TIPS TO STOP CRYING WHILE IN SAFE ROOM OR A CRATE.
Now that you have established your puppy’s safe room, they cry. Their cry is sad and heart-wrenching, and you want to comfort them. Fight it because, at that point, they are training you to rescue them every time they cry, even when they are safe and sound.
It’s bedtime…put them in bed and say “bed,” then go out of their sight. You can use a squirt bottle with the nozzle set to stream when they cry. Fill the squirt bottle with only water. At the same time, you squirt them and use a negative marker, “eh,” to let them know that crying is unacceptable in this situation. Now that they stop crying, praise them for being quiet and tell them “bed” again. Do not plan on going to bed immediately. It may take 4 to 5 times for them to stop crying and go to sleep.
After they go to sleep, if the puppies are used to going outside to potty, your puppy will wake up and cry as usual. In these instances, ignore them. They will eventually relieve themselves on the potty pads and go back to sleep on their bed. This behavior should only last a few days with an occasional reminder. The crying will be the hardest part of the training, but stand firm.
Feeding in the safe room or kennel. Feeding in the safe room or kennel will help the puppies learn that this space is their private area. You can leave play toys for them during the day, but do not let them play with the potty pads. If they start, use the squirt bottle with the negative marker to teach them that behavior is unacceptable. Once they quit, praise them. Praise them just like you would when they demonstrate appropriate behavior.
After your puppy shows that they are pottying in the correct area, you can remove the potty pads closest to the puppy’s bed. If they walk over the floor to the potty pads to potty, they are learning, and eventually, you can work your way to using only one potty pad in his safe room. If they go potty on the floor, then just go back a step and give them some more time to learn and use their potty pads. They must poop and pee on the potty pads as they do not understand both actions are potty.
Whenever you have your puppy out of his safe room, keep a potty pad near them to minimize accidents. They should seek out the potty pad instead of the floor. As they constantly use their potty pads, you can move them closer and closer to the door or take your pup outside to a special place to potty as they get older or the weather warms up.
Teaching your puppy to use potty pads is not teaching them to potty in their den; rather, it is minimizing your puppy’s understanding that a den is home and safe. When the concept of their den as a safe space is not established, they will not understand that your whole home is the den, and accidents will happen. Starting with a small den and slowly increasing the size will help the puppy respect their den and yours. Even a 2-year-old child will look huge to your puppy. Remember to use cue words as you transition your puppy to potty outside. The cue words will allow them to grasp the idea faster. Lastly, only let your dog roam the whole den when they have earned your trust.
‘Til we wag tails again….
April’s K911 Academy
(575) 635-9888
Comments