How to Train a Dog to Lie on a Mat (and how to train two dogs at once)

This is Gromit’s first training video! Gromit has been in my home for a week. He is a rescue who only knew “sit for a cookie” before he arrived. In his first week, I’ve taught him his new name, my other dog’s name, and “find it” (find a treat on the ground). I also periodically gave him treats when he laid on a mat, dog bed, or towel to create a positive association with calmly lying on a target.
In this video, I begin shaping him to go to a target (towel) and lie down.
My older dog, Kismet, a standard poodle, knows to go lie on a target (towel) when asked and stay there until released. This makes it easy to keep one dog out of the way while you’re training the other. Our “everybody sit” practice helped set the groundwork for that.
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