I have a short video on crate training to post today.  There is a lot of information out there and most of it makes the process overly complicated.  If you start your puppy out like this, you shouldn’t have to many issues in the long run.  Watch this video then continue reading this blog.  Sorry it is blurry during most of the video.  I had the focal point set for photography and didn’t reset it back to center for this video.   I don’t have time to re shoot the entire thing… so there ya go.  I also had to cut it down to about 8 minutes due to my computer not wanting to save the longer / larger files.  What we do to avoid buying a new computer!

A few things I need to add.

1.  Change the treat toy you give.  Have a variety of objects to offer the puppy, but don’t offer them all at one time.  Rotate so the pup never knows what sort of goody they are getting this time.  There are puzzle games, treat balls, bones you can stuff, cow hooves, bully sticks, etc.  Feed their kibble in a treat ball, my favorite is the Bob-a-lot kibble / treat dispenser  which both slows the puppy’s eating down and stimulates the brain.   Whatever you select, give them only one of those items at a time.  Change them up, it will keep the puppy guessing what might be next.
2. Vary the time they spend in the crate.  Dogs are fabulous at telling time.  If you generally make them stay in the crate for one hour as ‘nap time’ during the day, they will start to expect that nap time last one hour.  Put them in the crate for different times.  Maybe 10 minutes, maybe 2 hours, maybe 30 minutes, they should never know.
3. Walk by and praise the puppy for being good.  stick your fingers into the crate and get them love and maybe change out their toy to something new.  Good things happen when you come by, but the good thing might not be getting out of the crate.  The best stuff needs to happen IN the crate, not outside the crate.
4. Gradually get the puppy walking into the crate on their own.  Once they get older, they can start watching you fill the bone with peanut butter, build the suspense, make them part of the action.  “Oh oh oh… she’s filling the BONE!!!  Oh I get my bone.  I’ll run ahead and go into the crate and show her how much I love that bone!  She will think I am so smart!”.  If they go into the crate, make a big deal about how amazing they are!!  Once they are shooting fast into the crate, you can then ask them to sit before giving over the bone.
5. Never take an obnoxious puppy out of the crate.  Wait for them to calm and start thinking before releasing them.  Be patient and wait them out.  VERY important to do this step or you will only teach them if they keep at it long enough, you will eventually come and let them out if they bark long enough.
6. If you tether next to you when the puppy is out of the crate, have a few chewy toys that they can focus on during that time.  Make them different and less awesome than the crate chew.  Maybe just a cow hoof, greeny, or bully stick and save the peanut butter stuffed goodness for the crate.  Keep the best one for kennel time, where you might not be home.

I hope this helps a few of you who are struggling.  As always, contact me sooner rather than later.  It is much harder to fix an issue once it is set in the pups brain, than to avoid the issue from the start.

~Becky