Kim Paciotti, Puppy Training Specialist at the Empowered Puppy Program, says owners should teach the command “place” before introducing “sit” when starting puppy training. Don’t teach puppies how to sit as trainer prefers easier command

She argues a defined spot — a mat or bed — is a clear, visible target that lets a puppy succeed immediately and learn calmness and impulse control. Owners often fall into common mistakes, such as being inconsistent with cues and rules or using harsh punishment instead of reward-based methods, emphasizing the need for clarity from the start. That early clarity, Paciotti says, helps owners shape behavior in the home more easily than beginning with positional cues alone. 3 Puppy Training Mistakes New Owners Make, And How They Affect …

“Everyone teaches sit first because that’s what they were taught,” Paciotti said. She told owners that starting with a visual cue makes the learning concrete: “‘Place’ gives them something concrete. The mat is right there. They can see it, they walk to it, they stay on it. Success is obvious.” This foundational behavior integrates elements of sit, down, and stay, making it more effective than traditional approaches focused solely on single commands.

Paciotti frames the order of instruction as deliberate. “The order you teach things matters. Visual first, abstract later. That’s how dogs learn,” she said, explaining that a visible target helps puppies associate a location with the expectation to settle and wait. Early training timing is crucial, as waiting too long can impede a dog’s learning process.

Practical details matter in her approach. “Yes, have a place in every room. I use a yoga mat and cut it into thirds. Three places and they all look the same,” Paciotti advised, using identical mats to create consistency across the home and reduce confusion for the puppy. For further improvement, owners can consult evidence-based guides and videos from organizations such as the Pet Professional Guild, which offers a variety of general positive-reinforcement training resources.

Her recommendation echoes a broader shift among trainers who favour stationing cues that combine elements of sit, down and stay into a single, sustained behaviour. Teaching a puppy to go to a defined spot can be used in everyday moments—when guests arrive or during mealtimes—to support calm behaviour and predictable responses from the dog. This aligns with the program’s mission to encourage thoughtful choices, rather than simple obedience.

The idea also addresses a common misunderstanding about early cues: many puppies do not initially grasp the abstract positional prompt that “sit” represents. By contrast, a mat is a visible location that the puppy can approach, interact with and then hold position on, which makes success easier to reinforce. This method helps alleviate initial fears or distractions that might arise during training.

Owners who want further reading on the mechanics or benefits of the “place” command can consult resources such as Bigpawsozarks for practical demonstrations, while guides on common training pitfalls are available from sites like Oneminddogs. For enhanced learning, owners can also explore articles and training videos from professional training organizations.

Paciotti places this technique within the Empowered Puppy Program’s wider focus on early development and temperament shaping. Her guidance stresses teaching puppies how to make choices and think, rather than relying solely on positional obedience at the outset. Effective training not only helps in obedience but also fosters a strong, positive relationship between owners and their dogs.

One puppy owner quoted in the coverage reacted to the advice: “I wish I had seen this before I started training my puppy!” That response underlines how simple changes in sequencing can alter an owner’s experience and a puppy’s early learning. This shift reflects the growing understanding that consistent, reward-based training can lead to more effective and harmonious relationships.

Paciotti’s messaging is practical and prescriptive: begin with a visible target, repeat that cue across spaces in the home, and only later layer in more abstract commands. For owners trying to create consistent expectations, that sequence, she says, produces clearer early successes and a calmer household dynamic.

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