|
Crate or Confinement Training [Print This Article]
The use of a crate or other method of confinement is widely used today with puppies or adult dogs. When you are unable to be at home with your dog or unable to supervise your dog while at home, the use of confinement can be an effective tool in helping to housetrain or to prevent destructive behavior from your dog. Crates are one popular method of confinement. There are wire crates, plastic (airline-style) crates, or mesh crates. Depending upon your dog and your situation, other methods of confinement can also be used. Ex-pens are another option if your dog will not jump out. Baby gates or closed doors can be used to block off a kitchen, laundry room, spare bedroom or other small room or area of the house. For the remainder of this article, the term crate will be used to represent any of these methods of confinement.
While some dogs have already been crate-trained or have no trouble adjusting to a crate, others will need our help. Your dog should see this space as a safe, quiet, interruption-free, happy location where she can go when she wants some time to herself. If she does not already seek out this location at least some of the time on her own, we need to help change her perception of this place. We want the crate to be her destination of choice to chew on a bone or take a nap.
If you simply push her in the crate and leave, she might decide this as a bad place. Every time she is placed in it, you leave and she is left alone. While the crate itself might not have been bad, the association she makes with it – your absence – now makes the crate a bad place. Or, if the crate is used regularly as a punishment for undesirable behaviors, she might see the crate as a bad place.
While the crate is a place that can be used to confine our dog while we are away or when she needs a time out, we first must ensure the crate has plenty of positive associations for the dog. If she equates the crate to bad things, you will have a difficult time getting her in it.
When you first bring your puppy or adult dog home, start immediately with positive associations near and in the crate. Feed her meals just outside the crate. Toss tasty treats or terrific toys inside the crate. Allow her to go in and take out the treats or toys without the door closing behind her. Let her see you toss treats or toys in the crate. Other times, toss them in when she is not around. We want her to start checking out the crate to see if there is something good in inside.
Once she is comfortable eating outside the crate, move the food bowl just inside the crate. She should have to put her head in the crate to eat, but not her entire body. Once she is comfortable with this, move the food bowl further toward the back of the crate until she is eating her meal with her body entirely in the crate.
If she will readily go in the crate after a treat or toy, decide what your cue will be to get her in the crate. You might use something like: “Kennel up” or “in your crate” or “bedtime” or anything else you would like and will remember to say. Now, use your new word or phrase just before you toss in a treat or toy.
Take one of your dog’s favorite chew toys, interactive toys, bones or other objects that will occupy some of her time and place it in the crate. The crate might be the only place she gets a really special treat. Kong or Busy Buddy toys filled with food and treats are a great option. Place it inside the crate and close the door – with your dog on the OUTSIDE of the crate. Does she want to get in the crate? Good! Let her in and quietly close the door behind her. BEFORE she finishes her treat, open the door and let her out.
While you might not want to put your dog in her crate while you are home – after all, she spends enough time in there while you are at work all day! – it is important that she spend some time in there with you nearby. This way she will not associate being locked in the crate with your absence. If she will be lying down chewing on a bone in the evening while you watch your favorite television program, use that opportunity for a little time in the crate. If you know she always naps right after breakfast, use that as some additional time in the crate. We don’t want her to spend ALL of her time in the crate, but some down time with you around can be good.
If she seems comfortable in the crate with you in the same room, try walking just out of sight and returning immediately. Reward her if she was calm. Gradually walk a bit further away as long as she is comfortable. If she is not, then back up a step or two.
If she starts to fuss, ignore her until she is quiet. Try to never let your dog out of her crate when she is crying, barking or otherwise carrying on. This will only reward her for throwing a tantrum or demanding you let her out. As soon as she stops fussing, let her out and reward her calm behavior. The only time you should let her out of the crate for barking or carrying on is if you know she needs to get outside to potty. Don’t ignore her if she is really telling you she can’t hold it much longer!
If she has trouble being left alone, you will need to take these steps very slowly. If you are having a serious problem with leaving her alone, consider researching methods for treating separation anxiety or consulting a professional trainer or behavior consultant for additional advice.
Once she can be trusted loose in the house, gradually wean her off the crate and give her more freedom ONE step (or room) at a time. Make her earn it. Don’t give her full run of the house from the start!
|
