One of the things we are supposed to be working on is relaxation mat training. It's where you teach your dog to lay on a mat, and that the mat is a good relaxing place. Then you can take the mat with you when you visit people and your dog will have his comfortable place where he can lay down and play with a toy or whatever. He will know it's his space.
The way you train it is basically by using a clicker and clicking and treating when they get on the mat and doing some other simple exercises on the mat. You're basically training that fun and rewarding things happen on the mat.
The first time I did it, I accidentally messed it up because I went to fast and did long waits on the mat and after that Kody wouldn't even step on the mat. So we went back to square one and did more simple things. Just sits and downs and quick things. Now he'll ask to play with the mat, even though we don't do it nearly as often as we probably should. But Kody's learning lots of stuff right now, so I'm not too worried.
There's been one pleasant side effect of this. Kody has another little snuggle sack that is kind of like a mat. Since we started that mat training, he goes and lays on that when I'm working in the kitchen or at my desk. I also try to move it so he can have a good view of me working wherever I am. He usually takes his bully stick with him onto the mat, which is great. He never did this before mat training, but now it's his default behavior. So I think I'm just going to make this "the mat" because he can even snuggle inside of it if he wants to and it's just as easy as a mat to transport.
When things start making sense to a dog, everything starts getting easier and better. It's great when that happens.