🐶 Trainer Tip Friday: Helping Your New Rescue Dog Feel at Home

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Adopting a dog? Congratulations—and thank you! This week, we’re focusing on a simple but powerful way to help your new pup settle in: teaching them to go to their “place.”

This is a comfy mat or towel that becomes your dog’s safe spot. It’s where calm happens, and where good things (like treats and praise!) are earned.

🧠 Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching “Place”:

1. Pick a Mat: A towel, rug, or designated mat will do.

2. Lure Onto It: Use a treat or your hand to gently guide your dog toward the mat.

   

3. Mark the Moment: At first, even just two paws on the mat is worth celebrating! Mark that moment with a cheerful “Yes!” and reward right on the mat. Over time, wait for all four paws before marking.

   • If your dog is hesitant to go all the way onto the mat, feel free to breadcrumb treats—place a few leading up to the mat—and mark each time they take a treat and move a little closer. Celebrate small steps!

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4. Repeat: Encourage them off the mat and back on. Mark and reward each success.

   

5. Build Calm: Once they’re comfortable, gradually increase how long they stay on the mat before rewarding.

   

   • Practice short-duration sits or downs on the mat to reinforce calm behavior. Reward your dog for choosing to stay in position—this builds duration, focus, and relaxation.

      

      

📅 Remember the Rule of Threes:

• 3 Days to decompress

• 3 Weeks to learn your routine

• 3 Months to feel truly at home

Patience, empathy, and positive reinforcement go a long way.

🕒 Pro Tip:

Keep training sessions short—just 3 to 5 minutes is often enough.
Try to end on a win, even if it’s a small one. A “win” is anything your dog succeeds at in that moment, based on where they are today. Small victories build confidence and create momentum.

🎁 Special Offer for Adopters:

If you’ve adopted a dog—whether this weekend, at a previous event or even years ago—you qualify for a free training session and evaluation at Zoom Room Colorado Springs.
It’s our way of saying thank you and helping you both get started on the right paw.

📞 Call (719) 301-9746 to schedule your session
📧 Email us at cos@zoomroom.com if you have any questions about your dog
🔗 Click here to learn more & claim your free session »