A dog who can switch off on a mat is a calmer dog at the café, at the vet and when visitors arrive. "Settle" is a skill, though, not a mood, and it is taught the same way as anything else: in tiny steps, with rewards, in a quiet place first. Nothing below needs a firm voice, pushing your dog into position or telling them off. If your dog leaves the mat, that is information that the step was too hard, not bad behaviour.

Why a mat helps

A mat (or a bathmat, or a small blanket) becomes a signal: "this is where relaxing pays off". Because it is the same object everywhere, your dog can take the idea with them to new places. Animal-welfare charities such as Battersea and RSPCA NSW both teach it this way: reward every small move towards the mat, then reward lying calmly on it, and only then stretch the time. The RSPCA NSW guide suggests a mat kept just for training rather than your dog's everyday bed, so it keeps its special meaning, and the mat should never be used as a punishment or a time-out.

Find your rung

Pick the rung your dog is on today, then tell the card how long they can currently stay settled. It shows what to do next and a mix of hold times for one short session.

Which rung is your dog on?

  • Do:
  • Reward:
  • Move on when:

Hold times for one short session (in seconds):

A guide to planning practice, not a promise. Every dog moves at their own pace, and going back a rung is part of the plan.

The ladder in plain words

  1. Choose a quiet room and a mat. Use something only for this, and never as a punishment.
  2. Reward every small step towards the mat, then standing on it, then lying down on it. Tossing the treat onto the mat helps your dog link the mat with good things.
  3. Add a cue and a release. Say "mat" as they step on, and a release word such as "OK" when you are done.
  4. Wait before the treat. Start with a couple of seconds and build up slowly. Battersea warns that going too fast makes dogs get up.
  5. Add distance only once your dog settles happily with you beside them.
  6. Take it on the road. New rooms and places make everything harder, so go back a rung there.

When it goes wrong

If your dog keeps getting up, the step is too big. Go back one rung, make it easy, and reward more often. If they seem restless however easy you make it, try practising when they are already tired, such as after a walk or a meal, as Battersea suggests. A long-lasting chew or stuffed toy can help them relax once they are on the mat.

Reward calm, not excitement: quiet voice, slow treats, short sessions.

A dog who cannot settle at all, or who suddenly becomes restless or unable to get comfortable, may be in pain, itchy or anxious. That is a question for your vet first. If worries about being alone or fear are part of the picture, ask your vet to refer you to a qualified behaviourist who uses reward-based methods.

Sources