NEW BED IS MORE THAN JUST A BED

At casual glance, you might think this is just a regular old bed lovingly being shared by two BFFs.  And to a degree, you're right.  But there's magic in 'dem 'dere hills - errr - well bed legs and this one simple thing can make all the difference in the world to a whole host of situations.

GO TO MAT / PLATFORM WORK is a skill I think every dog should have.

It stops so many issues in their tracks and literally saves dogs lives.  If your dog reliably knows how to go to their place (I recommend a raised bed of some sort) - you can change so many behaviors:

Gorgeous Giant Schnauzer pup - SIRIUS - practicing on his mini trampoline

* No more door dashing
* No more jumping on guests when they arrive
* No more going crazy at the sound of the doorbell / mailman / delivery drivers
* No more begging at the table
* No more chasing the cats
* Makes teaching Wait/Stay much easier
* Teaches impulse control and patience

Pups are never too young to learn and it is easy and fun to teach.  Luna already finds being on the bed reinforcing as she, like many Mastiffs and Danes, finds comfort to be of the utmost importance.  It is also important for her joints that she isn't lying on the hard floor.

I have old hardwood floors in this house and this ensures she doesn't have too much pressure on her growing limbs.  She will of course outgrow this one soon, but we have all the sizes up to her adult one on hand...LOL

Right now, it is not just a resting place, but it also is a spot she is choosing to go to for a variety of behavior choices.

Since I do a lot of my computer work in the kitchen, if I am having lunch - she chooses the bed over begging.  Great choice!

Wants to lay down and work on a Frozen KONG - she chooses the bed.  Another great choice.

Wants a break from Fizzy?  Bed again.  It is these choices that make matwork such a great compliment to training any basic behavior.

You can pair the behavior of going to the mat/bed/spot with a sound that may be triggering behaviors you don't want. Another gorgeous Luna I worked with this past year did really well with her first attempts at learning to Go To Mat when she heard a knocking sound.

Luna learning the mat is more rewarding than running to the door.

This is a great way to teach excited dogs an alternate behavior for when company comes over.  We are also using it to curtail her desire to rush out the door after the kitties when they are being fed.

I love these particular K&H Pet Cots - easy to put together, washable covers and durable as long as you don't leave them to be chewed on...LOL

The slightly raised platform not only gets them off the ground, but also gives a distinctive boundary edge to behaviors like Stay/Wait.  Here is ONYX, a Lab pup working on learning to Stay while toys are being thrown around for distraction.  When they can master this - they really can master changing any of the above mentioned behaviors!