Crate training older dog separation anxiety
The basic rule of
crate training is that you should never force your puppy into or out of the crate
The second basic rule is to make crate training a positive experience for your dog.
Choosing the best Crate For Your Canine
To begin with, please make sure you have the perfect type and size of crate for your best friend.
Crates For Potty Training Older Dogs
If your haven't purchased a dog crate yet there are two important factors to take into consideration
- crate should be easy to clean up
- crate shouldn't be too big for your dog
Crates choices
In case that your dog is house-trained and he is not a chewer then a popular crate for this case is a plastic model which is cheaper and more practical choice however wire crate is also a good option.
In the market you can find crate furniture’, which are crates that designed to look nice in any room of the house and some times could be nicer than furniture.
Actually, some of them are nicer than the furniture I have in my living room right now!
There are several types of looks as well as different materials such as wood with higher prices.
How To Crate Train A Dog or Senior Dog
In this
post I am assuming that your senior dog hasn’t been train crated before.
First things first: Introducing
the crate to your canine
Many dogs
love their crate and they are happily going into them to take a nap or rest.
But…
This
cannot happen from the beginning of course.
In case
your dog has never being crated then you should start slowly
The whole
procedure might take from few days to few weeks or months because each dog is
different.
If you
don’t want your dog to have negative feeling for the crate then don’t push him
into it.
In
contrast make this training as positive as possible by throwing a tasty treat
into the crate.
Your dog naturally will go into the crate to eat it. Repeat
many times and then go outside to make another activity and come back after
half an hour and keep throwing treats till your dog is going into the crate
without any anxiety signs or fear.
Another
useful tip is feeding his meal in the crate. Normally
he will eat the food without any problems.
Once your dog
happily goes in the crate start throwing also some chow toys and start closing
the door for some seconds.
While he
is in give a second treat through the wired door and praise him by saying 'good doggy'. After some seconds let him out.
Repeat
this exercise many times a day and gradually increase the amount of time you leave
the crate’s dog open.
Remember
that whenever the door is close you should move away slowly till he feels comfortable staying in the crate for some period of time.
When your
reach the point that he can stay in the crate for several hours or he is taking
a nap then you have reached your first success training stage.
Moreover
it is a matter of crate your dog in a positive manner Remember that crate is making life easier for both the dog and the owner.
Do you want him to potty train also… keep reading.
Most important part of
crate training an older or senior dog is to avoid potty accidents and learn to
eliminate in a certain potty area. If you can achieve this then your dog has completed 99.9% of the training.
What you need to do?
Follow some simple steps:
First and foremost rule is don’t crate a dog more
than he can ‘hold it’. Senior and
puppies usually can hold for half an hour.
Every dog needs time out to go potty , pee,
exercise or play with their owners.
Very important…
Make sure to keep on eye in all time for accidents
when dog is not in crate and take him to the designated potty area.
But:
If he is roaming free in the house his
den-instinct will not work which means
he might potty anywhere.
Unfortunately, you need to stick on him and watch every move to identify body language signs that indicates he need to potty.
Unfortunately, you need to stick on him and watch every move to identify body language signs that indicates he need to potty.
Many potty training accidents might slow down the training and confuse him.
Stick on a schedule since dogs enjoy having routines such as meal time, play time sleep time e.t.c. With this way they feel safer.
Usually dogs enjoy crate but sometimes and some
cases dogs need some extra minutes being with their loved ones before they go
in the crate.
In some cases dogs might decide to go for a walk at crate time. Well don’t let this happen. Dogs need to have boundaries to be happy.
Soon your dog will learn that good things happens when you decide.
BUT
keep reading because this is not always the case and when you have a
senior dog who is suffering from separation anxiety and easily scared, and he gets hysterical then you need to re check your strategy.
Crate Training An Senior Dog program
Make sure your canine has plenty of free play time
before crated. Create a routine that feeds better for your needs.
Important rule:
Never crate a dog more than 8 hours (max) on a
period of one day.
Keep in mind that even a trained old dog can have
problems controlling his bladder for long period of time.
In case your dog is very anxious you can use a pen area as a potty training method.
If your training tool is a crate for a senior dog
then keeping a schedule will make your life easier:
Morning – as soon as your dog wakes up take him outside to
pee or poop.
Give your dog time to finish since not all dogs are
the same.
Then take him back to crate till you have
breakfast.
After breakfast take him for a second round. Some exercise might
help to poop faster.
After he is done bring him indoor for some free
time but watch him carefully for accidents.
You take him immediately out if:
·
He is sniffing intensively
·
Circling
·
Sniffing
behind the sofa or under the table.
Middle-morning: Let him outside to potty and then crate him by leaving
a chew toy inside.
After-lunch :Potty break, together with some
exercise or play.
In case of an old dog keep taking him for a small walks so that you keep his joints flexible.
Then inside with some free time. You can let him in
a Pen close area to play with his toys.
Remember to look for potty signs
Late-afternoon: potty break then crate
time or pen area
Evening: potty break, then give him his meal. After that one more time
for potty break.
Then its up to you how you want to spent time with
your dog like free time watching TV. Just keep an eye on him…you know why...
Before bed: Most important, take him for potty before sleep make
sure Fido has a potty break before everyone goes to bed.
Most
of adult
dogs can hold it overnight,
but some senior canines may
need a to potty during the night.
Try ‘Tethering’ If you are moving from
room to room by a long leash attached on your cloths so he follows you
everywhere and in this way you can keep an eye on him for accidents.
Below are some extra training tips you can try.
1. Start with letting your dog for just some seconds in the crate at a time and at the same time use tasty treats and a lot of praise.
Gradually increase time for the first week until eventually he/she can stay in for more than a minute.
2. Give meals in the crate. Soon he will quickly run in
while you are leaving your house and let him enjoy a frozen Kong.
3. Try always go potty first before putting your dog in the crate.
4. When you are about to take him out of the crate wait for him/her to calm down and be in quiet behavior before approaching and open the door.
4. When you are about to take him out of the crate wait for him/her to calm down and be in quiet behavior before approaching and open the door.
6. During the night you can cover the crate with a
sheet while he sleeps. It seems to help your dog staying asleep longer.
7. Play with your pet outside the crate for a while and get him tired so he loose some energy. Then put him in the crate as soon as he start to fall asleep.
8. Lock the crate's door with food inside and leave his favorite toys in there as well. Don't open the door till he is really interested and want to be inside. This way the crate is the 'treat'. After he goes in the crate you can close it while he is playing. This method creates positive associations with the crate!
9. Put your dog near you in another room so he can hear you talking or watching TV etc. It will help him to fall asleep.
10. Try this game with your dog. You throw a treat inside the crate, and say, in your crate! Dog will go in and eat the treat. After that you say, Out! and give a treat to your dog as soon as he comes to you. Do this dozens of times a day.
12.Try ‘Tethering’ If you are moving from room to room by a long leash attached on your cloths so he follows you everywhere and in this way you can keep an eye on him for accidents.
Good Luck!
7. Play with your pet outside the crate for a while and get him tired so he loose some energy. Then put him in the crate as soon as he start to fall asleep.
8. Lock the crate's door with food inside and leave his favorite toys in there as well. Don't open the door till he is really interested and want to be inside. This way the crate is the 'treat'. After he goes in the crate you can close it while he is playing. This method creates positive associations with the crate!
9. Put your dog near you in another room so he can hear you talking or watching TV etc. It will help him to fall asleep.
10. Try this game with your dog. You throw a treat inside the crate, and say, in your crate! Dog will go in and eat the treat. After that you say, Out! and give a treat to your dog as soon as he comes to you. Do this dozens of times a day.
12.Try ‘Tethering’ If you are moving from room to room by a long leash attached on your cloths so he follows you everywhere and in this way you can keep an eye on him for accidents.
Good Luck!
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