The Dish by Darcie

Goal: You say “Mat”, does goes to the mat and lays down
You need: mat, treats, dog
Start: quiet place in the house, when learned move to other rooms

Tips: treat quickly and often the first ten minutes of training. Praise saying “Good Dog!”
Another tip: When dog is going to the mat on request, wean the treats giving one occasionally for a good job. Praise

Let’s get started!
Lay out the mat.
Feed three treats from your hand: one, two, three.
Toss a treat onto the mat.
The instant your dog starts to eat the treat say “Mat”.
Point at the mat and say “Mat”. Treat if the dog looks at or goes to the mat.
Your short term goal: shape the behavior, dog goes to go the mat.
Repeat. Treat only when the dog gets closer to or steps onto the mat.
Do not reward for no action. Be happy and your dog will play the game.
That’s it!
Training can take time with some dogs, be patient. Some learn in a minute, others will take a few days.
When your dog is going to the mat on request, have them lay down. Treat one two three while they are laying down.
Keep it up, your dog will go and down down on the mat when you say “Mat”.
Add “Stay” and you have a dog who will go to the mat and stay there until you tell her to get up.
Don’t ask for long stays at first, lengthen the time with care.
Don’t ever forget, when you put a dog on a stay, release her from that stay. This will keep her staying power strong.