Alexandria, VA – Yes, a “Magic Mat” for your pup is a game-changer. Mats allow your dog to relax while you’re busy, serve as spots to practice arousal modulation, and signal either engagement or disengagement with you depending on your cue. You can also “capture” any and all good behavior on the mat, while strengthening your dog’s positive association with it. Magic!
Stationing acts as a “default” behavior for animals, giving them a clear alternative to what dogs like to do, which, unfortunately, may include jumping on counters or on you. Along with not getting reinforced for jumping (which your dog loves to do), the mats have additional benefits, including:
- A place for your dog to go and practice self-control while you prepare their dinner or your dinner
- A place to stay until hearing a release cue, such as “let’s go,” “break,” or “ok” (great for outside areas too)
- A relief spot to give them space in group settings
- A place to practice a variety of skills and behaviors for both beginner and advanced training
Magic mats are great for multi-dog or multi-animal homes and vet or zoo settings. Trainers can manage multiple animals at once. The mat keeps animals engaged or disengaged and provides a clear, safe place for them during routine care.
Overall, stationing becomes a targeted area for either disengagement or engagement. Just about any animal can learn to station. Internationally renowned trainer Ken Ramirez describes it as “training an animal to go to a designated area and stay there until cued otherwise—an essential training tool.” In this video, he demonstrates how good stationing contributes to successful concept training: karenpryoracademy.com/tag/stationing/
Stationing should never be used as a punishment for doing something “bad.” We want to always associate the mat with good things happening. Your cue such as “Go place!” should always be upbeat and positive.
If this sounds like something you want to try at home with your dog, here are some easy steps to follow:
1. The first step is to get a mat. Crate mat, door mat, bath mat, or something similar, flat but comfortable. Multiple mats will give your dog a variety of areas in your home to settle.
2. Place the mat in a room your dog likes to be in and place it on the floor. Sprinkle some high-value treats, such as lamb lung, freeze-dried livers, mixed with their regular kibble, and point to it.
3. As soon as your pup looks at, touches it, or goes on it, say “yes” or another marker word, and toss a few more pieces onto the mat.
4. Any interaction with the mat by your dog gets reinforced, marked, and rewarded.
5. Wait to see if your dog sits on the mat or lies down. Of course, you can ask them to do that, or you can start building that “default” behavior they do on their own.
6. Avoid naming the behavior, such as “go place” or “go to your mat,” until your dog starts going to the mat on their own. If you start naming it too soon, we tend to repeat the cue too many times. Remember, you are building reliability and consistency, and the more you repeat the cue, the more your dog may start to ignore it or hear it as background noise. They are just like kids sometimes!
Instead of scolding your dog or yelling “no” or “off” for jumping or counter-surfing, teach them to go to their mat. Using the mat as a place to practice and become skilled at alternate good behaviors offers clear guidance and helps you manage their environment more effectively. This is the real magic of the Magic Mat!
Sandy Modell, CPDT-KA, is the Founder, Owner, and Head of Training of Wholistic Hound Academy, Alexandria’s award-winning, premier canine training and learning center. Visit www.wholistichound.com and follow on social media @wholistichound
