Introducing Settle

Introducing Your Dog To the Mat

Getting your dog started with the “Go Settle” cue

Associated Video Content

Prerequisite

It is helpful if your dog already offers you downs, even if he/she doesn’t know the cue.

Touch is also useful, but not required.

Tools

Mat
Clicker
Small training treats
Treat pouch or pocket liner

Training Environment

Start this exercise in the least distracting environment. After you have practiced a few times and your dog is showing consistent interest in the mat, begin moving it around the house.

Recommended Treat Position

Start by placing treats in the center of the mat to build interest.
If you don’t have a “Touch” behavior yet, you’ll probably need to throw treats off the mat in order to “reset” the behavior.

Steps

Stock your pouch with 10-15 pea sized treats.
Make sure you have your clicker ready.
Take the mat out and show it to your dog.
If your dog isn’t interested right away, play a little “keep-away” with the mat by showing it to him and then moving away from him. Only use this with dogs that don’t get excited and try to start a game of tug with the mat. If you have one of these, see the troubleshooting section below.
Lay the mat on the floor.
When your dog shows any interest in the mat (it may be only a look at first), click and place a treat in the middle of the mat.
If your dog has a “touch” behavior taught already, use it to get him away from the mat. Otherwise, when your dog goes and gets the treat, click again while your dog still has his nose on the mat, and toss a treat away from the mat. Start with a short distance of only a few feet, and gradually toss farther as your dog gets more reliable.
Try to click similar behaviors only 3-4 times before you pause for something closer to what we’re looking for (a down on the mat). This might look like:
- Dog sniffs the edge of mat. You reward on the mat and then use touch or treat to get them away from the mat to start again.
- Next time your dog sniffs again. Same thing.
- You accept this same thing a third time.
- On the fourth time you pause as your dog sniffs. He takes one step onto the mat and sniffs again. You reward on the mat and then touch or treat to reset the behavior.
- You let them do this two or three times and then pause again.
- Now your dog places two paws on the mat.
- Then all four.
If your dog lies down on the mat at any point in this exercise, click and “jackpot”. (A jackpot is when we offer three or four treats in rapid succession – it does not mean giving them all the treats at once. It is one treat, then another, then another).
Work until you have one treat, and then toss that treat off the mat.
As your dog chases the treat, pick up the mat and put it away.

Always pick up your mat and put it where your dog cannot get to it when you are not training.

Homework

Puppies: 5 repetitions, 3-4 times per day.
Adolescents and dogs: 10-15 repetitions, 3 times per day.

A repetition is one interaction with the mat.

At the End of This Step

Your dog should be returning to the mat each time you move him away from it.
Your dog should be standing on the mat with at least two paws, but may not be ready to sit or lie down. If he/she does, make sure you jackpot.

Troubleshooting

My dog won’t approach the mat.

Try a less distracting environment.
Try practicing some sits or another known behavior, and placing the treats on the mat after you click.
Feed your dog meals on the mat. Put the mat on the floor in the spot your dog usually eats. Show your dog the food. When your dog steps on the mat, put the food bowl down and let your dog eat.
Consider what you are using to reward him. Your dog gets to decide what is reinforcing, and it may not be the treats you have in your hand.
If you need to lure, do it only a few times. Don’t do it unless you have to. I want your dog to think.