Teaching Your Puppy to Go to a Settle Mat
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Ever wished for a magic spot to help your puppy to calm down and relax, no matter where you are?
Well, a settle mat could be just the solution! It's not just a comfort zone for your pup, but also a tool to enhance their obedience and self-control.
Plus, it's portable - take it to a café, a friend’s house, or even the park, your puppy can learn to chill out anywhere! In this blog post, we'll guide you through teaching your puppy to go to their mat on cue and then start training them to settle down on it. So, lets start training.
What You'll Need
Before starting, you'll need a comfy blanket or mat for your puppy and delicious, bite-sized treats. These treats will serve as the reward and motivation for your puppy. It's important to use treats that your puppy loves to make the training process more effective.
Trainer Picks - I love these settle mats form Designed For Dogs
Step 1: Treat Party on the Blanket!
Start off by laying down the blanket in a quiet spot. Without saying a word, toss a treat onto the blanket. As your puppy investigates and eats the treat, they'll begin to associate the blanket with positive experiences.
Repeat this process 15 times, consistently tossing treats onto the blanket for your puppy to enjoy.
Step 2: Building the "Mat" Cue
Begin by tossing a treat onto the blanket. As your puppy goes to find the treat, say "Mat" in a calm voice. Repeat this step, consistently tossing the treat first and then saying "Mat".
This will help your puppy associate the word "Mat" with the action of going to the blanket.
Repeat this process 10 times in a row. On the 11th repetition, give your cue of "Mat" to your puppy and wait. They should go to the mat, expecting a treat (which you didn't throw). Once they are standing on the mat, reward them with a treat.
Step 3: Gradual Release
Once your puppy reliably goes to the blanket when you say "Mat," you can introduce the concept of leaving the blanket. Toss a treat onto the blanket, say "Mat," and let your pup enjoy it. Then, toss another treat off the blanket, encouraging your pup to get up and get it.
You can even add a cue word like "Off" for this action. This helps your puppy understand that they can and should leave the mat when given permission.
Step 4: Practice Makes Perfect
Consistency is key in training a puppy. Repeat these exercises throughout the day in short sessions. As your pup gets comfortable with going onto their mat in different situations, like after playtime or when guests arrive, they will start to understand that the mat is a place for calming down and settling.
By combining your settle training and mat training, you will quickly have a puppy that you can send to their mat on cue and also get to settle down on cue. Ideally, they'll be napping, enjoying a chew, or just watching the world go by.
Soon, you can take this training with you to the cafe, pub, and friends' houses.
Start with your mat training today.
