How to Calm Down a Dog with Dog Mat Training //THE KIND CANINE
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- Have you ever wondered how you can use dog mat training to calm down a dog that is overly excited or anxious? Join Erica as she discusses the basics of dog mat training and when to use it to calm down an excited dog, including Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol. You can learn how to help a stressed dog and have your dog settle on a mat following these easy steps!
►These are the 5 Most Harmful Myths That Are Holding You Back From Having The Strongest Relationship with Your Dog 👉 www.thekindcaninepetservices....
Chapters:
0:00 How to calm down a dog using dog mat training
0:47 Getting started
1:41 What is dog mat training?
2:24 What mat should you use?
2:45 Why teach your dog to settle on a mat?
3:59 The benefits of mat training for dogs
4:40 How to teach your dog to settle on a mat
4:50 Step 1: Build a positive association with the mat
6:29 Step 2: Shaping the "go to your mat" behavior
8:38 Step 3: Build Duration
9:11 Step 4: Karen Overall's Relaxation Protocol
9:43 Put your mat training to the test!
-- LINKS --
(When possible, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission)
►The treats we use to train: go.thekindcaninepetservices.c...
Further reading and study:
►Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol
www.karenoverall.com/protocol...
►Techniques for Encouraging Dogs to Relax
www.karenoverall.com/techniqu...
Find a professional trainer in your area!
►Pet Professional Guild (A Force Free Organization): www.petprofessionalguild.com/
►Force Free Oregon!: forcefreeoregon.org/
Credits:
Written by: Erica Pashia and Eric Pashia
Edited by: Raphael George Mendoza
Check out Raphael’s Work: go.thekindcaninepetservices.c...
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What benefits have you found by teaching your dog to settle on a mat?
I love the way you teach! You are a great people trainer. Thanks for another great video!
Thank you Tanya! I'm growing more and more convinced that the dogs are easy. It's training us people to think differently that's the challenge!
Thank you for your videos. It's exactly what I'm looking for🙏 sophie from Belgium 😉
You're so welcome!
In our classes at the dog club, the start of each puppy class or CGC/Therapy Dog class every dog gets a mat and a bowl. It's automatic - they lie on the mat almost instantly, without saying anything and it becomes their safe spot or home base. I usually don't teach a go to your place because so many people just forget to release their dogs from it. This way if they forget no big deal because they weren't given a cue to get on it. Even taking that mat to the vet office, people are amazed that even puppies don't move from it. One of my students even takes it to his kennel when they have to be boarded. I just ask the students to bring both items back to each class as we use them in every class - even if they just leave those items in the car so they don't forget them. Sometimes I make them (and add some snuffle spots on one side) since they are becoming a bit expensive lately. Hope that helps.
All great ideas! It can be so helpful for a dog to have a physical object that they can learn "this is the place we like you to be" and then all good things happen on the mat!
Thank you so much for making this video!!!! 💕
You are so welcome Courtney!
Great video. Thanks for sharing it.
This is such a good video. Thank you for breaking down the process step by step !
You are so welcome! Mat training is one of our favorite go-tos for a calm, relaxed dog!
Thank you Erica! I find your content very interesting and helpful. We adopted a rescue dog 6 months ago, and your videos have helped me a lot (especially the ones about rescue dogs!). I've been using a mat for our dog as a reference point to relax and stay calm when there are big distractions at home. I'm glad to see I was on the right path. This really helps me to know how to improve and perfect this technique. Thank you again for the work you do on this channel, I very much appreciate it! ♥
You are so welcome! Thank you so much!
I love how you teach your videos and wished I lived in Oregon for more help! I’ve been working on this with my dog who is hyper aroused by lots of things, including getting treats. While she got the concept of the mat right away and we have practiced many areas in the house, she doesn’t relax! She’s so super hyped about the prospect of the treat, she is vigilant. Should I try lower value treats? I’m just using Buddy Biscuits Training Bites. Thanks for your advice!
Great question! With some dogs who are intensely food motivated, using even moderate value treats can be counterproductive in this process. For this reason, I tend to go as low value as possible - think kibble, pieces of veggies, etc. Of course it’s different for every dog as far as what specifically is valuable or not, but using the lowest value food possible is often helpful in these cases 👍🏻
Omg, thank you for such a quick reply! I’m going to the store and buying frozen peas hoping that will work!
Years ago I found Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol and successfully used it on a dog that was fairly calm. It was amazing. I could walk across a gym sized room while he sat. I would sit down at the other end of the room, cross my legs, get up and return to him. Walk around him without him turning his body to look at me. I now have a very nervous dog who pees when scared and barks at people etc.
He is relaxed most of time at home and surprisingly lays down in my office while I meditate or when I’m on the phone. I should have done this a few years ago and exercised him more and mentally challenged him. He is missing social time during Covid period and is showing protective behaviors that are aggressive towards other dogs which is my primary concern. I look forward to doing the training again.
I will start with mat training with both my dogs, somehow. Any suggestions for working with two dogs? I knew you were an excellent trainer the moment I saw your video and I’ll pass the word!
I love doing this protocol with two dogs together, on separate mats! :) I usually start with just one at a time to introduce, but typically by day two I can work them together. 👍🏻 On that first day, I find it helpful to crate the other dog with a fun food activity and then swap them for the dog I’m working with. I hope this helps!
How soon after getting a dog home while in a Decompress Phase should you start Mat training day 7, 21 30?
There is no set timeline! :) Dogs are all different. If they are responsive to other foundational training efforts and are comfortable enough to reliably take food, offer you attention and enjoy training, then I would say go right ahead!
What do you do when your dog immediately views the mat as a chew toy?
1) perhaps use something less interesting to chew, like a crate pan?
2) exercise/play with dog first so they have the edge off and find it easier to relax
3) play a pattern game (Leslie McDevitt) to practice walking past and on the mat without biting/chewing it
4) use better treats
5) time your treats so dog is eating treats not chewing mat
Hope these ideas help!
Adding to what @bethanyreilly2809 has said, I would also pick up the mat just as soon as the chewing starts. Hopefully after a few reps of kindly removing the mat when it is being chewed, the dog will make the connection that chewing on the mat makes it go away! Always redirecting to another chew toy (like a tug or plushie) may give an alternative outlet for chewing. In short, your dog needs more chew time! Just on preferred chewing items!