@Lavenderdogive dug out the info from
when I did the puppy course with our trainer. Sorry it’s quite long but hopefully helpful! It’s one of those things where you don’t think it’s actually doing anything then suddenly you realise they are getting it! I never did it on a bed or a mat but just generally around the house and it worked a treat. I have pasted below:
Lots of advice recently is given to stimulate dogs indoors and keeping them occupied. Usually with lickimats, kongs, puzzles etc. These things all have their place in dog ownership and training but ultimately dogs should be taught that indoors is for settling and outdoors is for stimulation. If your dog has a problem with settling in the home, I recommend only stimulating their brains and bodies outdoors.
If we want indoors to be a place of rest, we must ensure our dogs are get the right combination of age appropriate exercise and training, alongside showing them how to “turn off” or relax. The more physical exercise our dog does the fitter they get and the harder it becomes to tire them out. Training in mental exercises such as gundog, scentwork, or
mantrailing will tire your dogs out more and help them switch off without becoming an athlete.
The best way to teach naturally aroused dogs to settle is to teach them when they are young and put it on a command word such as settle or relax. When your dog is going to naturally want to settle down begin using your command word so your dog associates it with relaxing.
Simply say the word you have chosen as you begin to see them switching off. This does not always mean falling asleep; they could be dozing or relaxing casually too. Use big, slow stroking motions to calm your dog too.
To begin with choose one dedicated location to teach your dog to settle such as a crate or bed. Once you have associated the word many times begin prompting your dog to settle when you want them to go and relax in this place. You can then choose a portable location such as a mat or blanket to teach settle on. Begin at home encouraging them to settle on the item and then take it to low distracting areas outside of the home.
You can then begin prompting the settle in other locations out of the home that are more distracting, such as a pub or café. Consider the level and proximity of distraction and approach accordingly. You may be able to get a really good settle in one place but struggle a lot more in another. This is normal.
Take some time out on walks to let your dog practice doing nothing. These should start off
with short periods of your dog just relaxing and being happy to just "be" without beingentertained or fussed. When you see your dog relax you can then start to pair this with a word such as "settle" and praise them.
Teaching settle takes time and patience, but it is something that will benefit both you and your dog immensely.