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The Ultimate Guide to Using a Dog Travel Mat + 15 Reasons Why You'll Love Them!

THE TRAVEL, HOME AND TRAINING ESSENTIAL 

There is nothing we love more than when our lovely customers send us pics of their furkids using their travel mat in a way we didn’t even think of! This inspired us to put together this list of ‘Top 15 Ways to Use a Dog Travel Mat’. 

Our travel mats are foldable, waterproof, washable & padded just enough to be cozy but still roll up into a compact size, providing your dog with comfort wherever you go. And you guys are going everywhere!

 

1. TRAINING

“Training a dog to go to a bed or a mat is brilliant for young or anxious dogs; it gives them clear criteria like a job, which helps them settle and reduces unwanted behaviour.” Ryan Tate, Founder of Tate Animal Training

As avid listeners to Ryan Tate’s dog training podcasts, we were so excited to have him as a guest on our blog.  Not only is Ryan a professional animal trainer, he is also a qualified Marine Biologist, Zookeeper, Dog Trainer and Assessor.

We wanted to ask Ryan for his advice on mat training to ensure that every pup gets maximum use from their Indie Boho Dog Travel Mat.

We have found that if your dog is already familiar with their Indie Boho bed, then transitioning to a travel mat when they need to should be relatively easily. The real test is ensuring that they stay on their mat in environments where there are lots of distractions ie. at a café, restaurant, picnic, office or a friends place. If you’ve adopted a dog or a puppy that needs work on their behaviour, then mat training is the ideal foundation.

Ryan’s Top Tips

  • Start in a familiar location
  • Reward your dog frequently on the mat in the early stages
  • Introduce a “release command” so your dog knows when it is supposed to get off the mat, this means “stay” is implied.
  • Gradually build up to distracting environments once your dog has this solid around the house.

2. ON HOLIDAYS — When your car or bags are full and you can’t fit the entire pet bed in, this travel mat will save the day!

3. AT CAFES AND RESTAURANTS — A mat encourages good behavior by calming your furkid down. Without one, it’s far too tempting for them to roam from table to table looking for scraps and pats!

4. IN THE AIR — Many assistance dogs take these mats on planes. It helps contain their shedding fur and provides them with a defined, comfortable space to lay.

5. AT HOME — When the messy treats come out, use a mat to protect your plush carpets and rugs from being soiled!

6. IN THE OFFICE — Once the welcome pats are out of the way and work (unfortunately) needs to be done, give your dog their own defined area with the mat so they can sleep, play, and enjoy their treats while you get on with your day.

7. IN THE CAR — Waterproof and practical, these mats are perfect for the car to prevent travel sickness or wet/sandy paws from damaging your upholstery or leather. Our large-size Travel Mat + Car Seat Connector is ideal for the car, as it can be secured to the headrest and covers one seat generously. It’s also easy to remove and take out of the car to a cafe, park, or wherever you’re headed.

8. HARDWARE STORE TROLLEYS — Line the hardware store trolley with this padded mat for a far more comfortable ride and take all the time you need in the plant section!

9. ON THE DECK/COURTYARD OR IN THE BACKYARD — If it’s a particularly hot or cold day, if the ground is wet, or if there are ants, take the mat to their favourite outdoor spot. You never know, their best friend might even join them!

10. AS A CRATE MAT — Fold the mat to any size to fit a crate! Why settle for boring brown or black crate pads when you can have cockatoos, shells, or combis lining the crate instead?

11. DAYCARE — If your dog goes to daycare, you know they have allocated sleep time during the day, just like children! Take their mat with them so they have a familiar space to get some shut-eye before returning to their friends.

12. CAMPING — Forget the old towels and blankets that take forever to dry and need constant washing. These travel mats are compact, easy to clean, and won’t absorb moisture.

13. AT THE BEACH/PARK — When the ground is wet and sandy, you might just want to "borrow" your dog’s travel mat for yourself!

14. PUPPY SCHOOL — This is the ideal station training mat! One of the first commands dogs are taught is “on your mat,” and it's perfect for daily use!

15. IN ANY UNFAMILIAR PLACE — We've just listed some of the more common places to use a dog travel mat, but the possibilities are endless! In a pram or carrier, on public transport, while hiking, at the hairdresser, or at the markets — your dog will feel at home anywhere.

CUSTOMER LOVE


"Fabulous travel mat for my pooch! I’ve just been on a road trip with my pooch and this mat was a great addition for our trip. On the beach, in the tent and at all the places we stayed he knew that was his spot. Super easy to clean when we got home. Couldn’t decide on the design but love this one I chose in the end! Super cute and great colours." - Leanne

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Amazing!! Buy buy buy! Omg these are so beautiful. So easy to carry and simple to fold back up (unlike others we’ve tried which require a degree in engineering). Our older girl refuses to sit down at cafes unless we bring her full bed, which is obviously a pain, but she is content to sit and rest on this travel mat. It’s really cushioned and comfy. We bought two and I have already recommend to a few strangers at cafes." - Charlotte

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"I got the travel mat when my puppy was 12 weeks old and it felt like the biggest splurge since I didn't know if he would destroy it, but I wanted a good size for mat training at puppy school as well as for our regular cafe outings. I'm so happy that this has exceeded my expectations! From the moment I opened it up and laid it on the floor my pup went right up to it and flopped onto it since it's nicely padded, he has learnt that the mat is his place for good things like treats and chews and is a safe place I call him to when it gets busy at cafes and restaurants. I've also machine washed it multiple times and it's still as good as new, even with my pup digging at it sometimes too. Best investment ever!" - Michelle

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"I received this product last week. It is absolutely stunning. The design and quality are superb. We take our girl out with us for coffee most days and normally she fidgets and fusses which means we can't relax. We took her out yesterday and she fell asleep (yaay) - clearly she found it very comfy! The process from purchase to receipt of this beautiful Travel Mat was seamless and the company was a pleasure to deal with. Kathy (and Lily🐶)" - Kathy M

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"Perfect mat for every occasion whether it be at the park, beach or outside at home. My pupper is always comfortable. Love Indie Boho - amazing quality products." - Nerida M

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"Love this mat, it beautiful and great quality. We use it at dog school for training and take it out to cafe's etc as her "safe" space. I also use it to give her treats at home so she doesn't get mess on the carpet." - Jo G

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"I absolutely love the travel mat that I recently got for my two dogs and think that anyone that has a dog should have at least one of these mats. The mat ticks all the right boxes including that it is a quality product, reasonably priced and bonus that it is waterproof and so nice and easy to clean." - Tracy S

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"Perfect for my assistance dog when we are out and about, it is waterproof and now he can relax in comfort (and style!) Thanks for making great products!" Nicole

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