YES ... that would work also.
And the OP (who is not a newbie.
) Could do that instead?? But that is kinda of a "one tricky pony" kinda thing. An actual physical tie out works for your property but are you always going to take a tie out with you everywhere??? "Place" is much more universal. When perfected, you point to a "Spot" and say "Place!" The dog understands that he is to remain in this spot until told he is released!
In the early stages once a dog understands the command you can use a towel. Throw it down and tell the dog "Place!" The dog is free to move about that spot but he is not free to leave it ... they get that.
And the front lawn thing and ...
I am not recommending this!
But ... I apparently "stumbled unto a variation" of well what you did and the "Place Command!" I called it "On The Lawn!" I work on my cars on the driveway and my dogs on the front lawn would want to wander onto the driveway to see what I was doing?? Completely by accident I trained "On the Lawn" as a giant "Place Mat!
If they stepped off the grass ... "I'd say "On the Lawn!" And they'd step back ... they were free to do whatever "On The Lawn" they just were not free to leave it! Dogs, joggers whatever going by ... once I said "On the lawn" that's where they stayed!
But to be honest ... I did not understand that I had trained that and that, it was in fact an actual command??? Sigh ...yet again and this time in a good way ... my first OS Wl GSD ... showed me that On the lawn" was an actual command??
My "awareness" happened by accident ... one day on a walk, Rocky off leash we were heading home. We were close to home and I'd said to him "On the lawn." I then had to stop to tie my shoe we were about three houses away from home. I stop to tie my shoe and I look up and Rocky is still proceeding forward???
So I stay where I was and watch ... and to my astonishment ...he goes past two homes to our driveway, makes a hard right and proceeds to go "On the lawn??" Comes out to the border of the lawn and turns left to look for me??? I was freaking stunned??? :surprise:
But ... it actually makes sense as it was just a "variation" on the "Place Command." Apparently my other dogs understand it also, I just never realized I'd done that until I got "Rocky??" I had a lot of issues with him so him I watched like a hawk!
It could be a high risk technique to try but ... you know if one were to use a long line as a "back up" then I suppose anyone could train that??? And in fact to the "OP" that is pretty much what I am recommending, except it would be "Place" instead of "On the Lawn." As ... if were not at home and without any prep work ... I would "Assume" "On The Lawn" would mean nothing to a dog ... kinda like uh ... which lawn exactly??