How to Help your Dog Feel Comfortable in a Kennel & How to Start to Teach a Bed Cue!

Crate Training 

1. Lure Fido in the crate with a treat to begin, toss the treat in and say “ in your house” once Fido is in, treat Fido well and then release Fido out by saying “all done” do this with the door open at first, moving to have the door closed and then locked
2. Use a high rate of reward( treat frequently) while Fido is in the crate, or give a chew or bone while they are in there, once the food stops completely ( pausing during treating is good practice), Fido comes out of the kennel. Once Fido is out, no more treats.
3. Build up the amount of time Fido is created, with rewards, while you are there, doing all sorts of activities, near the kennel. 
4. Once Fido can stay in the kennel for a solid hour while you are home, move to leaving the room, then the house. 
5. To prevent separation anxiety, give Fido treat before leaving the room or the house and wait until Fido is quiet and calm to let them out of the crate and have a low key hello. If Fido is really struggling to calm down, offer them a pee break ON leash or a drink of water and then put them right back in the crate with reward again, and then let them out for freedom once they are calm and quiet for at least 30 seconds, if they can't calm down, let Nadia know. 
6. The biggest thing with crate training is that the kennel is a positive place, feed meals in there, treats, chews, bones, only good things happen in the crate. Low key hellos are important too, and pairing you leaving with food. But another huge factor is making sure Fido has enough brain stimulation while alone. Brain games, toys, food puzzles, and things of that sort can really help. As well as calming music and a comfy bed and maybe a blanket that smells like mum or dad!

Bed Cue

1. Find a portable bed, that’s is large enough for Fido's whole body
2. Toss treats on bed and tell Fido “go to your bed” if you want you can add in a point at the bed, for a hand signal
3. Once all four feet are on the bed (feel free to lure to help get back legs on to start) say yes and treat Fido, with a high rates of reward or a chew or bone. Same as the kennel, keep Fido on only until food stops, once food stops, cue Fido off the bed by saying “all done” no treats when off the bed. 
4. First get Fido sitting as soon as they get on the bed, and then laying down as soon as they get on the bed, so we get our automatic lay down, when Fido gets on the bed. 
5. Practice duration Fido can stay on the bed, then distance, so you moving around the house, building up to leaving the room, and then add in distractions such as food and toys. 
6. Remember when the criteria gets harder in one area, make it easier in another, for example longer duration on the bed equals more treats (higher rate of reward). Or more distraction with the bed cue equals less time on the bed to start, we want to set them up for success!