Crate Training - Misconceptions of "the cage"

In my experiences as a Trainer, I come across dogs with all sorts of issues - destructive behaviour, separation anxiety, aggression and even injuries that require rehabilitation assistance. To name just a few.
In many of these situations I often ask "is your dog crate trained?" and more often than not, I get a look of horror like I just asked "do you throw your dog in a cupboard all day?" with a curt "No, we don't want to lock our dog in a cage."

I empathise. The first time I went to a friend's house and they had a dog in a crate all I could think was "that poor dog, locked up in that small pen". Until I found out the dog had just undergone major surgery and had to be confined for it's own health. So okay, that is one situation. Here are a few more:

1) You have an extremely hyperactive dog who has not completed obedience successfully (yet), and your friends asks you to babysit their kids tonight. You want to help, but what to do when you know Doggy is going to jump on them and possibly cause injury?
2) Your dog has major separation anxiety. Every time you leave the room, let alone the house, the dog gets into a frenzy and destroys your couch, your bed, your valuable teddy bear that your deceased Nanna gave to you at birth
3) Every time you need to take Doggy in the car to the vet, the kennels, the groomer, he gets into such a frenzy that at some point he will most likely cause you to have a car accident
4) You have introduced excitable little puppy into old boys house. He showing grumpiness as puppy will never leave him alone (and all you can hear is Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon saying "I'm too old for this
sh!t")
 - While I could give more examples, I think (hope) you catch my drift.. there are definite advantages of having a dog that is trained to be comfortable and content to be in a crate for a period of time.

Dogs (being descendants of wolves) often like to have their own space where they can relax - a space that is theirs where they can be left alone. Their hideaway. Their own bedroom/haven so to speak.

If you were to introduce a dog to a crate with POSITIVE experiences the whole way, do you think the dog would still believe it was an evil cage? Hell no! We can create the type of experience the dog associates with that crate, one that is positive, one where they would choose to relax inside, rather than taking over your couch.



So how to we do it? Like with all dog training, with patience and allowing the dog to make the right choice that will benefit them. 
As an example, lets say you hate emptying the dishwasher. Like that is the. worst. job. ever. 
If I gave you $50 bucks every time you emptied the dishwasher, would you do it? Would that make it more appealing than if I gave you absolutely nothing if you sat on the couch? Of course! 
So, if we gave your dog a treat every time he entered the crate, and no treats any other time, do you think that may entice them to go in? I would be willing to bet that $50 on it.

The key is, slow steps. You don't throw a biscuit in the crate, and as soon as the dog enters you shut the door and walk away.. hell no! We introduce it slowly.

When you're ready to introduce your dog and/or puppy to crate training, contact us and we can come and show you a step by step method to success and creating a positive experience for both you and your dog.
We look forward to being a part of your dog's evolution.