Crate Games and Dog Obedience Training

Before we get to do any crate games we need to have used basic dog obedience training techniques to teach our dog a strong stay and to like crates.

Crates come in all shapes, sizes and materials and you need to find one that will suit your particular purpose and ensure your dog is happy in that style of crate.

You need to bear in mind that there are some dogs that are incredibly good at escaping from crates, both the wire and soft crate types, particularly if their basic training was lacking in any way.

Whilst crate training and crate games has a stronger tie to dog agility, crates can and are used for all sorts of purposes and it is a worthwhile skill for you to learn.

If you have not taught your dog the basic dog obedience training skills then you do need to retrace your steps and work at building a strong, well trained stay.

Your dog should be really happy to go into its crate and be happy to stay there with the door unlatched.

The first step is to now show your dog that crates are fun.

Toss a couple of tasty treats into the back of the crate and as soon as he has eaten them, show him his favourite toy and let him chase the toy out of the crate.

Keep repeating this until the dog runs into the crate happily.

The favourite toy would be the toy he brings you when you come home from work, or you are trying to watch the TV news.

We now start closing the door when the dog goes into the crate. Tell the dog to sit and when he does, you give him a treat way at the back of the crate.

If you are using a wire crate then you feed from outside at the far back corner.

If you are using a soft crate with a top opening panel, then you need to leave the panel open so that you can give the dog the treat at the very back of his crate.

If your soft crate does not have an opening top panel, you will need to reach your arm into the back of the crate and deliver the treat.

Before opening the door, ensure the dog is sitting. Open the door but ensure the dog remains sitting. If he gets up, close the door again and wait for the sit. Wait a few seconds before releasing the dog with your selected release word.

I do not recommend using the words OK or GO. Use break, free, run or bananas or anything else you wish, but be consistent with its use.

You need to do this exercise in cycles of 5. Deliver 5 treats and then take a break.

You can extend the time the dog is sitting with the door open but always remember to reward good progress with an occasional jackpot.

If the dog breaks before you give him the release word, you have moved to fast and need to go back a few steps.

Ensure you click and treat the dog going into the crate and if he sits, get a reward in their immediately.

When you release him he must have a good game with you and his favourite toy.

As the dog becomes confident with these games, start moving further away from the crate for both the send to the crate and recall out of the crate.

Mix up how far you go and for how long so that the dog does not know what you are going to do next.

Add distractions such as dropping his leash or his favourite toy outside the open door. Click and treat if he stays seated in the crate.

With the dog sitting in the back of the crate, clip the lead on and trail it out the door. Treat the dog at the back of the crate. Close the door and stand up. Place your foot on the end of the lead. Wait a few seconds and open the door.

Release the dog but only use the word. Do not lure the dog with any body movement. The dog will leave the crate but because he is on lead he will stop. If he turns and runs back into the crate reward him with some high value treats thrown into the back of the crate.

Close the door and repeat 5 times.

The dog will, by now, be driving into and out of the crate really fast. If he is not then you have moved forward to quickly. Go back to the start and rebuild.

With the dog now driving in and sitting, staying there with the door open and only driving out when released, you can start moving your position. Right side, back, left side. Change the angles, distances and time before recalling.

When the actions are brilliant, you start adding the verbal cue for going into the crate - kennel up, find your crate, go crate or whatever.

When you use the cue, do not repeat it. If he does not drive into the crate on cue, move closer to the crate and wait for the dog to go in. Then rebuild until the dog drives in when you use the selected cue.

Drive the dog into a crate and release without letting the dog sit - straight in and immediate release. Increase distractions.

Slap the side of the crate, drop food outside the door, tease him with his favourite toy. If he stays sitting reward him with a jackpot.

Now you can start having fun and use what you have learnt to help with your agility training.

Nev Allen has been training dogs for 30 years and wants to help you to make your puppy a good canine citizen. If you want to understand all that is involved with dog obedience training, clicker training and dog ownership then you can read articles and watch videos about these fascinating topics at http://dogobediencetrainingblogs.com

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