Building Duration.We have been gradually increasing duration in the crate over the last few weeks, from reinforcing puppies for entering or choosing to be inside crates, to pairing confinement with lovely pacifiers, teaching puppies to feel confident when confined, and by building the trust they will be released.This week:1.We will continue to focus on the use of pacifiers to build duration in the crate.2.We will start responding to a puppy’s request to be let out by offering them another choice.3.When we have time, we can ask the puppy to reconsider leaving the crate, and see how they respond.

There is no right or wrong answer, it’s offering the puppy a choice that will reinforce trust and enjoyment around the crate! You will be surprised how often a puppy will choose to go back in the crate for more chewing when they have the chance.Additionally, sometimes puppies need to potty, want a drink, or just need a break from the crate. So if a puppy comes up and asks back in the crate we can let them back in during this time if we want. Asking Out, and Back In. AKA: I changed my mind.....1.Puppy goes to the door of the crate to ask out (can be manding or just standing there).2.We will open the door of the crate (if the crate is upper level be very careful to ensure that the puppy cannot leap out of the crate) and immediately show the puppy a new and different type of pacifier. The puppy can then choose: does it want to leave the crate, or would it like to remain inside the crate with this new pacifier? Either choice is fine!3.When the puppy exits the crate, drop that nice new pacifier in the crate (not too close to the door) and close the door. (Caution: this is ok as long as you don’t think it will cause your puppies to resource guard the front of the crate). Puppy can still ask back in of course!4.If the puppy asks out of the crate, observe the puppy; if it regrets it’s choice to ask out, and wants back inside (yummy new chew!) allow the puppy to go back inside the crate and reinforce this choice with the new pacifier.5.If the puppy asks out and then goes to the litter box to void, be sure to acknowledge this as well, with a treat or praise.By offering our puppies a choice, to leave the crate, or stay inside with a new chew, we can increase duration in the crate while still teaching the puppy they have some control over what happens to them. Since choice, in and of itself, is a primary reinforcement by giving our puppies a choice (to stay, leave, or re-enter) the crate we can actually reinforce being inside the crate.Sometimes a puppy will ask out of their crate and go to a nearby crate and ask into that one, usually because there is a different pacifier in that crate and they want that one, of course, it’s ok to let them in. All we want at this point is to build value in choosing crate time. But, I changed my mind!If your puppy asks out, and you open the door and the puppy pauses (instead of immediately leaving the crate) be ready with those handy treats to reinforce the puppy for “hanging around” once the door is open. Again, when we reinforce puppies for NOT wanting to leave the crate we are reinforcing staying inside the crate, and choosing to.So, if you open the crate door be ready, if the puppy pauses at all, be sure to reinforce that “maybe I’ll stay in my crate” moment with a treat.If the puppy is really “sticky” and won’t leave the crate this is awesome, in that case you can use treats, or even offer the puppy a different pacifier, and see if it will stay and chew a while.Great Big Important Concept:It might seem like the puppy who asks out, then won’t leave the crate. Or the puppy who asks out, and wants right back in the crate, is just wasting your time. But truly, this experimentation with consequence is GOOD, it’s not random either, the puppy is literally experimenting with how it’s behavior affects it’s consequences. Dogs who understand how their behavior affects their consequences make better pets, better working dogs, and better show dogs. There is no downside to this learning. So learn to look for it in your puppies, its OK and even advantageous to allow your puppy to experiment with behaviors, like exiting, staying, or returning to a crate because not only will this create strong positive associations with the crate, it will help this puppy function better in the human world. Plus, we get a lot more learning with less effort overall when we allow our puppies to figure things out, not by making them harder, but by giving them the freedom to experiment. Other Ways to Increase Duration:1.Leaving puppies inside when they are calm and napping. If a puppy is resting comfortably in the crate, and as long as there is someone nearby to release the puppy if needed, you can leave a puppy to relax in a crate as long as it’s content to be there.2.Placing a sleepy puppy inside a crate to nap, door open or closed depending on the puppy’s response.3.Feed from puzzle and slow feed bowls (if the puppies enjoy them). If your puppies run hot, try freezing broth or plain water in a shallow bowl, slow feeder, or lick mat, and putting that in a crate. Puppies will spend lots of time licking, and some will choose to sleep on or by the cool from the ice.4. Secure low value pacifiers and toys (that puppies are unlikely to guard) to the back of your crate. I find Nylabone Puppy Teething Rings work great for this due to their shape. I can secure them high up in the back of the crate and the dangling keys are almost irresistible to puppies. My puppies will spend a LOT of time playing with the frayed ends of rope toys if they are secured to the side or top of the crate. In this case be sure the toy is thick and stiff enough that it won’t become tangled around a puppy, but I find that a knot toy with two knots works great, one knot stuck through the bars, and the other knot hanging down. The puppies can’t resist it hanging there and will spend a lot of time tugging. There are lots of safe options for chews and toys that can be secured to the back of the crate, to increase how much time puppies are spending in them.

Week 5: Increasing Voluntary Time In The Crate

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