Creating a safe and comfortable space for your dog is crucial for their well-being and your peace of mind. Effective confinement not only prevents accidents and destructive behaviours but also helps your dog learn to be alone and settle in their new environment. Whether you're house-training a puppy or teaching your dog to relax when you're not around, this guide will help you set up the perfect confinement area tailored to your dog's needs.
What is it?
A place for your dog to stay when you can't provide 100% supervision. In other words, when you are out, or busy around the house, and can't keep your eyes on them the entire time. It prevents chewing accidents, potty accidents, and teaches your dog to be alone.
Why do I need one?
1. For successful house- and alone training.
2. To keep your dog out of trouble when you can't monitor them and to give yourself a break.
Confinement? Surely that's too strict!
Not at all. It is the best possible start for your dog in your household. People often give a new dog complete freedom right away. Then, when the dog has an accident on the carpet or chews on the legs of the coffee table, they confine the dog, and confinement becomes a punishment.
Instead, give your dog a safe place from the beginning, and let them make a gradual and successful transition to their new home. They will be much happier, and your furniture will remain intact.
Setting up the confinement area.
The ideal confinement area is easy to clean and easy to close off with a door or baby gate. It should be mostly free of furniture and non-dog related objects. The best places for a confinement area are the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, or an empty spare room.
Furnish the confinement area with a bed or a crate with something soft to sleep on, a water bowl, and several toys, including a favourite bone, chew toy, or a Kong stuffed with part of your dog's meal. Make the confinement area the only place your dog gets to have this particular toy.
Getting your dog used to their confinement area:
Take your dog out for a walk or bathroom break.
Give them a chew bone or a stuffed Kong, then leave them alone in the confinement area while you go about your business in the house.
After 5 minutes or before they finish their chew, let them out but don't make a big deal about it or fuss over them.
Repeat steps 1-3, gradually increasing the time you leave your dog in their confinement area without leaving the house. Vary the length of your absences, from 30 seconds to 20 minutes, and repeat them throughout the day.
Leave your dog in their confinement area (or crate) at night. Expect some crying as they adjust to alone-time.
Within the first day or two, start leaving the house for short intervals like going to the mailbox or taking the trash out. Gradually increase the duration of your absences, such as running errands.
Training Tip:
Be patient. It may take several days or weeks for your dog to get used to their confinement area.
Troubleshooting:
If your dog begins to howl, whine, or bark, wait until he has been quiet for at least ten seconds before you respond. Otherwise, he will learn that whining or barking makes you appear or gets them out of the confinement area, and he will bark or cry longer in the future.