Do you want a well-behaved puppy who stays on his mat or bed when you need him to?
In fact, this is a great skill to teach your puppy or dog.
Not only is it a fantastic way to keep your puppy out of trouble, but it’s also an excellent way to teach dogs how to stay calm and relaxed in new situations.
Plus, it will also help give your puppy some independence.
Let’s dive in!
What Is A Mat Stay, And Why Should You Teach It To Your Puppy?
A mat stay is when your puppy or dog stays on his bed or mat while you’re away from him.
Plus, it can help you hinder any unwanted or problematic behaviours.
You also need to understand that before getting started teaching this exercise, you must prepare the following:
- Leash
- Collar
- Their favourite treats
- Bed or mat the dog can comfortably lay on
How To Teach Your Dog The Basic Commands
Now that you know the benefits of teaching your puppy the mat stay command, it’s time to learn how to do it.
So, when you have all the materials you need, you can start teaching your puppy the basic commands.
Here’s what you need to do:
When your puppy comes to you, give him a treat and praise him.
The next is “sit.”
When his bottom hits the ground, say “yes” or “good sit” and give him the treat.
We also recommend practising this in different locations and with different distractions.
That way, your puppy can learn to stay in any situation. Plus, to ensure the puppy understands the exercise well, you need to have clear communication.
A cue word such as “bed” or “mat” should be used to let the puppy know that he needs to go to his bed or mat and stay there.
Your dog needs to understand that he must remain on the mat until he hears the release word, such as “FREE” or “okay.”
Tips For Reinforcing The Behaviour And Getting Your Dog To Stay On The Mat
Just like anything else, you’ll need to be consistent when puppy place training.
So, once your puppy understands the cue words, you can start working on getting him to stay on the mat for longer periods of time…
Here are some tips that you can use to help reinforce the behaviour and get your puppy to stay on the mat:
What To Do If Your Dog Gets Off The Mat
If your dog gets off the mat, you’ll need to guide him back into position and try again gently.
Yep, they will get it eventually, so don’t be too hard on yourself or your puppy when teaching this exercise.
How To Use A Mat To Stay In Real-World Situations
It means that you can use a mat to help your puppy learn to stay in any situation.
Or, if you’re cooking dinner and don’t want your puppy begging for food, you can put him on his mat in the kitchen.
There are endless possibilities for using a mat to help your puppy learn to stay.
We hope you found this guide on how to teach your dog the mat to stay helpful.
