Crate Training is Your Dog’s Life Skill

I’m a proponent of being prepared and prepare dogs for emergency situations and other life changes impacting their lives and I encourage all my clients to do the same.

One major life change is a move.

Many of my clients are fellow military families.

Moving from duty station to another happens regularly. Every 2-3 years!

Sometimes the moves occur within driving distance.

Many times, families like us, receive orders to move overseas.

Places like Germany, the UK, Italy, Japan, Korea and the list of countries goes on that receive American families everyday.

Those families also include their pets!

Most likely, your pet will be required to fly in a crate in cargo since airlines are now less likely to accept ESA in the cabin.

Since moving is inevitable for many of us, preparing and teaching your dog to enjoy his crate is of utmost important!

If you’re lucky, knowing there is a time frame of when you’ll be in one location over another, then it’s time for crate training sooner than later!

Gradually exposing your dog to a crate will be worth his weight in yummy treats since doing so will make traveling less stressful and more relaxed for your dog.

Many of my clients are always preparing for their family’s life changes, regardless of their dogs ever needing these skills.

Crate training is also important for our world’s changing climate and the propensity for natural disasters like wildfires or severe weather.

Quickly moving out of an area to a safe place can be aided by your dog happily jumping into a crate so you can evacuate without chaos.

You never know!

Some tips!

  1. Use super duper high value rewards and pair those with the crate.
  2. Allow your dog to freely explore the crate area on his own. Mark and reward when he does.
  3. Help your dog to habituate to the sound and experience of the crate door squeaky sound of the springs to the sound of rubbing metal and plastic of the poles of the gate.
  4. Slowly build up your dog’s crate bit by bit only as your dog is showing comfortability in the previous step should you move to the next one.
  5. The more time you have before you move and the frequency of practice (for short bits of time) the better your dog will see the crate as a safe space.

Not sure where to start?

Set up your call and we can discuss: https://fourpawsandyoudogtraining.as.me/

Sneak Peak!

Do you want a sneak peak into one of my training sessions?

Here’s a little smattering of my favorite toys and enrichment activities you can do with and for your dog which will add another outlet in guiding your dog towards some relaxation!

First, meals don’t need to happen in a bowl.

You can feed meals in a variety of ways which gets your dog thinking, doing something fun and productive and even slows down those Hoover dogs!

Using a snuffle mat (see below) have all sorts of nooks you can hide food in which encourages your dog to forage.

If your dog enjoys a bit more of a challenge like Jack, up-cycle those empty egg cartons into a puzzle feeder and place your dog’s meals in them.

Foraging Fun!

Watch the fun your dog’s have when they are finding all the bits!

Other great options of adding in some enriching activities your dog can do with you are using your broom and make it into a jumping pole.

Place it flat on the ground and encourage your dog to step over it.

As your dog is comfortable, you slowly raise it up off the ground.

Even encourage your dog to crawl underneath it!

Try them out and share what your favorite enrichment activity is to do with your dog!

Be Vulnerable, Stay Open

Looking back on where Jack was when we first brought him home until now, it’s night and day.

Jack was frustrated, his social and emotional needs weren’t met in the beginning which resulted in barking and lunging at anything and everything.

Jack was thirsty to learn.

I needed to listen, but in the beginning I didn’t know how.

I struggled with his separation related behaviors, his panic attacks in confinement areas, his barking and lunging on a leash at people, cars, trucks, other dogs, runners, bicyclists and I recognized he was struggling too.

I needed to find how to help him understand he’s safe when we didn’t speak the same language.

The first thing I did was discover his favorite things-FOOD! 😂

Food is important for any animal’s survival. You don’t have to teach another living being to like food (maybe the type of food ect).

What is necessary to understand is a more pleasurable food will for sure boost morale which in turn will encourage more motivation.

The power of food can change minds.

Then I began bringing his favorites everywhere I went with him.

This not only helped him engage with me, but I also recognized when I was wearing my treat pouch, I was also engaged with him too.

It was a physical reminder, I’m here for Jack and I want to teach him, much like when a person brings a briefcase to work or puts on a uniform.

We worked together in more distracting environments and together he built his toolbox of coping skills and increased his self control.

Not only did Jack learn the reward of something delicious coming his way when we saw another person, or even another dog, but he started to “see” me too.

Jack began checking in with me on his own because I consistently showed up for and stayed engaged with him.

The ongoing practice is a game changer for him.

He’s learned to change his mind about all the things I mentioned. We passed by a person walking their very excited dog while in the car and Jack watched without getting excited or barking and lunging.

We drive through the gate at JBLM and Jack is content with the window being rolled down and the gate guard and I sharing pleasantries and getting ID cards scanned.

These things did not happen in the beginning.

He changed because I changed.

I know it’s scary, but you can change too.

Bring the rewards.

Praise and reward for the behaviors you want.

Be consistent.

Take your time.

Look to set up for success always.

If a mistake happens, because it will, be kind to yourself and your dog.

You’re both learning together.

You will see the relationship unfold and your dog change too.

Get started: https://fourpawsandyoudogtraining.as.me/