MARFa Dog Training

To train your dog to go into his crate, put a few treats in the back of it. When he goes in for the treats, praise him. Don’t shut the door. If he won’t go all the way in for the treats, put them just inside the door. After a few times of going in and coming out, shut the door with the dog inside for just a few seconds. Open the door and praise him. Let the dog get used to being confined by slowly increasing the time he is inside with the door closed. When he is comfortable going in and out of the crate, add a command like, “crate” or “go to bed” when he goes inside. Don’t use the crate to punish the dog. He should associate it only with comfortable things.

Crates are useful, but unfortunately, they are sometimes used as long-term confinement. Too often a dog is crated for his entire life as a substitute for training. Crating any dog in a portable kennel, but especially a puppy, for eight hours per day and expecting him to be happy is unrealistic not to mention cruel! If you must crate your dog, arrange for him to have out-of-crate-breaks with exercise and play, provide stimulating toys in the crate, and give him something to chew away any frustration. Crating should be temporary until your dog has learned enough manners to be trusted alone in the house. Then, unless you install a doggie door or train your dog to paper or to a litter box, you still should arrange for your dog to relieve himself outdoors and have a brief playtime.

Why is confinement for eight hours too long? Simply put, eight hours in a crate is too long for a puppy for the same reason that eight hours in a crate would be too long for you. It is tedious, boring and lonely. A puppy will need to potty during those eight hours and cannot hold it. Social isolation and sensory deprivation contribute to behavior problems. To a curious and active puppy, eight hours of being locked up can be frustrating and distressing. A common problem described by owners when a puppy is finally released from the crate is that "he goes nuts.”  The puppy is so excited and hyperactive that the owner resorts to punishment (verbal or physical) to make the puppy settle down. It can become a vicious cycle of confinement, isolation, frustration, hyper-excitability, punishment, confinement, isolation. Both the dog and the owner are frustrated.

Adult dogs with nothing to do will usually sleep for hours during the day, but a puppy crated for eight hours is bored, no matter how many toys you put in the crate. Puppies need attention and a variety of stimuli. Dogs are social animals and need contact with other dogs or humans to be well-balanced, happy, good canine citizens. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand the needs of puppies before they acquire them. If you are unable to come home during the day to let the puppy out, or do not have a trusted person who can do it for you, and cannot afford a puppy day care, then it is important that the remainder of the day be spent training, exercising and playing with the puppy. If the puppy is crated at night in addition to during the day, the total number of hours of confinement is well over eight hours. 

Many dogs are left alone and crated for eight hours or more every day. That doesn’t mean it the best choice or in the best interest of the dogs. Locking your dog in a crate should be a temporary measure to keep your dog and your belongings safe in the house until he is trained and can be trusted alone.

Barking  Barking is part of the “language” of dogs. Dogs bark during play, to greet us, to get our attention, to warn us of intruders, out of boredom or frustration, to keep others away from them and because they are afraid. 

Attention Seeking or “Hey, You!”:  Barking at you or other people to get your attention. Your dog might want you to feed him or, pet or play with because he is bored.  Attention barking is reinforced whenever you give your dog the attention he seeks, even if that attention is telling him to SHUT UP! 

Excitement or “Glad to See You!”:  Barking as a greeting to familiar people at the door.  Some dogs bark a greeting because they are happy and excited that we are home.  This type of barking is usually accompanied by panting sounds, a relaxed, open mouth ”happy face”, and low, wagging tail.

Territorial or “Intruder Alert”:  Barking at people or other animals when they walk near what your dog considers to be his territory. You might see this type of barking when someone walks by your house or yard, or when a delivery person or even an invited guest, comes your the door.  This is normal dog behavior and some dogs are just naturally better watch dogs than others.  Preventing a dog from barking to let you know when someone or something has invaded their space can be challenge because the barking is reinforced every time an “intruder” goes away. 

Distance Increasing or “Stay Away!”:  Barking at people, animals, objects or noises in an effort to keep them at a distance from the dog.  Dogs who are barking out of fear bark standing still or leaning back slightly.  They tuck their tails and usually back away from what they are barking at.  When the dog no longer feels threatened, he stops barking.  Dogs who are not afraid, bark while leaning forward slightly. Their tails are up and may or may not be wagging. They move toward what they are barking at.  

Anxiety or “Maybe Something Terrible is About To Happen”:  Barking and whining usually accompanied by signs of stress such as panting and pacing, often by dogs who are home alone and have separation anxiety.   It sounds differently than attention barking and can usually be distinguished from attention seeking if signs of stress begins prior to your departure, destructive chewing occurs at doors and windows and your housetrained dog eliminates in the house when you are gone. 

 Loose Leash Walking