To train your dog to settle on a mat, reward them for stepping onto it, then for lying down on it, then slowly stretch out how long they stay. Add a cue word once the behavior is reliable, then practice in new rooms and new places. Short, treat-based sessions are all it takes to get started.
Most dogs enjoy this one. It is a game with a clear goal, the rewards come fast, and the skill shows up in everyday life: while you cook, when the doorbell rings, at the vet, and on a cafe patio.
A mat answers a question your dog asks all day: what should I be doing right now? The payoff goes well past the mat itself.
Calm is a learned skill. Oregon Humane notes that dogs are not naturally good at managing their own excitement, and that teaching settle on cue gives them a way to switch off. Once your dog knows the routine, you can send them to the mat while you cook, work, or have friends over.
A dvm360 guide to fear-free vet visits lists a down-stay on a mat as a foundation behavior, because it gives your dog a defined place to rest instead of pacing the waiting room.
Restaurants, breweries, patios, training classes, hotel rooms, and friends' houses all get simpler when your dog has a spot that means the same thing everywhere. The mat travels, and so does the expectation.
Spot & Tango points out that going to the mat can replace things like barking and rushing the door when the bell rings, and that clear expectations can reduce confusion for your dog.
The Karen Pryor Academy also describes settle on a mat as especially useful for service dogs, since a portable mat gives them a safe place to settle anywhere.
Put the mat on the floor and wait. When your dog looks at it, sniffs it, or steps toward it, reward right away. Toss the treat a few feet off the mat so your dog has to leave and come back. That small reset is what makes dogs start choosing the mat on their own. Karen Pryor Academy's lesson builds the behavior this way, paws first.
Reward one paw on the mat, then two, then three, then four. Move on only when your dog offers the current step every time.
Once all four paws are on the mat, wait for a sit or down. Lure with a treat if your dog needs help. Deliver the treat between their front paws, on the mat, so the mat is where good things happen.
Wait until your dog is heading to the mat and lying down without help, then name it. Pick one word, such as mat or settle, and use it every time. Naming it too early just attaches the word to guessing.
Space your treats out gradually. Oakland Animal Services suggests moving from frequent rewards to every 20 seconds, then every 30. Add a release word, like okay, and say it before your dog gets up on their own. A long-lasting chew can help dogs who find stillness hard.
Take one step back and reward. Then two. Then walk around the mat. The goal is a dog who stays put while you move, because that is what real life looks like. The Wildest recommends growing distance in small increments for the same reason.
Move the mat to another room, then the kitchen while you cook, the front door, the porch, a friend's house, a patio. Change one thing at a time and bring higher-value treats as distractions go up. If your dog falls apart somewhere new, go back to an easier spot and build again. Between sessions, pick the mat up so it stays special, as Rover suggests.
These terms get mixed up, and trainers use them slightly differently. Place or go-to-mat usually means sending your dog to a spot and having them stay until released. Settle usually means teaching your dog to relax when you relax, so the mat becomes a cue for calm and not just a spot to stand on. Rover draws that line clearly.
You do not have to pick one. Teach going to the mat first, then build the settle on top of it. That is the order in the steps above.
Almost every sticking point comes down to the same fix: make it easier, reward more, and shorten the ask.
You are probably asking for too much too soon. Shorten the time, reward more often, and release before your dog gets up on their own. Oregon Humane's guidance is to shorten the settle, and to consider that a dog who cannot lie still at all may simply have too much energy right now.
Try a short walk or a quick sniffing game first, then start while the edge is off. Keep early sessions brief and calm. If you find yourself repeating the cue, the session is too hard. Make it easier.
Raise the rate of treats and make sure the mat is the most rewarding place in the room. If your dog leaves to follow you, practice with you sitting still first, then add movement slowly.
That is normal. Dogs do not generalize automatically. Practice somewhere mildly interesting, like your driveway or a quiet porch, before a busy patio.
A mat that shifts underfoot can make some dogs reluctant to commit. On tile, hardwood, or in a car, a grip-backed mat stays where you put it.
Mat training can be one useful piece of a calmer routine, but it is not a replacement for professional help. If your dog is fearful, reactive, or panics when left, talk to your vet or a certified trainer or behavior consultant.
Training works best when the same mat shows up in every setting. That means it has to be easy to carry, easy to clean, and big enough for your dog to fully relax. Both Luwello settle mats are made in the USA with recycled materials, come with a removable carry strap, and come in small, medium, and large. 10% of settle mat sales support canine cancer research through Ethos Discovery's E-PUSH program.
Rolls up small and goes everywhere. The one for hiking, travel, and everyday outings.
Grip backing keeps it put on tile, hardwood, car seats, and boats. Good for training on slick floors.
"We take them everywhere with us and our dogs now know they need to be seated in them when at restaurants and cafes." — M.M., verified Luwello review
Grab the free Settle Mat Training download and keep it handy while you practice.
Get the free training downloadIt varies by dog, age, and how exciting the environment is. Many dogs learn to step onto the mat quickly. Building a long, relaxed settle and taking it to new places takes more practice. Short daily sessions work better than one long one.
A few minutes. End while your dog is still engaged and succeeding.
Yes. Keep sessions very short, reward often, and expect your puppy to need plenty of repetition.
Yes. Older dogs usually do well with this skill, since it asks for calm rather than athleticism.
No. A marker word like 'yes' works fine, as long as you say it at the instant your dog does the right thing and follow it with a treat.
Yes. Dogs can learn the behavior on a bath mat, a yoga mat, or a towel. What changes with a purpose-built mat is how well it holds up to daily practice and how easily it comes with you. A mat that rolls up, wipes clean, and has clear edges is one you will actually bring to the cafe. Our guide to settle mats vs. travel dog mats covers the difference.
Generally yes. Keeping the training mat separate helps it keep its meaning. See our guide to settle mats vs. dog beds.
They do different jobs. See our comparison of a settle mat and a dog anxiety vest.
Easy to clean, comfortable for the dog. A little hard to get the carry strap on but otherwise a good product.
I just wanted to let you all know, this mat is one of the best dog purchases we have ever made. We just moved to London from New York, and it has been her safe space everywhere we go. We are currently on her first train trip and she’s curled up at our feet on her mat. Thank you for making such a great product!
Amazing place mats for dogs! I will only buy Luwella mats!
I am in love with your Luwello settle mat. When my dog, Mini, and I deploy following floods or wildfires, I always have her Luwello settle mat with me. Some of our teams utilize fabric quilts for their dogs, but your settle mat allows me to provide Mini with a clean, dry, safe space regardless of terrain and weather conditions. I also keep my Luwello settle mat with my emergency evacuation “go bag” whenever I am at home. Knowing that Mini associates her Luwello settle mat with safety, it would offer her comfort even in times of danger and chaos. Also no other settle mat that I have used is as compact and easy to carry as Luwello’s.
I’m training my dog to be a Service Dog which is why I bought this particular settle mat. He needs to be quick to settle and stay quiet. Since I’ve been training him on it, I’ll give a quick release and when I look again…he’s back on it! Lol. He really does like it A LOT, apparently;)👍
Just got our mat! Haven’t had it 20 minutes yet. I put it on my pup’s cot and told him to lay down, then released him in a couple of minutes…he went back on his own! I’d say he likes it!👍
I take my dog with me wherever dogs are allowed. She’s usually attached at my hip. Most of the time she’s standing unless I bring a travel bed with me. that gets bulky and hard to carry so most of the time I just avoid bringing anything. I ordered the portable mat and tried it out for the first time last night and Fig was obsessed instantly, will be taking this with us wherever we go! 10/10 we would recommend!
I have never had any issues with the ordering process and I have always received what I ordered as scheduled. When I ordered the wrong size clasp once with my waist leash, I was able to exchange it easily for the correct size. This is a great company to purchase from!! I love their products !
We love these mats for training our dogs! We take them everywhere with us and our dogs now know they need to be seated in them when at restaurants and cafes. If we take them to a park, we also have them sit on them there as well as their “place.”
This is perfect!
I’m so glad this mat is portable and lightweight and great for on the go! I’ll be bringing this everywhere to give my pup a safe and comfortable place anywhere!
This portable settle mat was honestly a game changer on our road trip with our dog. We used it everywhere..hikes, beach stops, camping, random breaks — and it held up through water, sand, dirt, all of it. I love that it’s waterproof because cleanup was super easy after long days outside. Definitely recommend it!
Love this mat! The materials are high quality and well constructed, and the colors are adorable. The customer service is outstanding as well!
I wanted to have a mat for my dogs to go to when they need to settle down or for when we are at restaurants where we sit outdoors. I didn’t want them sitting on the concrete cold, dirty floors. These mates have worked out perfectly for us
Great color and appears to be able to withstand a Labrador.
Pretty settle mat for my new puppy Ziggy
