I've used "place" as Jim Dobbs presents it. The "place" board is something convenient like a piece of plywood about the size of
the dog's crate (more or less) nailed on top of 2x4. Raising it off the ground makes it easy for the dog to
identify and makes it easy for him to understand that he is not to get off of it on his own.
When the dog understands "place" it becomes easier to teach casting "over", since the dog has something he understands to go to steady at the line, since he knows he can't leave "place" without a command"
I've also used to to help reinforce when I want Charlie to return to the front (for obedience) and when I want him to
return to the side (for field work). It was easy to step in front of the board, or beside it, to get the initial response without hassling him.
You can also use this as a first step to teaching a dog to go to his own rug or "place" in the house.
It's not an absolutely essential training step, but it sure is convenient.
A good description of how to train this can be found at