Can Crate Training Help With Correcting Unwanted Dog Behaviour

Is crate training for you?

I regularly receive enquiries from clients with serious behavioural problems with their dogs and puppies. Many of the times owners have allowed behaviour to get out of control.

If puppy foundations are instilled into your routine from the day you collect your puppy, many dog behavioural problems can be avoided. I use a crate for all my dogs throughout their lives. Not only does it allow me to toilet train my puppies within 24 hours, it ensures my dogs are safe from the hazards around my home. Most importantly, crate training ensures routine, structure and boundaries are established from day one.

If you own an older dog, which hasn’t been crate trained, then sometimes a crate is a necessity to correct unwanted behaviour. When you use a crate with an older dog, you may experience some resistance, which may be vocal. This has been experienced by a new clients on one of my behavioural modification programmes. They have two Cocker Spaniels and while the older Cocker was crate trained at first, he was then allowed free rein in the house. With the arrival of a puppy, the older dog’s unwanted behaviour now includes resource guarding and aggression. This is all down to inconsistencies with training.

If you crate train your dog, there is no reason why they can’t use the crate throughout the lives. Alternatively, you can create a small area with the dog’s bed that they know is the place for them. As a result, you take away the opportunity for a lot of unwanted behaviour, for instance, climbing on furniture.

If you are experiencing behavioural issues with your dogs that mean your life revolves around them, then I can help. Start the year as you mean to go on and contact me about behaviour modification today.

Posted: January 4, 2023