Training Tidbit of the Week: Put a Mat on it!
Most of the time dogs have no idea what we are trying to teach them. Make training easier for both of you by putting a mat on it! It works like this, use a mat that differs in texture from the surrounding floor. The type of texture depends on your training goal. A soft, plush texture that is pleasant to be on will help you teach a “stay” in one spot. Remember to heavily reward your dog with treats when he’s on the mat to make being there really wonderful for him. A coarse texture, uncomfortable to your dog, will help you teach him to keep out of an area. For example, dog marking your furniture? Put an upside down carpet runner (spike side up), where he marks. The spikes make the area unpleasant and he’ll be less likely to mark there in the future. Mats are also helpful when grooming. It’s never good for anyone when the dog slips right off the table (‘nough said). For bathing, I put a large, non-slip bath mat in the bathtub before adding water. That way, after the bath is set up, the pup is way less likely to slip and have a bad experience. Training your dog to tolerate a bath is hard enough as it is, do what you can to make it pleasant for your dog by…putting a mat on it!
What creative training have you accomplished using a mat?
Happy Training!
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