09/16/2025
🧘 Shaping a Settle – Building the “Hot Zone”
Want a dog who can truly relax on cue—whether at home, at the vet, or at a brewery patio? The secret isn’t luring them onto a mat. It’s shaping the mat into a “hot zone”—a spot your dog learns is the place to chill.
✨ How to shape it:
1️⃣ Place a mat on the floor. Mark (yes!/click) any interest at all—a glance, a sniff, even one paw near it. Toss the treat away on a “search!” cue so they reset for another rep.
2️⃣ Slowly raise your criteria: looking → sniffing → paw on → two paws → all four paws → sitting → lying down.
3️⃣ Once lying down is offered, calmly reinforce duration by occasionally marking and rewarding them for hanging out there.
4️⃣ Practice this next to you while you’re doing something calm—like working at your desk or reading. Once your dog can settle there comfortably, you can begin generalizing to busier spots by adding distractions gradually (living room → porch → coffee shop patio).
🎯 The payoff? Your dog starts seeking out the mat on their own, associating it with safety and relaxation. Over time, “hot zone = chill zone,” without constant cues or micromanaging.
💬 Where would you love your dog to have a rock-solid settle—your office, your porch, or your favorite coffee shop?
