Crate Conditioning

Use a crate to help create a calm dog when you are not home, scheduled rest periods, as well as a safe place to put your dog when the situation is too stressful for them while they are getting settled in their new home.

Many newly adopted dogs have not been taught to go potty while on leash or may hold their pee or poop, for a few days and even fr a week until they are comfortable in the new environment.

Crate training is one of the most effective ways to house train your dog, Most dogs like to keep their areas clean and the crate helps teach them to hold their pee and poop.

Be consistent on the times you take the your dog out to go potty, try and have a set schedule. You can take your dog out more often,

There are certain times each day that are a given that your dog should go out, such as:

First thing in the morning
Before you go to sleep at night
Right after they wake up from a long nap
About 15-20 minutes after mealtime (puppies)
After a training or play session
As soon as you get home

Potty Training

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The “10 Minutes In 10 Minutes Out” system

First thing in the morning, take your dog outside for about 10 mins for a potty walk. Let them sniff and smell. If your dog doesn't go, then take them back home and put them dog back in their crate. Wait 10-15 mins and take your dog back out. Repeat this process until they relieve themselves. When your dog does potty outside, reward with praise and treats or their food.

After your dog has gone potty outside, it's usually safe to let them roam around while you are watching them. If you notice your dog circling or starting to sniff the floor, take them right outside to go potty.

Use the "Umbilical Cord" technique.

With your “House Leash,” a light "small dog” leash, to tether your dog to you so you can keep watch over them and set them up for success. If you feel them pulling away, maybe towards the door, or start sniffing the floor and circling, take them right out. This will allow you to catch every opportunity to teach them where to go potty.

For Puppies

After your puppy has gone potty outside, it's usually safe to let them roam around while you are watching them for short periods, maybe 20 minutes to start. If you notice your puppy circling or starting to sniff the floor in the home, pick them up and take them outside to go potty. Once they have learned to hold it, you can walk them on a leash.

I recommend using what we like to call the "umbilical cord" technique. This means tethering your puppy to you so you can keep watch over them. It can also teach them to relax with the leash on and stay by you and monitor and set them up for success. If you feel them pulling away, maybe towards where the wee-wee pad used to be, the door or start smelling and circling, take them right out. Allowing you to catch every opportunity to teach them where to go potty.

> Also for puppies, here is a great blog post my friend Sarah Dixon-Fulcher wrote on Puppy Nipping

The Crate Game

Here is a video playing Crate games with June

Have going into the crate a great thing, throw a treat into the crate, and when your dog goes in mark with "Yes" or a click and reward when your dog goes all the way in giving your dog a few more treats as a "Jackpot". When exiting the crate, slowly open the door and don't let your dog rush out marking and rewarding calm behavior. Start using the crate at other times, not just bedtime. Remember to walk by mark and reward, being in there will be the best place to be. Put tasty Kongs in there at other times, and when he's not looking hide treats too. When your dog goes in mark it with a click or "Yes" and give your dog plenty of verbal praise calmly.

All good things come from the crate, so any bully sticks, or high-value chews, and all meals come in the crate with the door closed.

Homework and Next Steps:

Phase One - No Words

Start with 5 to 6 pieces of their food, or if needed a higher value treat.

Toss one piece of food/treat into the back of the crate.
When your dog has 4 paws in the crate mark, with a Clicker or a Verbal “Yes” marker
Have 3 pieces of food/treats ready, and wait for your dog to turn around,
Rapid reinforce the dog staying in by marking with a Clicker or a Verbal “Yes” then toss a piece of food/treat into the front of the crate opening.
Right away repeat step 4 two more times.
When your dog is waiting to come out of the crate, take a piece of food/treat in place on its nose or mouth
Toss the piece of food/treat out of the crate so your dog runs after it.
When your dog has 4 paws outside of the crate mark with a Clicker or a Verbal “Yes” marker.
Repeat this at least three times when practicing.

Phase Two - Add The Cues

This is the same as Phase 1 except you’re adding a cue/word for going in the cue/word for going out.

Decide on cue to go into the crate such as “Kennel”, “Home”, “Office”, “Crate”. And decide on a cue to be released out the crate that will be your dogs’ release cue for all behaviors such as “OK, “Free” or what I recommend and use “Break”. It doesn’t matter what words you use for cues as long as you’re being consistent. Have fun with them.

Once your dog will go all the way into the crate consistently you can move to this stage.

Say your cue, and then toss a piece of food/treat into the back of the crate.
When your dog has 4 paws in the crate mark, with a Clicker or a Verbal “Yes” marker.
Have 3 pieces of food/treats ready, and wait for your dog to turn around,
Rapid reinforce the dog staying in by marking with a Clicker or a Verbal “Yes” then toss a piece of food/treat into the front of the crate opening.
Right away repeat step 4 two more times.
Say your cue and then toss a piece of food/treat out of the crate so your dog runs after it.
When your dog has 4 paws outside of the crate mark with a Clicker or a Verbal “Yes” marker.
Repeat this at least three times when practicing.

Phase Three - Fade the Food

After you have practiced “Phase Two” for a few weeks, you can move to this stage. It might take longer for many dogs.

Start the exercise the same as in “Phase Two” for two repetitions,
On the third repetition motion like you are tossing the food and DO NOT toss the food
When your dog has 4 paws in the crate mark, with a Clicker or a Verbal “Yes” marker
Wait for your dog to turn around, then reward with a Jackpot, a handful of food, or treats.
Over time only rewards one piece of food/treat, when they turn around.
Do the same with releasing from the crate.
take your time with the over the next 2-4 weeks then you can start trying with just the cue. But do not rush it.

Crate Games & Fearful Dogs

If your dog is afraid to go into the crate:

Ramona has issues with going into the crate, and she always has hated the crate. To help her, we took it very slowly.

Here’s a video clip of how we started helping Dougie by opening the back of a wire crate.

Here is Maja, who is a bit fearful of her crate practicing crate games as well.

If your dog is afraid to come out of the crate

For many fearful dogs, a crate is their safe place and it can be difficult to get them to come out, especially when you are still building trust. Here we are helping Oso

For many dogs when I teach Crate Games the goal is to have them go in and stay until released, with a fearful dog such as Oso it was more the opposite as he was more comfortable in the crate as it's is a safe place and he is in his honeymoon period and learning to trust his humans and the new environment.

Remember the stages of learning, that are on the “How Dogs Learn” page.
Be patient and take your time, practice makes perfect

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