I'm new to trapping so bear with me. I'm never sure where the dog of a coil spring trap (MB 550) should be positioned. In a dirt hole set should it be near the hole, away from it or to the side.

Same question for blind sets.

Also, should traps be 9" back and 2" to the side from a dirt hole set.

Thanks for any advice.

Generaly speaking it is personal prefrence. But repetitivity and uniformity seem to help me be efficent so I always put my dog to the right of the hole unless doing a scent post or walk through set, then it is twoards the lure or urine. Also if you put the dog to the right or left there is less chance of the jaw jumping the critter's foot out of the trap especialy on stepdown sets.

You should have the trap exactly where the critter is going to put his foot down.
Do not worry about distances those are loose measurements given out By others.
I run a dog less trap so it matters none to me the position of a dog .

Think about this, how do we know which of the 360 directions the animal will come from? Will the animal lead with it's left foot or right foot?
Point being that no matter where the trap is turned, it could be wrong. Don't worry about it.
From convenience or habit my dog is generally to my right and away from me at 1-2 oclock position, but that just happens, no real thought in it. My dogless traps land in about the same position. It has to do with how I grip the trap I guess.
Red has the right idea, either put the trap pan exactly where the foot will be or guide the foot to the trap pan.

Imo, each set is different. I try to position the trap so the fleabag steps through the jaws and not over them. So to me, the dog position is irrelevant. Now, we all know that things don't always work the way we intend them to so this is where the guiding comes into play.
Good luck and don't get into the routine that every set has to be the same.

We like to think we now but the animals don't care what we think. Like Red said, put the trap where they want to step. Listen to them not us.. Normally with dogon traps for yotes dog towards the backing and fox dog out. Dogless only matters with fox. You'll figure out why ounce you miss a few.. Make sets without traps and then you'll see. Subtle guiding helps but not if its 2 feet away LOL..

On canine and cat traps I want the dog on the side the animal Is going to approach. I want the animals foot sliding toward the edge of the pan that Is away from the dog. This Is the most sensitive part of the pan. Or In other words It takes less pressure for the trap to fire. If a critter steps on the dogged side of the trap It's going to take a ton of pressure to spring that trap.

When setting for short legged critters like mink and rats you want them stepping between the jaws not over them. This positioning has no bearing on long legged critters.

What is really going too bunch your underwear, is when you get some snow see with your own eyes how a coyote or fox and a cat approach your sets this will be a learning moment take advantage of it.