Training Resources
Invest in Your Dog's Future with Training
Paws Rescue League believes that training is a valuable investment in your dog's future.
Paws Rescue League believes that training is a valuable investment in your dog's future.
Discover the numerous benefits of dog training, including:
- Bonding: Strengthen your relationship with your dog.
- Behavioral Training: Address unwanted behaviors and develop good habits.
- Socialization: Help your dog interact confidently with people, dogs, and new environments.
- Mental Stimulation: Challenge and engage your dog's mind.
- Safety: Reduce the risk of accidents and unwanted behaviors.
Crate Training
Crate training is a valuable tool for dog owners, offering benefits like easier supervision, prevention of mischief, and housetraining assistance. However, it's essential to introduce the crate gradually, over several weeks or more, considering your dog's age, temperament, and previous experiences. Young dogs, in particular, have limited bladder and bowel control, requiring alternative safe spaces when you're unavailable. By understanding these factors and adjusting crate time accordingly, you'll set your dog up for successful crate training and a lifetime of positive habits.
Step 1: Introduce your dog to the crate
Step 1: Introduce your dog to the crate
- To introduce your dog to a crate, start by placing it in a high-traffic area like the family room or kitchen. Add a soft sleeping blanket or towel to make the space inviting. Next, bring your dog to the crate, speaking in an excited and happy tone of voice. Be sure to securely fasten the crate door open to prevent accidental closure, which could frighten your dog.
- Drop treats around the crate, starting just inside the door and gradually moving them all the way inside. This will entice your dog to follow the treats and explore the crate. Remember to let your dog enter the crate at their own pace, and don't force them if they're hesitant.
- If your dog isn't motivated by food, try tossing a favorite toy into the crate instead. This process can vary in duration, taking anywhere from a few minutes to several days. Be patient and consistent, and your dog will learn to feel comfortable and confident entering the crate.
- To further strengthen your dog's positive association with the crate, incorporate mealtime into the training process. Begin by feeding your dog near the crate, then gradually move their dish closer to the back of the crate with each meal. As your dog becomes comfortable eating inside the crate, you can close the door while they're eating.
- First, start by releasing them immediately after finishing their meal, praising them, and letting them out. Gradually increase the time they spend in the crate after meals, up to 10 minutes. If your dog begins to whine, it may be a sign that you've increased the time too quickly, so try a shorter duration next time. It's essential to release your dog from the crate when they're calm and not whining or barking, as releasing them while they're vocalizing can create unwanted associations.
- Once your dog is comfortably eating meals in the crate without showing any signs of fear or anxiety, you can begin confining them there for short periods while you're at home. To make this process smooth, establish a command like "crate" to signal your dog to enter. You can encourage them to do so by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand.
- Reward them with a treat and close the door once they enter the crate. Sit quietly near the crate for 5-10 minutes, then leave the room for a few minutes. When you return, sit quietly again for a short time before releasing your dog. Repeat this process several times a day, gradually increasing the duration your dog spends in the crate and the time you're out of sight. Once your dog can calmly remain in the crate for about 30 minutes, you can begin leaving them crated for short periods when you're away, and even letting them sleep there at night.
Managing Whining:
If your dog whines or cries while in the crate at night, it can be challenging to determine whether they need to be let out of the crate or if they need to eliminate. Initially, try ignoring the whining for several minutes, as your dog may stop if they're just testing boundaries. If the whining persists, repeat the phrase you've associated with going outside to eliminate. If your dog responds and becomes excited, take them outside for a quick, purposeful trip, avoiding playtime to help them settle back into the crate.
If you're convinced that your dog doesn't need to eliminate, it's essential to ignore the whining completely. Responding to the whining, even if it's to punish the behavior, can inadvertently reinforce it, as your dog is getting attention from you. Be prepared for the whining to worsen before it improves, as your dog may initially increase the whining in an attempt to get a reaction. If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to restart the crate training process from the beginning to establish a stronger foundation.
What to avoid when crate training:
If your dog whines or cries while in the crate at night, it can be challenging to determine whether they need to be let out of the crate or if they need to eliminate. Initially, try ignoring the whining for several minutes, as your dog may stop if they're just testing boundaries. If the whining persists, repeat the phrase you've associated with going outside to eliminate. If your dog responds and becomes excited, take them outside for a quick, purposeful trip, avoiding playtime to help them settle back into the crate.
If you're convinced that your dog doesn't need to eliminate, it's essential to ignore the whining completely. Responding to the whining, even if it's to punish the behavior, can inadvertently reinforce it, as your dog is getting attention from you. Be prepared for the whining to worsen before it improves, as your dog may initially increase the whining in an attempt to get a reaction. If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to restart the crate training process from the beginning to establish a stronger foundation.
What to avoid when crate training:
- Don't yell or pound on the crate if they are whining, because this will likely make it worse.
- Don't give in when the whining or behavior gets worse! Your dog is throwing a temper tantrum which you don't want to reinforce by giving them what they want.
- Don't use the crate as a punishment for bad behavior. Again, you want to associate the crate with only good things so your dog is happy to use the crate.
House Training
Whether you're housetraining a puppy or an adult dog, these simple guidelines will help you get started.
Schedule regular potty breaks:
To establish a consistent potty routine, take your dog outside on a leash once an hour. Stay outside with your dog until they use the bathroom, which may take 5-10 minutes. When your dog goes to the bathroom, be sure to praise them and give them a treat to reinforce good behavior.
Supervise or confine:
It's crucial to supervise your dog at all times, especially during the training process. A hands-free leash is a great tool for keeping an eye on your dog while still having your hands free. When you can't supervise your dog, crating them in a kennel is an effective way to prevent accidents and reinforce good habits.
Young puppies:
When crating a young puppy, it's essential to consider their age and bladder control. A general rule of thumb is to crate your puppy for a maximum of their age in months plus one. For example, a three-month-old puppy can be crated for up to four hours. If you need to leave your puppy alone for longer periods, create a dog-safe environment, such as a small bathroom or kitchen, or an exercise pen with a crate, water, toys, and a designated potty area.
While containing your dog's messes to a specific area can be convenient, it's essential to remember that this approach can actually delay the process of teaching your dog to use the bathroom outside. By allowing your dog to use the bathroom inside, even in a designated area, you may prolong the outdoor training process.
Interrupt, don't punish:
When dealing with accidents during housetraining, it's essential to approach the situation in a positive and constructive manner. Avoid punishing your dog for mistakes, including yelling "No!", as this can lead to fear and teach them to hide their accidents. Instead, if you catch your dog having an accident, interrupt them by gently clapping your hands and saying "Outside!", then immediately take them to the designated potty area. If you discover a mess after the fact, simply clean it up without making a fuss and make sure to confine your dog when unattended to prevent future accidents.
Reward appropriate behavior:
To reinforce good potty habits, it's essential to reward your dog immediately after they eliminate outside. Always bring treats when taking your dog out to go potty, and keep them on a leash to ensure they're close to you. As your dog is going potty, verbally praise them, and the moment they finish, reward them with a treat. Timing is crucial, as you want your dog to associate the reward with eliminating outside, not with coming back inside.
Cleaning up a mess:
To prevent repeat accidents in the same spot, it's crucial to thoroughly clean up messes using an enzyme-based cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle. These cleaners break down organic matter, eliminating lingering scents and residue that might attract your dog to the same spot again. By removing these triggers, you can help your dog forget the area and reduce the likelihood of repeat accidents.
Schedule regular potty breaks:
To establish a consistent potty routine, take your dog outside on a leash once an hour. Stay outside with your dog until they use the bathroom, which may take 5-10 minutes. When your dog goes to the bathroom, be sure to praise them and give them a treat to reinforce good behavior.
Supervise or confine:
It's crucial to supervise your dog at all times, especially during the training process. A hands-free leash is a great tool for keeping an eye on your dog while still having your hands free. When you can't supervise your dog, crating them in a kennel is an effective way to prevent accidents and reinforce good habits.
Young puppies:
When crating a young puppy, it's essential to consider their age and bladder control. A general rule of thumb is to crate your puppy for a maximum of their age in months plus one. For example, a three-month-old puppy can be crated for up to four hours. If you need to leave your puppy alone for longer periods, create a dog-safe environment, such as a small bathroom or kitchen, or an exercise pen with a crate, water, toys, and a designated potty area.
While containing your dog's messes to a specific area can be convenient, it's essential to remember that this approach can actually delay the process of teaching your dog to use the bathroom outside. By allowing your dog to use the bathroom inside, even in a designated area, you may prolong the outdoor training process.
Interrupt, don't punish:
When dealing with accidents during housetraining, it's essential to approach the situation in a positive and constructive manner. Avoid punishing your dog for mistakes, including yelling "No!", as this can lead to fear and teach them to hide their accidents. Instead, if you catch your dog having an accident, interrupt them by gently clapping your hands and saying "Outside!", then immediately take them to the designated potty area. If you discover a mess after the fact, simply clean it up without making a fuss and make sure to confine your dog when unattended to prevent future accidents.
Reward appropriate behavior:
To reinforce good potty habits, it's essential to reward your dog immediately after they eliminate outside. Always bring treats when taking your dog out to go potty, and keep them on a leash to ensure they're close to you. As your dog is going potty, verbally praise them, and the moment they finish, reward them with a treat. Timing is crucial, as you want your dog to associate the reward with eliminating outside, not with coming back inside.
Cleaning up a mess:
To prevent repeat accidents in the same spot, it's crucial to thoroughly clean up messes using an enzyme-based cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle. These cleaners break down organic matter, eliminating lingering scents and residue that might attract your dog to the same spot again. By removing these triggers, you can help your dog forget the area and reduce the likelihood of repeat accidents.