Last week I discussed crates and gates; this week, I want to finish out this series by discussing targets and mats. These are the lesser-known training equipment items you will need for your puppy. Targets come in many shapes and sizes, and so do mats. But in short, you will need a target on a stick, preferably one that is extendable, as this will help when your puppy is young and small. You will also need a mat you can take and use in many locations. These will both help you with all kinds of training, including socialization. Let’s take a look at the three criteria and how they relate to these last two pieces of training equipment.
Criterion #1: It Needs to Fit Correctly
For targets, this criterion refers more to making sure you size the target to your puppy’s training experience. When you first start working on targeting with puppies, it is easier to have larger targets, especially for single-paw targets. Over time you can get smaller targets for paw targets and nose targets, but if they are bigger at first, it helps your puppy succeed more often when it is still learning. Target sticks with bigger balls on the end will be easier for puppies than the ones with small balls. And target mats will be easier for your puppy than target buttons and or smaller paw targets like small disks.
For mats, the fit is less critical. This is because the kind of mat I am thinking of here is one you can bring with you anywhere, not a bed. While you can definitely use a bed, having a transportable mat can help you teach your puppy to stay or settle in public while not having to transport larger, harder-to-clean dog beds. For this kind of training, you will want a mat that is small enough to fit in various locations but big enough to comfortably accommodate your puppy’s size. This mat can be a towel, a blanket, a thin dog bed, a rug, or a mat designed specifically for dogs. You can also use platforms, though these are often better for situations where you don’t have to travel. That being said, the best platform is the Klimb platform by Blue-9 Pet Products which, in my opinion, is the easiest to transport and most durable platform on the market. However, it might be awkward in places like restaurants as it is very thick and solid.
Criterion #2: Know How to Use It
Targets and mats are both tools that are used mostly in training. Targets are used to move your puppy from point A to point B and train other behaviors. These applications are why targets like the nose target are so helpful. Once your puppy knows how to target with its nose, you can teach it to come, spin, sit, enter the crate, get in the car, and more. If you have never used targeting, contact me here, and we can schedule a session to get you and your puppy started!
For mats, you can take the mat with you and have a place where your puppy knows to sit and relax. This consistent “settle spot” can be used in areas where you need your puppy to stay put for longer periods of time but can’t use a crate. However, you must be careful where you use the mat. First, it requires training. Second, just because your puppy knows how to settle on a mat does not mean it will be comfortable with all the places you take it. Asking your puppy to settle on a mat in a location where it is uncomfortable can be counterproductive and cause struggles in training and behavior when your puppy develops the tendency to break the stay because it is stressed. Third, overusing a settle on a mat can also present a similar problem.
Criterion #3: It Needs to Have a Clearly Useful Purpose
For both targets and mats, make sure you are using them in situations where it is necessary rather than just because you want your puppy to stop being a puppy. We all have moments where we just want a break. If that is the case, a play session to help use up some of your puppy’s energy, then a chew toy in the crate, is a better option than using a mat. You can use targeting when working your puppy to help tucker out its mind as well.
It is also important to remind yourself that the simpler, the better. If you can use one target, use one target. If you can leave your puppy with a puppy sitter, that might be better than asking it to settle on a mat in a public place where it is stressed out. If your puppy does not need to settle on a mat or needs physical exercise, settling on a mat is unnecessary and can be counterproductive.
In short, there are a lot of pieces of training equipment that you can use with your puppy. The ones I have used and listed in the last four weeks are some of my favorites regarding puppies and puppy training. But you can use others if needed. If you find yourself in need of other training equipment, I would advise that you use them in accordance with the criterion that I have discussed with these tools. If you would like help learning to use any of these pieces of equipment, such as collars, crates, targets, and more, contact me here, and we can set up an appointment!
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