy I can't imagine using it anywhere apart from my training square in the garden.
We do a lot of work with tennis balls being thrown then I pick most of them up so Ripple understands not every retrieve is his, I can then send him out to pick up specific ones. The place board keeps his attention on me rather than wandering off to find something else to do.
 
Plum's mum

Plum's mum

Location
East Sussex
I don't have a place board but when I've been on training courses they've been used for getting the dogs to recognise a specific place to start work on or from.

It was also used to teach our dogs to place both paws on the board starting with C&T-ing a touch with a nose building up to a paw near, then on, then both paws on (I now use an upturned plant pot for this).

I also used it as a waiting place whilst throwing treats left, right and behind; dog sits and waits until directed with arm movements which direction to go in to seek out the treats. I don't use a board for this now but it helped initially to have Plum sit and face me on an object rather than just the grass.

At the moment I've been trying to teach Plum to sit and hold a dummy in her mouth. Whilst I don't have a place board I have a paving slab in the garden which I use instead when I want to practise certain things. Interestingly, when I direct her to the slab by pointing and saying "place" she automatically sits (because that's what "place" has meant) and she will take the dummy in her mouth whilst sitting, whereas on the grass, she would sit, but as soon as I gave her the dummy she would stand. So "place" helps her recognise something new is happening or something old is being practised.

Profuse apologies for my longwindedness!!
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
We used them in puppy training last year - puppy sits on place board, throw treat out, they get and return to a sit on board. Then used to get puppy to sit to heel. Was useful at the time.
 
Emily

Emily

Location
Melbourne, Australia
I like the idea of high density foam, it sounds easy to transport. Can J make me one? ;)

I haven't used place boards but have been thinking about it. I think they might be useful for distance control stuff, like changes of position at distance and drop on recall.
 
SteffiS

SteffiS

Location
Norfolk
Emily said:
I think they might be useful for distance control stuff, like changes of position at distance and drop on recall.
Click to expand...
Yes, I use mine for distance control as well - shame Ripple can't easily translate that to other situations .:D Actually I think it is working for him, as he gradually moves on to maturity (well he's only three ;)).
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
I used place boards for Bramble to help her get into a nice, tight heel position beside me. This is important as it is a starting point for sending out for more complex retrieves such as blinds. We are having to go back to a few basics as our first competition is coming up. To make it easier I have cut a small piece of vet bed to carry around with me, carrying placeboards up to the fields is a bit of a chore! :)
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Xena Dog Princess said:
@Emily couldn't you just use those foam squares from those mats for toddlers? Those play mats that look like giant puzzle pieces...are they still a thing? Edit - Kmart has them in a variety of styles, cheap too!
Click to expand...
Good thinking - or I was wondering how large swimming floats would do?
Never tried any of this, I think I’ll make a start!
 
Heidrun

Heidrun

I use place boards, the solid raised types made from wood with fake turf on top. But I only use them in the garden or a dedicated training field where they are permanently in place because lugging them about is just not possible. They have to be quite solid because my dogs and plenty of other spaniels I know will hurtle on to them at 100 mph. So anything light or flimsy could possibly move or skid and frighten the dog. If I need something easy to carry when training the place board concept I use small hoola hoops.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top