How to Teach Your Puppy to Settle Calmly on a Magic Mat
Puppies often get excited when encountering new places, people, or dogs. This excitement can lead to unwanted behaviors like barking, jumping, and not listening to you. But don’t worry! With the Magic Mat, you can teach your puppy to relax and settle calmly anywhere.
By training your puppy to associate the Magic Mat with relaxation, you can confidently take them to cafes, friends’ houses, or public places, knowing they will lie down and chill.
Check out our playlist showing the perks of the Magic Mat
The Magic Mat Training Steps for Puppies
Step 1: Introducing the Mat
- Giving the Mat its Power: Lay a mat on the floor and sprinkle 5 treats on it. Let your puppy explore and eat the treats.
- Reset and Repeat: After your puppy finishes, show another treat, throw it away from the mat, and reload the mat with treats while they chase the thrown treat. Repeat several times.
- Test Interest: After a few repetitions, lay the mat without treats. If your puppy checks it out, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Getting on the Mat
- Movement & Reward: When your puppy approaches the mat, mark it with “Yes” and reward with treats on the mat. Reset and repeat several times.
- Criteria: Your puppy should consistently move towards the mat.
Step 3: Lay Down on the Mat
- Encourage Down Position: When your puppy approaches the mat, wait for them to lie down. If needed, use a treat to lure them into a down position.
- Reward and Reset: Mark “Yes” when they lay down, reward, and reset. Repeat until they lay down without a lure.
- Relaxed Position: Encourage your puppy to rock over onto one hip by luring their nose towards their back leg. Reward when they do.
Step 4: Stay on the Mat
- Extend Stay Time: Slowly feed treats to gradually increase the time your puppy stays on the mat. Build up to 30 seconds, then 1 minute.
- Regular Resets: Reset often to keep your puppy engaged. Use a release word like “OK” to indicate breaks.
Step 5: Adding the Settle Cue
- Cue Introduction: Add a cue like “Settle” as you place the mat down. Reward your puppy when it lays down.
- Repeat: Use the cue consistently, resetting and rewarding until your puppy associates the cue with settling on the mat.
Step 6: Add Distractions
- Gradual Distractions: Start with simple movements like standing up or turning around. Reward your puppy for staying on the mat.
- Increase Challenge: Gradually introduce more distractions like dropping treats or bouncing a ball. Reward frequently for staying on the mat.
Step 7: Taking the Magic Mat Training on the Road
- New Environments: Start in familiar locations and gradually move to busier places. Use the same training steps, beginning with treats on the mat if needed.
- Short Sessions: Keep initial sessions short and rewarding. Build up to longer stays over time.
Important Training Tips
Positive Reinforcement: Reward your puppy with toys, praise, and treats. This will make the behavior more likely to be repeated.
Regular Breaks: Keep training sessions short (5-10 minutes) and give your puppy regular breaks.
Stay Hydrated: Ensure fresh water is always available.
Revisit Steps: If your puppy struggles, go back a step or two and reinforce previous stages before progressing.
What You’ll Need
- A soft mat or blanket
- Bite-sized treats
- A treat pouch or tub
- A marker word or clicker
- Your puppy!
Useful Terms
- Mark or Marker Word: This signalizes the correct behavior and that a treat is coming. It can be a clicker or a verbal word like “Yes.”
- Reset: Throw a treat away from the training area to reset the exercise.
- Cue: A signal for your puppy to perform a specific behavior.
- Release Signal: Indicates the end of a training session or task, allowing your puppy to relax.
By following these steps, your puppy will learn to settle calmly on the Magic Mat, making your puppy a well-mannered and relaxed companion wherever you go. Happy training!
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Fetch Worthy Dog Training by Shelly Haines, VSA-CDT, FFCP, offers private dog training & dog training classes!