---
title: "Week 14: stay, settle, and a mat"
description: "Teaching calm on a mat is the skill that makes restaurants and visitors possible."
url: https://evapup.com/journal/week-by-week/puppy-week-14
category: "Puppy Week by Week"
author: "Sam Okafor"
published: 2026-07-21
updated: 2026-09-13
---

# Week 14: stay, settle, and a mat

Teaching calm on a mat is the skill that makes restaurants and visitors possible.

Week 14. Teaching calm on a mat is the skill that makes restaurants and visitors possible.

## The mat

A small washable mat. Every time the puppy steps on it, a treat lands on it. Within days the puppy chooses the mat.

> **Quiet rewards.** Put treats on the mat between the paws so the puppy stays down to eat them.

## Settle

Reward lying down on the mat. Then reward staying there while you take a step away.

### Take it with you

The mat goes to a friend's house, then a patio. Same rules everywhere.

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