As part of our background work using ideas from the new book “Control Unleashed” by Leslie McDevitt, I went in search of a portable mat that I could use for Lilly’s mat training and relaxation work. Here’s what I chose.
 And, slid it inside to give some padding.</p>
<p>Now, Lilly (as I’ve said before) is no sissy. She’ll often lay, perfectly happy, on our gravel driveway. I can’t imagine it’s comfortable, but she seems fine. However, when given at choice, at night when she’s relaxing, she’ll curl up on one of the beds in the house smack dab in the center of a pillow. She looks like a rolly-polly (or pill bug). So, we call it being a “pillow bug.”</p>
<p>So, I figured I’d give her a little padding.</p>
<p>Then, to make the new “mat” even more enticing, I sprayed some of the Canine Appeasing Pheromone on it. I got the bottle I have on Amazon. I spray it on the bandana that Lilly wears to class too. </p>
<p>With treats and clicker in hand, I got to work. You can see <a href=)
last week’s initial mat shaping work here. There is even video.
Lilly quickly adapted to the new mat or “nest” as we call it. She’s still not necessarily getting the idea that she’s supposed to stay there though.
So, since I also want to pair the mat concept in her mind with relaxation, I laid it on the floor at my feet later, and she completely sacked out on it while I read for about a hour. I figure that’s a good start.
Each night, I’m laying it on the floor, doing more shaping work with it, then I’m giving her a little massage while she lays quietly on the mat. So far, she’s getting a little fussy — likely more a technique problem on my end than a training struggle on hers. But, I’m sticking with it.
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