Using the crate to punish your dog

How often have you found yourself getting annoyed at your puppy and putting them inside the crate for a time out or as a punishment? If you are guilty of doing this every now and then, you may be setting your pup up for negative association with the crate. This may hamper their willingness to step in and out of the crate willingly. 

Yelling at your dog

A puppy constantly barking and whining inside the crate can get on anyone’s nerves. But how we deal with it defines the kind of relationship our puppies will have with the crate. They are only vocalizing to express their distress. If we scold them for it, they will end up feeling frustrated and helpless in the crate.

Letting them be bored

An idle mind is a devil’s workshop. A bored puppy in the crate is a recipe for disaster. It can lead to severe behavioral issues, eventually leading to anxiety. Many a time, puppies may also end up hurting themselves with obsessive and compulsive behaviors inside the crate.

Making a big deal about leaving and coming home

Puppies have a tendency to replicate the energy they are surrounded with. You may have noticed that their energy and excitement levels can go from 0 to 100 in seconds when they see us happy and excited. This can be endearing, but when it comes to a puppy dealing with crate anxiety, come home to them with an overexcited energy may do more harm than good because their happiness to see you combined with their pent up hyper and nervous energy may give rise to anxiety.

Use the crate for several hours at a stretch

Regardless of their size, energy levels, age and ability to settle in the crate, every dog needs a break from being in the crate. Some puppies may be able to go on for a longer time, while some may need breaks more frequently. Make sure to accommodate your puppy’s needs.

Crates can be a blessing in disguise when raising a puppy to be independent, calm, and well mannered. They make excellent training assistants. However, when misused, they can be a bane. The beauty of the crate is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

1. Healthy Socialization and peer learning

Group dog training classes are one of the best places to ensure healthy and safe socialization for your puppy. All puppies that are enrolled in the class are typically updated on their vaccinations, are on leash and are of similar age group. The classes are also closely monitored by qualified trainers who have a keen eye for canine body language and communication. This makes the environment safe and conducive for socialization and learning.

Puppies, learn best through other puppies, for obvious reasons. They have a tendency to watch and replicate behaviors while interacting. Training classes ensure that puppies are learning desirable behaviors from each other.

2. Builds confidence in shy puppies

Different puppies are blessed with different temperaments. Some puppies are born with the natural talent of making friends in a giffy wherever they go. On the other hand, some puppies may be a little more reserved and take time to open up.

In group classes run by qualified trainers, every puppy’s needs are accommodated. Shy puppies are given ample space and time to open up and back off if needed. This is crucial to enable puppies to come out of their shell faster. Furthermore, when they watch and experience other puppies playing with each other, it is an added encouragement to step forward and be a part of the fun.

3. Basic manners

Socialization and basic obedience are two main objectives of group training classes. Every group class has a pre-decided curriculum consisting of basic obedience commands like Sit, down, stay, leave it, leash walking etc. This curriculum is split into 4-6 weeks classes that generally focus on covering one to two cues in each class.

Classes generally run for an entire hour, which may get overwhelming for many. To avoid this, these classes are packed with several exciting and interactive games that act as ice breakers. A good group training class is a lethal combination of fun, games, learning and socialization.

4. Greater involvement of the pet parent

Unlike board and train, group dog training classes require pet parents to be a part of the whole class and practice and each and every command with their puppies. The trainer’s job is to get the ball rolling in terms of introducing the dog the pet parent to new commands and guiding them in case they get stuck while practicing.

Pet parent’s involvement in the dog’s training is a sure shot way to improve communication skills between the two, have more responsiveness and enhance the human-canine bond. Pet parents also get the opportunity to learn about pet advocacy and the importance about speaking up for their pet as and when necessary, an important aspect of responsible pet parenting.

5. Affordability

Group classes are one fourth the cost of private classes. For pet parents who want to focus on basic obedience training, group classes are not only more affordable, but also more beneficial because of the added advantage of socialiation and peer learning that these classes offer.

6. Plethora of options

Different group classes have different focus points. Depending on your training goals for your dog, you can choose from a variety of options such as –

• Basic obedience training – Puppy, intermediate and advanced
• Agility training
• Sniff work
• Therapy dog training
• Service dog training
• Medical detection training
• Search and rescue training
• Police dog training, etc

7. Excellent distraction training

Dogs are fast learners, but they may need some practice before they start generalizing commands. In other words, once they learn to “Sit,” in low distractions, they may have trouble grasping the concept of following through with the same command in the presence of distractions. Group dog training classes are an excellent starting point in teaching dogs to respond and follow through with a range of cues in mild to heavy distractions.

Socialization is not only about making friends and playing with other dogs and people, it is also the ability to ignore these stimuli and focus back on their human when needed. Environment neutrality and distraction training are crucial aspects of dog obedience training.

While group dog training classes offer a range of learning options and benefits, it must be noted that these classes may not be for everyone. Socially anxious dogs, reactive dogs, aggressive dogs, fearful dogs, etc. may not be the right candidates for group learning. They would need a more intensive, one on one approach. Make sure to know your dog’s temperament and needs and accommodate them to the best of your ability, with or without group classes.

1. Take frequent downtime breaks

Downtime allows dogs to process and retain information that they’ve absorbed during the day. It encourages calm behavior and promotes better mental health and well being. Without downtimes, puppies would keep getting overstimulated and hyper with no means to calm themselves down. This may result in undesirable behaviors like excessive vocalization, nipping, jumping etc and may eventually lead to anxiety.

To ensure downtime between longer play sessions, you could crate your dog for a few minutes from time to time, create distance from the exciting stimuli, practice cues like Settle to help your pup calm down faster.

2. Engage in obedience training

The main objective of obedience cues like Stay, settle, down, etc is to help pups behave in a desirable way in day-to-day situations and make it easier for humans to communicate better with them. These cues act as enablers while helping puppy smoothly transition from a hyper state of mind to a calm one.

Next time when your puppy goes out of control displaying hyper behavior, try putting them on a leash and actively engaging them in calming commands. Make sure to reward them for every successful repetition.

3. Reinforce calm behavior through the day

Puppies repeat the behaviors that gets them attention or rewarded in some way. We often ignore our puppies when they are in a naturally calm state of mind because most of our time during the day goes in getting exasperated over undesirable behaviors and correcting them. Unintentionally, we end up fuelling the bad behaviors because those are the ones that get the most attention, leaving the calm behavior disregarded.

To encourage calm behavior through the day, it is imperative for us to proactively mark and reward those behaviors as and when they happen. Eg- if your puppy is sitting inside the crate, not making a sound, just  being a good kid, make sure to verbally praise them and reward them with some treats. Doing so multiple times a day will motivate your dog to be calmer through the day and also enjoy doing so.

4. Provide your pup with ample exercise

Different dog breeds have different exercise needs. 2 walks a day does not for every dog. Some of them need more, much more. Lack of ample exercise is often the cause of hyper behavior.

Recognize your breed’s needs and focus on engaging them in activities accordingly. Eg, Border Collies were bred to be herding dogs and have a lot to offer in terms of energy, intelligence, quickness and resilience. They have strong herding instincts which cannot be fulfilled by walks. Games like agility or sports like Treiball provide them with appropriate outlets to harness their natural instincts.

Attempt to strike a balance between physical and mental stimulation activities to ensure proper enrichment for your dog. A balanced exercise schedule will make sure your puppy grows up into a calm, confident canine.

5. Crate training

Crates make excellent training assist tools. They help build bladder control, they keep puppies safe in the absence of humans, prevent accidents, help puppies settle down faster and prevent destructive behaviors. If used correctly, crates make great spots to optimize downtimes, keep puppies busy while teaching them the art of self engagement.

1. Never force your dog to make friends

Your dog is constantly communicating with you, whether you know it or not. When they are uncomfortable in the presence of another dog, they will generally communicate through body language signals such as

• Avoidance behaviors like looking or walking away
• Communicating calming signals like sniffing the grass as the other dog approaches
• Ears back
• Snarling
• Growling
• Barking while going back and forth
• Tail tucked in

It is crucial to observe and respond to these signs favorably and provide your dog with the space they need from the other dog. Disregarding these signs and forcing the dog to continue the interaction by holding the leash tight, dragging your dog towards the other dog, not walking away at the right time are classic ways to escalate things in no time and push them up the ladder of aggression.

2. No sharing of resources

Possessiveness and the willingness to guard their belongings is instinctive to most dogs. Food, toys, favorite humans are the resources that hold great value in a dog’s mind. It is highly likely for a dog to act differently towards other dogs when there is a resource involved in the scenario.

While training your dog to be social around other animals, make sure to keep all toys, treats, food and any other valuable item out of sight. Do not expect your dog or other dogs to learn to share as that can backfire and may eventually end up in a dog fight.

3. Make sure your dog is comfortable around other dogs

Observing your dog’s body language around other dogs will give you a fair idea if they are willing to interact and play with other dogs. This is the first step towards successful dog to dog socialization. Often times, what we want our dogs to be and who they actually are may not align. During such times, it is imperative to set our expectations aside and respect our dogs’ boundaries.

If your dog exhibits relaxed body language such as soft tail wags, relaxed ears, play bow, etc at the sight of another dog, you can safely say that they are comfortable in their presence. This is a good starting point to take things ahead in terms of play and interaction.

You can also encourage a positive response towards other dogs by teaching your dog to calm down and reward them every time they are successful.

4. Puppy training and socialization classes

Group training classes are a great starting point for training and healthy socialization because the interactions are supervised by a professional. Doggy daycares are also excellent way to make sure your dog is getting their regular dose of dog-to-dog play.

These places are considered to be better than dog parks and play dates at home because of the accountability that these facilities offer.

5. Observe your dog closely

When dogs are roughhousing, it can be tricky to tell if they are having fun or if things are getting worse. Tail wags, mounting, barking, chasing, mouthing, etc. are some common play behaviors that are easily misread.

Here are a couple of ways to ensure healthy socialization between dogs –

• Work on basic obedience cues such as recall, stay, leave it, eye contact etc. with your dog individually and while they are playing so that they can disengage at the drop of a hat.
• Generally speaking, when two dogs are playing with each other, one may be the initiator of play. Make sure to create distance between the dogs from time to time. When you suspect things are getting out of control, hold on to the initiator and create distance. Check the reaction of the other dog. If they choose to walk away, stop the play immediately. If the other dog approaches the initiator, you can let the play continue.

6. The difference between Socialization and desensitization

Socialization essentially means introducing your puppy for the first time to a new stimulus. Socialization aims at establishing a positive reaction towards new experiences and interactions. An example of this would be introducing a puppy to new people for the first time.

On the other hand, if your dog already has an existing emotional response of fear to a stimulus, attempting to change it in order to get the dog to be more comfortable is called desensitization. So, if your dog is aggressive towards other animals, they have a set perception about them. In this case, your dog needs to be desensitized and not socialized.

Make sure to thoroughly understand where your dog stands before attempting to socialize them.

7. Learning to disengage

Learning to disengage before things escalate and being able calm down are both important tactics for your dog to learn in order to stay out of fights and also not start one. Rough and non-stop play can quickly lead into overstimulation. This generally translates into reactivity and hyperactivity in dogs.

A good way to teach your dog to disengage would be to keep the leash on the entire duration of the play and work on a solid recall. You need not hold on to the leash while your dog is playing. It is just a safety and communication tool to bring your dog back to you if they don’t respond to your cues.

Frequent breaks during play will prevent escalations and keep the dogs’ energy levels in control.

Dog socialization entails a whole universe in itself. Dog to dog socialization is just a tiny fragment of it. When training your dog to be comfortable around other dogs, a neutral response, where your dog is able to ignore other dogs and mind their own business, is also a desirable behavior to look out for. This is a sign of a calm, confident canine.

1. Nips certain behavioral issues in the bud

When dogs are not trained to handle independence and separation from a young age, they may end up with behavioral issues like separation anxiety, isolation distress, destructive chewing, whining, barking etc. At times these behavioral issues may escalate to the extent of the dogs hurting themselves.

Crate training when done correctly from an early age teaches puppies to associate the crate with rest and relaxation and cope better on their own. This forms a strong foundation in order to raise a puppy into a calmer and a well-behaved dog. It also prevents issues like isolation distress and separation anxiety from ever taking place.

2. Helps in independence training

Clinginess in puppies stops being cute when it translates in behavioral issues like separation anxiety, boredom, barking, whining etc. The main cause of these issues is deeply rooted in the dog’s inability to be independent. A crate helps in habituating the puppy from a young age to cope with independence and isolation.

When a dog associates the crate with fun and games, he would look forward to stepping into it willingly. Furthermore, being busy with mental enrichment activities inside the crate teaches dogs the art of self engagement. Puzzle toys, interactive games, slow feeders, long-lasting chews, etc. rely less on human involvement and more on the dog’s inclination and ability to interact with them.

3. Aids in potty training

Crate training and potty training have a direct correlation with each other. As a general rule, dogs do not soil where they sleep (unless they have a medical condition or are clueless about their pee/potty spot). Once the dog associates the crate with a resting space, they avoid soiling it. Crate training also helps in preventing potty accidents and promote better bladder control, two of the most important factors in achieving potty training success.

It is also crucial to remember that puppies have a tiny bladder and need to relieve themselves time and again. Thus, locking them in the crate for several hours is a sure shot way for the whole exercise to backfire.

4. Teaches dogs to calm down effectively

Puppies are born with miraculous amounts of energy, more than enough for them to take on the world. Allowing them to engage in boisterous play without giving them enough time to calm down c from time to time can result in hyperactivity and overstimulation. This usually translates into behaviors like excessive jumping, biting, nipping etc.

Crating a dog after extended (or even shorter duration of) play can help dogs take an effective breather. This is essential in making sure that their hyperactivity is not leading to anxiety or other behavioral issues. The confined safe of the crate enables puppies to self-soothe and helps them be comfortable with confinement.

5. Keeps your pup safe

Dogs are one of the most accident-prone pets. Their curiosity and playfulness often lead them into trouble. They can go from playing with something to choking on the same thing in a matter of seconds. For this reason, it is highly risky to give them free range of the house without supervision.

Crates act as safety schools when you are not around to supervise your fur baby. Depending on the resources made available to them in there, crates can help keep a dog engaged for short to long periods of time. A dog in a crate is a sure shot way to a pet parent’s peace of mind that they are okay when left alone.

6. Helps dogs settle down faster in new places

It is a living being’s natural survival instinct to try and find familiarity in unfamiliar places. Dogs who feel comfortable in crates are able to settle down in new places faster than dogs who aren’t comfortable in confinement. This is because these dogs have grown up forming a positive association of safety and relaxation with crates. This association helps them settle in faster in newer in places like pet sitters’ home, boarding facility etc.

On the other hand, dogs who get anxious in crates take a longer time to settle down in newer places. This is because they have a negative association with the only thing that is supposed to make them feel safe.

7. Makes travel safer

Not all dogs are born with an inclination to ride in vehicles. Unfortunately, a lot of them get car sick and are miserable in moving vehicles. Constant moving around and whining at the back seat or passenger seat by a dog that is not in his crate can cause serious disruption to the driver and can be downright dangerous. It can be tempting to let an anxious dog rest their head on your lap, but it may do more harm than good as their safety may be at stake.

Crating the dog during car rides can help improve overall travel safety. A dog in the crate has no other option but to settle down. This can help reduce car sickness. game changer in your dog’s training journey.