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72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Know Your Own Pet, December 13, 2007
A Kid's Review
Before I bought these scat mats, I read many reviews that either said the mat was inhumane (and some people refuse to use it) OR the mat was the most incredible invention ever. Below is my review and hopefully it will help someone else decide if it is a good idea to purchase the mat, or not.
First of all, I begin by saying, the mat works. There is no question about it. However how well it works, and where, and to what degree are all the variables that depend on YOU, the user as well as on the subject, your PET, cat or dog.
Tall/Smart Dog
I had a 40 lb bulldog (a temporary house guest) who was quite tall (even for bulldogs, because I think he is mixed) and the dog was able to jump over a scat mat I placed in a doorway. It was only the second time the bulldog encountered the mat, and he was smart enough to know what to do. He took one leap and was already in the other room (where the Christmas tree, which I was trying to protect, was located). Therefore in the case of taller dogs (especially the ones that know how to jump very well) you may need to set down two mats (one next to another) rather than just one mat, to increase the surface area of the mat - that way the dog will never try to jump it.
Smart but Short Legged and Lazy Dog
My own bulldog, who is also 40 lbs but short and stumpy and lazy, NEVER tries anything with the mat in the same doorway. (Please not when you place mat in doorway it needs to completely cover the entire entrance - if there is space for the dog to get through without stepping on the mat, he or she will try it). When the mat is in the door way, it doesn't matter if there is a steak on the other side of the mat, my short legged bulldog will not even bother to try to go on, or near it. So that mat is a GREAT alternative to pet gates, which are usually made very poorly anyways that you end up breaking it. Your home also looks so much better without an ugly pet gate as. The mat is simple, and sweet, and your dog will never touch it and you yourself will just have to step over it so it is great in doorways or right below the stairs, like when/if you don't want your dog to go upstairs). However make sure you tell guests right when they get in the house about the mat because someone will always step on it and while it won't hurt them, it might be a little embarrassing - I had a house guest who was so startled by the mat shock, he said a bad word very loud, and I had to contain myself from laughing.
Couch Hogging
My bulldog was also taking over our family room couch (and this guy is pretty spoiled, he has his own personal trainer and when her numerous suggestions didn't work), so we left mats on the couch and he never goes on the couch anymore. However keep in mind, the couch has to completely covered, because the dog will go on any areas large enough that was left uncovered on the couch . We have a large sectional and we use two large mats on each side. You also have to make sure that if the dog isn't allowed on the couch, he has another desirable place to rest his head (this is the interest of training, so that one day even without the mats, the dog will no longer go on the couch, and use his own bed).
Smart Small Dogs
My neighbor has a small tiny dog (mixed breed) and I sometimes babysit her, and this gave me insight on the use of scat mat on small dogs. It actually works better on them. With bulldogs, they have high threshold for pain, and it takes them a good 3/4 seconds to actually realize the scat mat for what it is. However for small dogs they will approach it, yelp from the surprise of shock and will never ever go near it. With bulldogs, they don't even make a sound after touching the mat so the high setting is recommended. However for small dogs, low or medium setting is fine. Plus you will not need the large size of the mat for small dogs, unless you want to make sure to cover a large surface area.
Puppies
The only reservations I have about the scat mat is its use on puppies. I just would not do it. It maybe too young for them to experience something alarming or surprising and it may impair their emotional development or trust towards you or your household so buyers if you want to train a puppy, consult a trainer and use treats and positive vs negative methods. DO NOT USE THIS DEVICE ON PUPPIES. I think this mat is more for matured dogs, whose ingrown habits you are trying to break. For instance, my bulldog took over the couch because my boyfriend kept letting him get on it and watch TV with him, and soon the entire couch was his and it got all smelly and gross so I used these mats to sort of wean him away from it, by preventing access, and giving him another comfortable place. Whenever the scat mat is not on the couch (temporarily, like when I have guests, my dog will still try to get on it but it's only been a few weeks so I think it will make some time. Puppies will always go on couches too for comfort but be strict about the couch issue (either they are allowed or they are not) while the puppy is young and it will solve the problem but it is necessary to use the scat mat for anything regarding training puppies - if you consult a certified trainer you can practically teach a puppy to do anything. When I say puppies, I am referring to a pet under 1 year of age or less. DO NOT USE SCAT MAT ESPECIALLY ON VERY YOUNG WEEK OLD PUPPIES I CANNOT ADVOCATE THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Cats
I looked after my best friend's cat and he was exposed to the scat mat. He took a few steps, got shocked and never even went downstairs ever again (where the mats are located in the house). However the cat is a rescue and he is very hostile and angry and has little confidence so I am not sure if the scat mat was what caused this extreme/over reaction or if the cat's personality contributed to it. I don't know much about cats, but this was the kind of cat that if you touched him, he will actually bite your hand. My dog also stays downstairs in the house so I don't know if it is because of the scat mats or dog that the cat refuses to venture to the first floor of the house. However I have heard that scat mats are great for kitchen counters when it comes to cats, who gets on them to access food, but I don't know enough about cats at all to tell you how they will do with scat mats. Whatever the case, you will have to know your cat or dog well enough to know if the scat mat will work or not.
Inhumane or Not?
After using and trying the mat out for some time, I also concluded that it is not inhumane (IF USED ON ADULT DOGS AND CATS), and here's why - people touch the device and say things like "it is too powerful, etc". but they forget that their animals are actually very highly intelligent. A dog or a car will only ever really feel a scat mat once or twice, and will NEVER go near it again. In my household, the ones that keep getting shocked are actually the humans because we leave it in the door ways, and on the couch and everyone forgets about it and either keep stepping on it, or sitting on it. So this device isn't an pain inflictor (maybe to yourself) but not to your animals - once they felt it they are over it, they will never go near it again. The pain is also psychology (almost tingly in fact and not physically harmful, I would know about this very well because I'll come downstairs all sleepy and sometimes forgets and stands on the mat for about a good 5/6 seconds). My friend told me about a lady whose standard Poodles were so tall they were getting food from kitchen counter tops it got so bad the owner had to put mouse traps on the counters - now THAT is what I call inhumane, and sheer desperation. I had to tell my friend to tell the lady about scat mats.
I recently bought two scat mats and I use it in a door way to prevent my dog from messing with the Christmas tree, and another one below a shelf (where my dog was getting DVDs off of and biting them into pieces). I had to switch these two mats around to go on the couch as well so today I am getting another two to use solely for couch so it can stay put there, and my dog learns the entire thing is off limits, all day everyday. However I anticipate many people (humans) including myself accidently experiencing the "shock" value of the mats in my household than my dog (who is obviously smarter than us) ever will.
I hope this review has been helpful to you, and again I would like to reiterate my point not to use the scat mat nor any other "devices" on young puppies - they can easily be trained with treats and repeating good habits and positive or negative reinforcements.
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