Pet training mats are a superior choice for your pet’s flooring needs. They are beneficial to the health and safety of the animals that use them. They can be used for all sorts of training purposes, including potty training, and “go to” training. Mats for dogs have all sorts of applications as well as benefits. They are softer than concrete and wood, so they give dogs a softer surface to lie down on. Pet mats can help act as insulation from the ground and are easier on their joints.

People these days think of their dogs as family, not pets. Pet training mats are perfect for making sure that your dog is comfortable and happy. The Humane Society states that there are 83.3 million owned dogs in the country--that’s at least 83.3 million dogs that are in need of pet mats. In the article, “U.S. Pet Ownership: Pets by the Numbers,” on the Humane Society of the United States, it says, “Pet ownership in the U.S. has more than tripled from the 1970s, when approximately 67 million households had pets, to 2012, when there were 164 million owned pets,” (humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/pet_ownership_statistics.html). With the rising number of dog ownership, there is a growing need and desire for dog comfort and safety. Mats for dogs are softer than concrete and other hard surfaces. They are easier on a dog’s joints than having him lie on a cold surface, and pet training mats can help insulate the ground beneath it so that the cold will not affect dogs as much.

There is a large market for pet products, as shown in the “U.S. Pet Ownership: Pets by the Numbers” article. It states, “That same year, according to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent more than $50 billion on their beloved cats, dogs, and other animal companions.” Pet mats are a premier product in dog training. If you have a dog or puppy that is being potty trained to go to the bathroom outside, you can use one of these mats as part of the training process. Pet training mats can be placed underneath any pheromone potty training pad or “wee pad” to help protect carpets or floors underneath the pads. If your puppy should defecate or urinate with less than desirable accuracy, or if there is any spillage from the pad, the rubber mat can be cleaned up quickly and easily. These pet training mats can be hosed off and simply set to dry. They are water-resistant and will not soak in fluids, which makes mats for dogs great to use inside kennels as well—especially when a dog is crated for too long and cannot hold his bladder anymore.

An excerpt from an article by Karen Pryor called, “5 Steps to Train Your Dog to “Go to Place,” reads, “You can take a mat anywhere. You can use a mat to help generalize or transfer behaviors. You can send your dog to his mat when you let your guests in the door, or send your dog to a mat while you are eating dinner. You can use a mat to practice distance work in your living room or anywhere else, or make a pattern of mats and send your dog to them while practicing crosses on the flat. You can use a mat to teach fast downs and then transfer that behavior to the pause table,” (clickertraining.com/node/3308). Pet training mats are useful for a wide variety of training needs, including a quiet “time out” place, and a place your dog can be sent to when there is company. Mats for dogs are also an important safety feature when used outside. A well-trained dog that is able to stay on the mat on command will be safer than a dog that might run through traffic on the street. Pet training mats can become a place for safety that your dog can begin to recognize. It can be a place that he or she does not get bothered or scolded. Eventually, your dog can begin to associate his or her pet mats with sanctuary and feelings of comfort.

Ultimately, pet training mats are the best choice in comfort and safety of your dog, as well as in his or her training. There are over 8 million dogs in need of these mats, which provide a softer surface than concrete for them to lie down on. Mats for dogs act as insulation from the ground and can be easier on dogs’ joints. The mats can be used for training purposes including potty training. Pet mats are water resistant and will be able to resist pet messes. They also are useful for training dogs to go to a quiet place where they will not only feel comfortable themselves, but will not bother guests when they arrive. They can also keep a dog out of harms way if placed in a safe spot, away from potential dangers such as traffic. The many applications and features of pet training mats make them a superior choice.