- Do you feel like your dog comes bursting
through the door when you open their crate.
I had a completely different video planned for today
but we've had so many questions on the channel
about crate training a dog this week
that I thought maybe it was time to create
like a crate training series or a crate training playlist
for those of you at home who are struggling
with crate training.
Now we know that using a crate is a great management tool
for your puppy or for your young dog especially
while they're in training.
But one thing that people often overlook
is what a great natural training opportunity it is.
It's something that occurs several times a day letting
your dog in and out.
And it is the perfect opportunity to build in
some impulse control exercises.
So that's what we're going to do today.
I'm gonna show you some impulse control exercises
that you can do with your dog in their crate
so that they make better choices both inside
their crate and out.
I'm Ken Steepe and welcome back to McCann Dogs.
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Every single week in this facility, we help more
than 500 dog owners who are just like you
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using the McCann method of dog training.
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So that I can help you to have
a well-behaved four-legged family member.
Now I've popped in to the studio
because classes were going on and it was getting
a little bit loud out there, I didn't want you
to miss any of this.
But in the kennel today we have Mac.
Now I've never done any crate training with Mac.
He is a notorious door dasher and I don't really know
what to expect from him when we start this exercise.
But for you at home if you also have a door dasher
who comes crashing out of their crate.
I want you to start by immediately building value
for your dog being in their crate.
It can be something this simple.
What we're going to do is get that crate unlocked
and then we can reward them for it.
I don't know if Mac's gonna see this, he seems
to be licking my finger.
Here Mac what's this buddy?
But one thing I want you to be aware of Mac will wait
on a wait command.
You know he's my competition sheepdog but he doesn't
have a lot of experience with crate training.
What I'm working on here, I don't want him
to require any sort of queue to maintain that position.
What I want to do and this is what's gonna be so helpful
for those of you who have a dog who's often unsettled
in their crate, is to have them choose to remain quiet
have them choose to be relaxed and feel like
they're being rewarded simply by remaining in there.
So I can see Mac is sniffing around I think he found
that first treat.
Now I want you to take control of the your crate door
and then open it just slightly and see what you get.
Yes, you can yes your dog
and then reward them.
Maintain control of this door if you have a door dasher
the moment they get that treat
they're probably coming out to see you.
But so hang on to that door.
The other thing whether you're using a plastic crate
or a wire crate make sure that reward position
is at the back of the crate.
The last thing I wanna be doing is we're rewarding him
in this position.
We know that he finds value out here if you know,
he's so excited and enthusiastic
to come screaming out of the crate.
We know it's valuable out here, now we need
to shift transfer some of that value inside the crate.
So let's try this again, we'll open just a little bit more.
Yes good boy, so we're making this tiny steps for him.
The other thing I want you to do is be careful
that you're not rushing opening the door too quickly.
If Mac chose to start to leave, if he started
to come out on his own.
Yes good boy I'll toss the treat in.
I would just simply close the door, I would stop
where I am and close the door.
And then sort of go back one step, I would move you know,
back to a 1/3 open, 1/4 open, whatever that spot was
where you were successful.
Yes good boy, good job, but he doesn't want another treat?
That's it boy.
Good he's doing a really great job here
I'm quite surprised.
Sometimes I'm really worried about him
as soon as I take hold of that door, he will race out.
Let's see if we get to the halfway point.
Yes good boy buddy.
And this is one of the benefits
of front-loading the value on this.
You know, by starting by rewarding in this position
by rewarding him as soon as I took hold of that door
he started to understand that you know,
maybe it's not so valuable to race out of that crate.
When you start to see this kind of impulse control,
I don't even think he's paying attention
he's still looking for that treat.
Good boy, now remember don't let go of that crate door
this would be the time when he could make a mistake.
Yes, good boy and you toss that treat in.
This is where you're going
to see the impulse control kick in.
He's starting to realize that there's value
for being thoughtful.
If I've got a clip, I'll try to find a clip
of him coming racing out of his crate.
But we're starting to have him use his mind
a little bit about choosing whether or not
he goes racing out of that crate.
Good boy, yes good boy, so you can even offer
to sit what a good boy.
Now I'm pretty confident that he's gonna remain
in position and I don't wanna be dependent on my hand
on this side of the crate door.
Good boy, if he goes to head out,
I'm just gonna close that door again.
Yes, what a good boy, good job buddy.
So let's see if we can get to the wide open crate door.
Yes you're a good boy, nice job buddy.
I haven't done much food rewarding with him
he's my oops, he's my...
Good boy, he's my competition sheep herding dog
and the only time I've used food as a reward with him
is some handling exercises and working on his recall
at home with his rather than having a come here that'll do.
So when you start seeing this kind of behavior.
Yes good boy, I know that Mac will work for food.
Now if you have a dog who isn't doesn't love food
or is you know, so stimulated or stressed
when you're working on crate exercises you
can always use your voice.
Good boy, what a good job buddy.
But be careful that you're not using that as a cue
to remain in the crate.
Now the one thing we do have to make very clear to Mac
is when he's allowed to come out.
So one way to do that we use a release word for all
of our exercises and it doesn't necessarily mean
you can move it just means you can stop whatever it is
that I've asked you to do.
Now after getting so many rewards in his crate
it's likely that Mac will think, well if I just stay
in here I'm going to get rewarded
so we might need to coax him out a little bit
but be careful that you don't reward your dog
after you've released them.
Because, remember we're really trying to show them
that being in here is where all of the value is.
So that it sort of has that overall calming effect.
But our release word is okay.
So even if so Mac has have received so many rewards
in there, he's not excited about coming out of the crate.
So I might just need to lure him out a little.
Okay bud, okay come on out.
Come on, good boy and then I can pat and praise
and do whatever in the kennel.
Good boy, look at that, good job buddy.
And he just right to the back of his kennel
because he's received so many rewards there
but I love how quickly this exercise you know,
had this kind of impact on him
cause he was a real door dasher before we started.
This can be a great exercise
and it can really impact your overall dog training.
You're gonna start to see your dog being
a little bit more thoughtful, less impulsive,
less you know, roamy so to speak.
But simple exercises like this, especially when it comes
to crate training are so valuable
and you can do it multiple times every day
without taking a huge chunk of time away
from your other training exercises.
To watch the next video in our crate training series
click the card right there.
If this is your first time on the channel
make sure you hit that subscribe button.
We publish new videos every single week to help you
to have a well-behaved four-legged family member.
On that note I'm Ken, see in the next video.
Oh good boy, it works.