If mat training doesn’t work, it may not be because your dog is stubborn

This is what guardians say most often when their dog’s mat training is not going well. “My dog is not interested in the mat,” “He sits on the mat, but he can’t stay for long,” “He did it well a few times, but then he won’t go again.”

In reality, however, it is much more common that the training standard has been raised too quickly, the mat itself is not a good enough place, or the timing of the reward is shaky

rather than the dog not being able to learn.

Mat training is not just about teaching “the act of getting on it.” It is a process that builds the experience for the dog that the place is comfortable, predictable, and worth staying in.

First thing to check 1: Is the mat really comfortable?

In more cases than you might think, the problem lies with mat placement rather than training technique. Environmental issues come first.

For example, if the mat is right in front of the front door, in a place where there are loud noises from the window, or in the middle of a line of traffic where family members are constantly passing by, it will be difficult for the dog to accept that place as a resting place. This is especially true for sensitive dogs or friends who are sensitive to surrounding stimuli.

If mat training is not working well, check below first.

• Is it too close to the front door, window, TV, or hallway
• Is this a location where people’s feet constantly pass by?
• Isn’t it too far away from the dog’s natural resting area?

The mat should be a place of stability, not a “place of control.” It is best to place it in a quiet, low-distraction place at first.

First thing to check 2: Are you staying on the mat for too long?

One very common mistake when mat training goes awry is to immediately jump into the “I need you to stay here now” phase from the moment the puppy gets on the mat.

But from the dog’s perspective, looking at the mat, going to the mat, raising paw, getting up and stopping, sitting or lying, and staying are all different levels of difficulty.

In other words, if you expect 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 5 minutes just because you got on the mat once, the standard has been raised too quickly. It’s better to build up small successes slowly.

It is best to break it into small pieces like this at first.

1. Look at the mat
2. Take a step toward the mat
3. Raise one front foot
4. Raise all four feet
5. Stay 1 second
6. Sit or lie down
7. Keep it short

In most homes where mat training is not possible, it is not because the dog is not good at it, but because the owner skips too many intermediate steps

First thing to check 3: Is success being built on the mat?

In mat training, the reward is not simply “a snack for a job well done.” As the reward is repeated, a connection should form in the dog’s mind that mat = a place where good things happen

However, in many cases, the reward is given after the dog leaves the mat, the dog is made to look at the guardian’s hand, or the timing of the reward is delayed and the reward is given when the dog performs another behavior. Then the value of the mat itself will not increase.

At first, it is best to drop the reward on the mat if possible. This makes it easier for the dog to feel that “being on the mat itself is a benefit.”

• Quickly compensate the moment you get on the mat
• If possible, receive the reward on the mat
• Predict the next reward before the dog comes down

First thing to check 4: Has the mat become a place to stand?

In homes where mat training is not possible, there are many secret patterns like this. Send your puppy to the mat only when he is excited, only when he barks, and only when under control when guests arrive.

Then, the dog is more likely to accept the mat as a place where freedom is limitedrather than as a “resting place”.

The mat should not be a tool to suppress excitement, but a place to practice and be rewarded for calmness. Even when there is nothing going on, good things happen when you climb up, it is good to take a short break, and you should have the experience of running out of snacks.

First thing to check 5: Did the guardian’s movements become difficult too quickly?

Puppies are good at getting up on the mat, but there are many cases where they immediately follow even if the owner takes just one step. This is not a failure, but it means that distance and departure practice has not yet been included

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In this case, it is recommended that the guardian practice in the following order.

1. Move your body slightly when your dog is on the mat
2. Take half a step to the side
3. Take one step and then come back right away
4. Briefly look away
5. Go 2-3 steps and then return

The important thing is to return before the puppy fails. If it gets to the point where it eventually comes out every time, it becomes more difficult to maintain the mat.

Standards for guardians to change first when mat training does not work

When I see that my mat training is not going well, I keep asking, “Should I be more firm?” or “Should I stop him from getting down?” It’s easy to get caught up in your thoughts. But in most cases, it’s not the puppy that needs to change first, but the training standards

If any of the following applies, it is correct to lower the standard.

• I get on the mat, but I come down right away
• Only available briefly when there are snacks
• If the guardian moves, they will follow unconditionally
• When it comes to guests, ringtones, and meal time, everything falls apart

In this case, rather than seeing it as a “lack of will,” it is more accurate to say that the stimulus is still too strong or the level is too big.

It’s okay to go back to the beginning

When training does not go well, many guardians feel like they have failed by going back to the first step. However, mat training is especially training with quick recovery once you reestablish the basics