Place Boards, gundog people?

[Thistle]

Just thinking about 'stuff' for the pup arriving in March. I've never used a place board, but I have always used a doormat/carpet sample square as a target in the early stages of training.

Those who use a place board, what are the advantages over a target mat?, I've read that the height encourages steadieness, a smart sit and accuracy. If I invest, will I need one or two, how long do you use them for? I can't find any for sale secondhand so does that mean that they're invaluable> Or that people don't bother buying them..

I have quite a few pallets etc around and some heavy duty ply, I could probably get some astro easily enough. OH can be useful if he feels like it (if I bribe him enough with steak and the promise of not moaning about him being out shooting if I can bring a dog along sometimes!)

Is it worth investing in the more lightweight plastic ones like Cato?

Pic is Freya last year with her working test award.

 

[druid]

I buy cheap plastic half steps off amazon (just search mobility aid, half step they're about £12) . I find them invaluable for starting heel, making it really clear where the position is and .also for handling. I do all my handling off them to start, using food bowls to send to. A dog with a solid sit on a place board is also likely to have a neater delivery as they naturally come in and sit down on the boar din front of you. I use 4 eventually

 

[CorvusCorax]

I have three sets of 'boxes' at home, two tall (one wooden, one hard plastic) and one half sized in hard plastic, which can be turned upside down. They were custom made and fit inside each other. I've also used doormats and frisbees. I've seen people use plastic bread trays and mail trays as well. One woman I am training at the moment uses a small laundry basket!!
In my sport they are very good for training the dog to stay in a position, to commute from point A to B at explosive speed, for front leg position, hind end awareness, balance etc.
They have loads of applications, especially for the retrieve and the jump/A-frame and for the dog to just wait until told otherwise. When I tried agility sessions, because my dog already knew to wait on a mat, it made things a lot easier!
The taller ones teach younger dogs to make an effort to get into them, make an effort to get out of them and it's easier for them to stay there/creates that muscle memory, so, stability in a static position (front feed only). It's easy for young dogs to just step off something with no sides.
When my dogs see anything resembling a box or place marker they strain to get to it, because they've been conditioned to know that all the good stuff happens there!

 

[Clodagh]

I bought two on Etsy. I looked at the ones Druid suggested but decided they weren’t quite big enough. I’ve never used anything before and as I don’t compete I’m not as interested in absolute precision as you are, but they have made many things a lot easier. If she doesn’t sit square and her leg falls off the side she feels it and puts herself right. For directional work you have a precise start and end, she loves sitting on them.

 

[druid]

I bought two on Etsy. I looked at the ones Druid suggested but decided they weren’t quite big enough. I’ve never used anything before and as I don’t compete I’m not as interested in absolute precision as you are, but they have made many things a lot easier. If she doesn’t sit square and her leg falls off the side she feels it and puts herself right. For directional work you have a precise start and end, she loves sitting on them.

If long pointy can fold his giant frame on to my plastic ones you are being far too generous to a lab puppy unless it's arse is the size of a small country

 

[Clodagh]

If long pointy can fold his giant frame on to my plastic ones you are being far too generous to a lab puppy unless it's arse is the size of a small country

Mary Jane said A3 was best… I’m new to this! It is quite spacious for her I give you

 

[Thistle]

Thanks all, found some (identical to amazon) on Temu local for £8.50 each.