Copy of Doggy Savasana aka Mat Relaxation
If you’ve been to a yoga class with me, then you know I’m there for the Savassana. I love having quiet time to relax on my mat at the end of class. I didn’t always like it. I found the silence kind of awkward, I’m pretty sure I had the giggles at least once. Now, I love it, it’s my favorite part of class, but it took practice.
While your dog probably isn't worrying about work, cooking dinner, working out, managing the family, etc., it is still helpful to teach them to relax on a mat. It takes practice for them too!
Why would you want to teach your dog to relax on a mat? The mat can be a safe space for your dog, especially nervous or fearful dogs. Personally, I love using this for holiday dinners! Albus is a professional beggar. When the mat is out, he’s settled nearby, but he’s not searching for the weakest link.
““Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges.” -Bryant McGill”
What you need: A leashed dog and a mat. (I have a rubbery bottom bath mat, but you could also use a towel, or yoga mat). The mat should be different from your dog’s bed. It should be out for training and then put away. You don’t want to miss the chance to reward the behavior! You’ll also need some treats or your dog’s meal, and a clicker or verbal marker.
One way to teach your dog to relax on a mat is through shaping. This is when you take tiny pieces of the desired behavior and capture them using a marker. In this case the desired behavior is relaxing on the mat. The marker is either a click or a verbal marker, like the word “yes.” With shaping, you’re not telling your dog to lay on the mat. You’re letting them figure it out by taking baby steps to the desired behavior. Don’t rush your dog, this should build naturally. It’s ok if your dog only gets a paw on the mat during your first training session, this will take a little time. Let them figure it out!
Let’s get started!
Put your mat on the floor. Your dog will probably walk over to it.
Click and treat for any interest in the mat - looking at it, sniffing it, etc.
Click and treat a paw on the mat.
Click and treat for two paws on the mat.
Click and treat for four paws on the mat.
Click and treat for sitting on the mat.
Click and treat for laying down on the mat.
You should also come up with a release word to let your dog know it’s ok to come off the mat. We use “free.”
When your dog knows the behavior, you can add the verbal cue. I use “mat” but others use “place” or “jail.” Make sure you don’t add the verbal cue until the behavior is ROCK SOLID. Otherwise, your verbal cue is going to lose meaning.
You can also start building duration, distance, and distraction. If you REALLY want to take this to the next level and impress your friends, you could teach your dog to go lay on their mat when the doorbell rings! We’re not doing this yet, but it would be pretty cool if we did!
*If you’re new to clicker training, you’ll need to prime your marker. You can do this by clicking the clicker and then giving your dog a treat. Yes, your dog gets a treat for doing nothing! Do this five times. This teaches your dog that the click predicts a treat. The same applies if you chose to use a verbal marker.
Hope this helps! Let us know how things go, tag us on Instagram @albusandlunadoodles and use #Ithinklikeapup. We will showcase your progress in our stories!
