Helping a Puppy Learn How to Stay in Place Command - Take the Lead K9 Training

We regularly get contacted to be told that folks are struggling with their new puppy because he barks and bites for attention, chases the cat, and constantly tries to pester the older dog in the house. An important skill, beyond crate testing, is teaching your puppy how to settle and stay - and we do that with the place command!
Chaka is 10 weeks old and we are introducing him to the concept of staying in one spot, instead of following me around - or in this case, chasing the cats to play! This is our first activity in the morning following coming out of the crate and going potty, so he isn't tired - actually he is ready to go go go, so instead of just bringing him in to burn energy playing and chasing the cats, we put his mind to work (and feed him his breakfast!) Through training!
Over the last week we've practiced very simple "on and off" of the cot, naming it place, saying "yes" when he gets on and rewarding him. We've also started creating small amounts of distance and distraction during those sessions, paying him while staying in command a handful of times and marking "yes" again.
Now, we are working on building up longer bouts of stay, and creating more distance and distraction! You will notice the I step far away, do a circle around him, or sit on the couch briefly - then I will mark "yes" and walk back to pay him. This exercise is focusing more on paying the stay and helping him build duration of staying in one place for a bit of time.
My cats are buzzing around, but little guy is doing great! If he hops off, I just say "nope, place" as I have him follow me back to the bed. I will make "yes" once he lands there again, do a small distraction, and pay him. It's important to keep the puppies successful, to not move fast in the steps of duration (you'll know if you are because your puppy keeps breaking command), and to use LOTS of food!
We use our puppy's meals as rewards so we arn't getting upset stomach from too many rich treats, and so we make sure to work our puppy's brain everyday! Don't worry, you won't have to use food forever...but at this age and for many many months of growing and learning puppy hood you will be using food to motivate and teach your puppy!