re: Need some advice on training my lab

I never necessarily teach "place" but I have always used positive reinforcement for getting my dogs to go to the place where I want them to go.

For example, when they are young I tell them "get in your bed" and have them lay on their bed, give them praise, and make them stay there. I do this a couple times a day but nothing crazy. As they grow up, I can get them to go to their bed no matter where we are.

When we begin training on the dog stand, instead of heeling, I say "get on your stand," and bring them over to it before any type of retrieve. The retrieve after being on the dog stand is the positive reinforcement they get for getting on their stand.

Same goes for "get in the boat" when we're at the launch or "get in your hole" when teaching the dog to get in the dog box in a pit blind.