Posts tagged Crate Training

Training your Dog Not to Fear Loud Noises

Loud noises, such as fireworks, thunder and traffic, are one of the most frequently cited fears given by dog owners.  It is natural for some dogs to be fearful of loud noises, but some dogs are so traumatized by thunder, fireworks and other loud noises that they are completely unable to function.

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Dogs that display excessive fears or phobias such as these can be a danger to themselves and those around them.  Dogs may manifest their fear in self-destructive ways, like slinking under the couch or the bed and getting stuck, for instance.  They may also react in ways that are destructive to the home, such as urinating or defecating on the carpet, chewing up favorite items, or barking incessantly.  These reactions are often worse when the owner is not at home.

One thing that is hard for many dog owners to understand is that soothing or stroking a dog that is displaying fear is exactly the wrong thing to do.  While it is natural to try to calm a fearful dog, to the dog you are rewarding it for being afraid.  The dog likes the sound of your voice, likes your petting, and concludes that he has done the right thing by acting afraid.  This only makes a bad situation worse.

The best strategy when the dog displays fear when there is a thunderstorm or a fireworks display is to simply ignore the dog.  It is of course important to watch the dog to make sure he does not hurt himself, but otherwise just ignore him and let him work through the fear on his own.  When you go away, be sure to make sure there is nothing the dog can get stuck under, since fireworks or a thunderstorm can pop up at any time.

A dog that is severely afraid of thunderstorms and other load noises may need to be confined to a single room, or even a crate, for a period of time.  After the dog feels safe in his “den”, he may be able to deal with his fears a little better.  It can be quite a struggle to teach a dog not to be afraid of thunderstorms, firecrackers and other such noises, but it is important that the dog at least be able to control his fears without being destructive to himself or his environment.

Using distraction

Much as magicians use sleight of hand to hide their tricks, so dog owners practice the art of distraction to take their dog’s mind off of their fear.  For instance, if your dog is afraid of thunderstorms and you know one is on the way, gather some of your dog’s favorite toys and get ready for the misdirection.

Of course, your dog will probably know the thunderstorm is on the way before you do.  When you see your dog start to display fear, take a few of his favorite toys and try to get him to play.  Very fearful dogs may be reluctant to play, but it is important to try nevertheless.  Often a few treats can be a good distraction as well.  Try buying one of those balls that you can fill with treats or biscuits, and encourage your dog to chase it.

Try playing with your dog every time a thunderstorm is in the forecast.  This can start to implant good memories, and these can sometimes replace the fear memories that caused the dog to be afraid of thunderstorms in the first place.

Desensitizing your dog’s fear

Desensitization is a highly effective way to deal with phobias and fears in humans, and it can be very effective for dogs and other animals as well.  Desensitization involves introducing the dog to small amounts of whatever noises frighten him.  For instance, if the dog is afraid of thunder, try tape recording your next thunderstorm and play it back slowly when the dog is relaxed.  Reward the dog for not showing fear responses.  If he does show fear responses, do not comfort or soothe him but just ignore him.

This kind of desensitization training can be remarkably effective for some dogs, but it will take lots of patience and hard work.  Fears of thunder and fireworks are not always easy to cure.


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Crate Training for Dogs and Puppies

is one of the most effective ways of house breaking any or dog.  is very efficient, and very effective, since it uses the natural instinct of the dog to achieve the desired result of a clean house and a well trained dog.


The concept behind crate training is that a dog naturally strives to avoid soiling the area where it eats and sleeps.  By placing the dog in the crate, this instinct is enhanced.  The dog will come to see the crate as its den, and it will try to avoid soiling its den.

The key to successful crate training for a puppy or an older dog, as with other forms of dog training, is to establish a good routine.  This routine will enhance the ability of the dog to do its business in the right place, and avoid eliminating in the wrong place.  It is important to shower the dog with praise each and every time it eliminates in the established toilet area, and not to express frustration or anger when the dog makes a mistake.

It is important to confine the dog or puppy to a small part of the house, generally one puppy proofed room, when you are not at home.  The room should contain a soft bed, fresh water and some favorite toys to prevent the dog from becoming bored and frustrated.

Crate training is different from confining the dog to one room, however.  With crate training, the puppy or dog is confined to a crate when unsupervised.  The idea is that the dog will think of this crate as its home, and not want to soil is home.

When crate training, it is important to remove the dog from the crate as soon as possible after returning home, and to take the dog promptly to the previously established toilet area.  When the dog does its business in this toilet area, be sure to provide lots of praise and treats.  It is important that the dog learn to associate proper toilet procedures with good things like treats and toys.

It is important to never leave the dog in its crate for long periods of time, as this will confuse the dog and force it to soil its sleeping area.  The crate is simply a tool, and it should not be abused by leaving the dog in it for extended periods of time.  If the dog is left in the crate for too long, it could set back the training program by weeks if not months.

The dog should only be confined to the crate when you are at home.  Except for nighttime, the dog should be given the opportunity to relieve itself every 45 minutes or so.  Each time the dog is taken out, it should be put on a leash and immediately taken outside.  Once outside the house, the dog should be given three to five minutes to do its business.  If the dog does not eliminate in this time period, it should be immediately returned to the create.

If the dog does its business during the set time period, it should be rewarded with praise, food, play, affection and either an extended walk or a period of play inside or outside the home.

During the crate training period, it is important to keep a daily diary of when the dog does its business each day.  If the dog is on a regular feeding schedule, the toilet schedule should be consistent as well.  Having a good idea of when the dog needs to eliminate each day will be a big help during the house training process.  After the dog has used his established toilet area, you will be able to give the dog free run of the house to play and enjoy himself.

Dealing with accidents during crate training

It is very important to not punish the puppy or dog when it makes a mistake or has an accident during the crate training process.  If there has been an accident, simply clean it up.  Accidents during house training mean that you have provided the dog with unsupervised access to the house too quickly.  The dog should not be allowed unsupervised access to the home until you can trust her bowel and bladder habits.  If mistakes do occur, it is best to go back to crate training.  Taking a couple of steps back will help move the house training process along, while moving too quickly could set things back.


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