Keys to Successful Dog Training #3

Keys to Successful Dog Training #3

Welcome to this week’s blog in our series about the Keys to Successful Dog Training.  We have already discussed the first two keys, motivation and attitude.  Now I want to give you the next key: Providing a Controlled Environment.  By that I mean a ‘den’ where your dog feels safe and protected.  When you give them this safe place, they have a better shot at feeling calm and confident.

Part of a calm, safe environment means giving them order.  To a dog that means they have a designated place to eat, sleep/chill out and go potty.  One of the first things I look for when I start In Home Training is to be sure the dog has these things in place. Usually clients do a great job of setting up a designated place to feed their dog, attempt potty training but for some reason giving their dog a forever ‘den’ causes a challenge.  Dogs need a den, a smaller space to crawl into to sleep and relax in.  I recommend a crate or a laundry/mud room.  The dog’s bed should be in there along with anything else that they love to keep close (e.g. a favorite toy).

Clients embrace the crate at first because they look at it as part of potty training.  But after that is done they oftentimes remove the crate or stop taking the dog to the mud/laundry room and give

them the run of the house. In a short amount of time they notice changes in their dog’s behavior and wonder what has changed.   What you need to realize is that when you removed their safe space, you caused your dog stress and their less than desirable behaviors are telling you this.  Your dog will never outgrow the need for a ‘den’ just like you will always enjoy sleeping in your bedroom.

It’s fun to go on trips, right?  You get to experience new places and see/learn new things.  But then there is that moment when you walk in your front door.  The familiar smells and surroundings, including your own bed and pillow.  Ahhh, when you lay your head on your pillow you might even utter the words, ‘there’s no place like home’.  Your dog feels the same way.  They will always want that familiar place to lay their head.

In addition to a den, if you happen to live in a larger home you can consider restricting your dog to certain areas of your home.  I did this 20 years ago in a previous home.  We installed electric fence wiring in our floors to keep our dogs in the kitchen, family room and mudroom.  At that time, it was pretty cutting edge, but I have seen more people doing this and it works.

Does this make sense?  I sure hope so.  Embrace the den for your dog’s lifetime.  Everyone will be happier!

Happy Training!

Julie