How to calm your dog on a blanket

In this video, Lassie's dog trainer Lina Lundin shows you how to teach your dog blanket training. This is a great exercise for when you take your dog to places where you don't want them running around, but would prefer they settle down for a while. The aim is for your dog to associate the blanket with calm and quiet – a place where they can relax.

Practise blanket training in three steps:

1. First, get your dog interested in going to the blanket. Stand on the other side of the blanket and call your dog. As soon as they put a paw on it, reward them generously. Once your dog understands that they'll get treats for going to the blanket, you can move on to the next step.

2. Now, wait for your dog to go to the blanket on their own. When they do, give them a treat. Offer the treat low down to see if you can encourage your dog to lie down on the blanket.

3. Now it's time to add a cue. Give your dog something tasty to chew on when they lie down. Choose your cue, for example, "Go to bed". Say the cue and wait for your dog to lie down on the blanket. When they do, praise them and give them a tasty bone to chew on.

What do I do if my dog leaves the blanket?

If your dog leaves the blanket, gently and calmly bring them back to it. To help your dog learn to stay on the blanket, it’s a good idea to introduce a cue for when they are allowed to leave it. You could say "Free", or their name, and throw a treat off the blanket. Watch the video to see how to use this cue.