Go to Place, Mat, Bed.
Useful out and about, or at the vet, or even at home. This behavior involves going to a designated spot set by the owner. We will go over the steps to teach this skill and the troubleshooting steps.
For the purpose of this behavior, I’ll use the term mat.
Place the mat on the ground.
If the learner seems afraid, reward him just for looking at it at first.
Reward any movement toward the mat, even if he isn’t stepping on it.
If he steps on it, reward him with a bigger treat or many small ones. In trainer speak, we call this a jackpot.
Repeat this step many times. Once he is reliably going on the mat, then wait a few seconds before giving him a treat.
Adding distance:
Now that the learner is staying on his mat, you can begin to add distance.
Starting with one step away, and then quickly returning to him, over the next few days or weeks, slowly add more steps.
Once you can get about three feet away, you can begin to add time. Time is a different concept altogether. Only once you can begin to get a good amount of time, you can add distractions.
Whenever you add a new concept, add something old back in. Example:
When adding distractions for the first time, add in a shorter distance and less time away from him. You may even want to start with no time away from him at all. Staying right there to reward him can help bridge the gap.
Troubleshooting:
Can’t get distance: Even taking a step away from your dog may be hard at first. You may start by just leaning away, at first. Leaning farther, then moving one foot, then a step, and so on.
Can’t add in distractions: Many people try moving too fast with this training. Remember. Adding in distractions, at first, must not be paired with distance or deration.
Congrats! You’ve completed one of the first core behaviors. This is just the start! Be proud of yourself, and your pet too!
