Crate training.
About the crate -
Crate training is very effective for both puppies and dogs. Crate training can take both time and consistency, however it proves incredibly useful in a range of scenarios! Crates are particularly great for separating dogs from other dogs, children or even from their owners for a safe and positive time out, travel or post surgery amongst many other reasons. However, when used incorrectly they can easily become traumatic. A dog crate should only be big enough for your dog sit stand up, turn around, lie down and sit in. Crates are meant to be, within reason, tight in space as this assist in helping dogs feel safe. Dog crates can be made from metal, plastic or fabric, these different styles have their own set of pros and cons. Because of this the type of crate you may require for your dog can differ from what suits the next dog -
Metal Crate - Metal crates are easy to fold up and down, becoming compact so that you’re able to store them easily when not in use and move them from one place to another. This design allows for dogs to be able to have a good view of their surroundings and they’re undoubtably well ventilated. If you were to purchase one of these crates I would encourage you to buy one that comes with a separator. This is particularly beneficial when you have a puppy who will grow, you’re able to make the crate space smaller and increase their space as they get bigger.
Soft Crate - Soft crates most commonly used with small breed dogs. They can be good for larger dogs however they are not strong, so the dog would need to be comfortable with the crate experience and not likely to chew or scratch through it. These are light in weight, and again easy to pack up or down.
Airline Crate - These crates are wonderful for dogs who require a more secure option, are reactive or easily stressed by their surroundings. Although you can cover a mental crate with a towel or blanket, airline crates take away most of the dogs visual and can be quieter . They include vents, and have a double pinned door to ensure dogs are unable to push through or bend the door allowing for escape. This crate is large in size, and unfortunately cannot fold down.
Notes -
It’s incredibly important that our dogs see their crate as a safe and enjoyable place to be, we want to avoid using it as a place of punishment or isolation as dogs will start to view it as ‘the naughty corner’ making them less likely to utilise it.
Do not rush crate training. Complete the below crate training plan over multiple sessions that are short and end on a positive note.
Feed your dog in their crate with the door open where possible. Give them high value chews and toys from the crate, even if they move the items out, they originally came from the crate creating value and trust for your dog with the space.
Dogs should not be locked in their crate until completely counter-conditioned and properly trained to avoid a negative association or phobia being created.
Place the crate in a central area with low foot traffic. Dogs are social animals and don’t enjoy being isolated.
If your dog prefers, you can place a towel or sheet over the crate to help them feel safe and also block their ability to view visual stimuli.
Training Plan -
Toss a treat into your dogs crate, the moment they fully enters the crate mark (with your clicker or marker word) and reinforce (with another treat).
Some dogs will be more worried about the crate than others, and so you may need to use the process of successive approximation to develop this behaviour. Mark and rewards each time your dog gets closer and closer to the crate, mark and reward when they move their head in, then get one leg in, and lean in, so on and so forth until you build the dogs confidence enough that they are actively able to move in and out of the crate without worry.
Once your dog is confidently moving in and out of the crate, you can start to proof the behaviour by applying your release to this cue. Once in the crate, before your dog has the opportunity to move out of the crate say your release word and encourage them to move out of the crate by tossing a treat or toy. If your dog already confidently knows a release word you will not need to encourage the moment, they should just simply understand they have been released. Practise this. (Please read the Release cue article to understand this step further).
When your dog is confidently moving into the crate you can also add the verbal cue ‘crate’. You want to say the word ‘crate’ once as your dog is getting into the crate to help them build association between the behaviour of getting into the crate and the word ‘crate’. You will only say the cue once because you want your dog to perform the first time the cue is given, not have to later ask them two or three times!
Counter conditioning your dog to closure of the crate door;
Throughout the above training process, you can also dedicate training sessions to getting your dog to become comfortable with the crate door closing. This should be an incredibly slow process, and good things should always be offered when the crate door is closed. Your dog needs to see benefit in the crate door being closed.
Start by cuing your dog into their crate, closing the door halfway, mark, reinforce, open the door back up, release. Repeat a few times over.
Next goal is to close the door fully, after half a second mark, reinforce, open the door back up. Repeat a few times over.
Cue your dog into the crate, mark and reinforce. Close the crate door, mark and reinforce. Take one step back, mark and reinforce. Step forward, open the crate and release. Slowly build duration in this way.
Continue this training, increase your duration slowly. This can also be practised while your dog is focused on an enrichment toy or safe chew.
