How to Train Your Dog to Stay Onto a Mat?

Dogs need a safe place to lie down. Training your dog to lie down on a mat is a way to make their safe haven portable. As one of the most frequently used dog supplies, a dog mat can be used to put them beside the dinner table or can even be taken out to a coffee shop to have your dog lay down by your side.

 

                  

 

One thing to think about is trying to pick out an anti-skid bottom on whatever mat or blanket that you’re going to use. What I like to use a lots of times is this pet bed mat. What’s important is the first time you present the mat or blanket, you are already to go ahead and mark the behavior as it happens.

 

                  

 

As soon as I present the mat, I have to be ready to click and treat. When he steps onto the mat, click and treat him. And then add in a word. When you are starting adding in a word, you want to say the word immediately just before they’re going to step onto the blanket. Reset your dog with a treat throwing off, and as soon as he is about to step back onto the mat, you want to use the word MAT for him. So for him, mat means doing a down stay onto the mat.

The next step is getting your dog to stay in a down position on the mat is starting adding distractions. Some distractions you could use are turning your body around starting to walk away, starting to turn your back on the dog. What I like to use is starting with some squeaky toys just to make the noise and give them a little bit more of a distraction.

 

                        

 

The next step for training your dog is waiting for longer and longer durations before you do that click and treat. This starts to extend the down stay so that they can be there for longer amounts of time. Next you can practice more districting situations such as at a coffee shop or even going up to being able to be at a game and having your dog at your side on the mat.

              

Remember when going to a new situation, you may take your dog back to puppy kindergarten and make it a little bit easier for them such as just clicking them for having all four feet on the mat and eventually being able to work into going into that long down stay once again. Remember, every dog learns that his or her own pace.