DoggyStyle: Ottomans and Benches for the Dog Home

Back when I first adopted Miss M, I was really poor. I had no furniture. I quickly figured out that I  could get by with less furniture if I bought benches and ottomans that could be easily moved so I could use them as laptop 'desks', side tables, and even dining stools:

I've since realized how valuable ottomans and benches are for the dog-owning home. They are lightweight and easy to move for vacuuming and if the pooches went some extra space to play. But we've recently realized how these can help with our dog training:

I've been going to classes with this young, handsome adoptable here where he is learning to work on his over-excitement and gaining willpower and self-control by practicing sit-stays and down-stays on a box. The idea is that the box gives defined parameters and the pooches know they're supposed to stay within the boundaries. The raised height gives them self-confidence while also limiting the chance for them to jump off. We've also learned this can be a mental exercise where the idea of learning self-restraint and maintaining a pose can also decrease their physical energy.

Eventually the pooches can practice down-stays at the elevated level for an extended amount of time. And at least it can get the pooches out from underfoot when we're in the kitchen.

Has anyone been practicing anything like this with your pup?

Also:

How down-stays changed our life