Lesson 2: How To Stay Quiet When Confined

Goal

Your goal in this step is for your puppy to remain quiet in the crate with the door closed for 3 minutes while you drop treats in.

Time Required

Lesson 2 usually takes two days to a week, with a few 5-10 minutes sessions a day. Some pups will complete Lesson 2 the first day.

When to move on to Lesson 3

You are ready to move on to Lesson 3 after your puppy is able to be quiet in the crate for 3 minutes with lots of treats but no earthquakes for two consecutive sessions.

Troubleshooting

If your pup is very stressed and/or whining in the crate, go back to Lesson 1 and before progressing to Lesson 2, re-read Earthquakes. If your puppy is drooling or quivering, go through, go through Puppies That Are Afraid of the Crate. before moving on to Lesson 2.

Lesson Table of Contents

Setting Up for Lesson 2

Lesson 2 Training Sessions

• Basic Training Steps
• A. Your puppy stays quiet
• B. Your puppy starts barking
• C. Your puppy keeps barking while the sheet is down

Why Puppies Keep Barking in the Crate

Rocking the Crate

• Rock Gently
• What to Expect From Your Pup After You Rock
• Should You Rock the Crate when Your Pup is Whining But Not Barking?

Setting Up For Lesson 2

Before starting your training session, set up the crate and gear the same as you did for Lesson 1 *except* you'll need the sheet covering the crate and something to time these sessions.

You will also need to pick two cues before you start this lesson so you can introduce them to your pup:

• Crate cue - Your crate cue, we use the word "kennel," means "go into whatever is in front of you." It can eventually be used to tell your pup to get into a crate in the house or car, go into the expen, or even go into the backyard through the gate. This is a great all-purpose command.
• Release cue - Your release cue tells your when an exercise is over. In the case of crate training, we use it to tell puppies when they can get out of the crate. Read through Training the Verbal Release to choose your word.

Now get ready to do your next crate-training session

• Get a timer or a smartphone with an alarm.
• You WILL need the sheet covering the crate for this lesson. Prepare it now by draping it on all sides except the front door. Fold the part that will cover the door so you can drop it quickly.
• Be sure your treats are great.
• Plan your training sessions for what your puppy is hungry.
• Put the crate in a quiet, non-distracting area for this training.
• Be sure the room is cool enough so your pup is comfortable.
• Before starting, scatter a handful of treats towards the middle and back of the crate.
• Take your puppy out to potty immediately before you begin training so you are sure he does not need to pee or poop.

Lesson 2 Training Sessions

Plan to do two 10-minute sessions a day until your pup is successful at Lesson 2.

Basic Training Steps

1. Set your timer for 2 minutes.
2. You are going to add the crate and release cues to Lesson 1s sequence now. Say "kennel" and place your puppy in the crate, closing and latching the door, and dropping treats through the top or sides. (Just move the sheet aside or back to do this.)
3. Be quiet--don’t talk to your pup during this session.
4. Continue dropping treats as long as the pup is not barking, crying, or trying to get out. If your pup starts barking or howling, go to Section A below.

A. Your puppy stays quiet

(quiet→treats→release)

1. Continue dropping treats as long as the pup is not barking, crying, or trying to get out. If your pup starts barking or howling, go to the sections below.
2. If your pup stays quiet until the timer goes off, open the crate, say "Okay" and let your puppy out of the crate.
3. Repeat these steps a second time.
4. Take your pup out to potty. That’s it for this session!
5. In your next sessions, increase the time on the timer by 15 seconds until your pup can do 3 minutes quietly and uncovered.

B. Your puppy starts barking

(bark→cover→quiet→uncover→treats→release)

1. After your pup barks a few times, say nothing and quickly drop the sheet over the front of the crate. The crate should now be completely covered so your pup cannot see out.
2. Give the puppy 10 to 15 seconds to stop barking.
3. The moment your pup stops barking, start to lift the front of the sheet.
4. If your pup barks while the sheet is going up, immediately drop the sheet and do not give the pup a treat. Do your best to only lift the sheet completely while your puppy is quiet.
5. Once you are able to completely lift the sheet, go back to dropping treats every second or two while your pup is quiet. If it barks again, repeat steps 1 through 5.
6. End your session by releasing your puppy from the crate only when it is quiet. Open the crate door, say "Okay," and let your puppy out of the crate. If the timer goes off when the pup is barking, DO NOT take it out of the crate unless you think it needs to potty. Wait until the pup is quiet, even if only for a second. Then quickly start talking to your puppy while lifting the sheet and opening the door, saying "Okay," and letting it out of the crate to end the session.
7. As always, take your pup out to potty after your session.

C. Your puppy keeps barking while the sheet is down

(bark-bark→cover→rock→quiet→uncover→treats →release)

1. Say nothing!!
2. Give the puppy 15-20 seconds to stop barking.
3. If the pup stops barking, uncover and go back to dropping treats as fast as your pup can eat them and follow the guidelines in Section B.
4. If instead, your pup continues to bark, put one hand on each side of the covered crate and while the pup is barking, rock the crate from side to side 2 to 3 times. We will use the term "gently rock the crate" to describe this. It quiets the pup because it makes the puppy feel that the earth is moving under its feet.
5. When your puppy stops barking, stop rocking and begin to lift the sheet.
6. If your pup continues to bark after the gently rocking, rock slightly more.
7. Once you are able to completely lift the sheet, go back to dropping treats every second or two while your pup is quiet.
8. Repeat these steps until the timer goes off. Then release your pup, hang out for a minute and repeat Lesson 2 one more time.
9. Repeat these sequences over and over depending upon how your pup is responding until it can be quiet for 1 minute in an uncovered crate without rocking.
10. End your session by releasing your puppy from the crate only when it is quiet. If the timer goes off when the pup is barking, DO NOT take it out of the crate. Wait until the pup is quiet, even if only for a second. Quickly start talking to your puppy while lifting the sheet and opening the door to get it out of the crate to end the session.
11. As always, take your pup out to potty after your session.

Why Puppies Keep Barking in the Crate

Some puppies are very determined to bark in the crate, especially if they have gotten inadvertently rewarded for barking. We often don’t realize we are rewarding puppies for barking. Read How do we inadvertently reward barking and make sure you are not doing any of the things on this list when your dog barks.

How long it will take for your puppy to learn to be quiet in the crate will depend on how:

• long your pup has been rewarded for barking. If barking has gotten the pup what it wanted in the past, the barking will get worse before it gets better. But it can get better!
• consistent you are in rewarding and covering/rocking. The more consistent you can be, the faster your pup will understand what you want. Being inconsistent confuses puppies, increases their frustration, and reduces learning to commit to being consistent now.
• good your timing is. You don’t have to be perfect. Getting the treat to the puppy at the right moment can be challenging but keep working, you’ll get better with practice.
• persistent your puppy is. Pups’ personalities vary. Some are happy to go along with what you want. Others are willing to put up a fuss. But don’t worry, you can do this!

If your pup won’t quit barking, repeat Lessons 1 and 2, trying different amounts of rocking, perhaps rocking a little longer. At the same time, continue to teach your puppy to like being in the crate by:

• Feeding its meals in the crate, first with the door open, then with the door closed
• Give it special treats or toys that it only gets in the crate, such as:
  KONGs® stuffed with delicious treats, Nylabones®, healthy, natural chew items, like marrow and knuckle bones, pig’s ears, bully straps, etc.
• Randomly putting treats in the crate during the day when your puppy isn’t looking so it can discover them by going in the crate.

Gently Rocking the Crate

When we rock the crate, we gently rock the puppy’s crate, either up and down on one side or side to side 1 to 3 times when they aren’t expecting it. This is only done when the crate is covered completely so the pup isn’t expecting movement and, as a result, we usually don’t have to rock much since the pup is surprised. Here is rocking video:

We use this technique for several reasons:

• one of our greatest training challenges is successfully interrupting pups once they start barking. Yet, we must stop them so we can reward quiet. Surprised pups usually stop barking, if only briefly, so we can start the reward process.
• Because we are silent and the pup can’t see us, the pup doesn't realize the movement comes from you. This reduces the risk that the pup will learn to be quiet when you are present but go back to barking when you are not.

How Hard to Rock

Think about your puppy’s temperament so you start at the level that will quiet your puppy the first time without frightening it. If you aren’t sure, err on the side of doing too little rather than too much. You can raise the amount you rock if needed.

• If you think of your puppy as nervous or lacking confidence, do more sessions of Lesson 1 before tackling Lesson 2.
• Rocking should be just enough that your puppy gets quiet but not frightened or overwhelmed.
• We are trying to surprise the pup into being quiet so we can uncover the crate and start giving treats.
• You should get a response from the puppy after one or two rocks if you are at the right level.
• If the puppy barks again after you rock several times, the next time change it up. Rock side to side or up and down on one side. Rock a little faster or harder. However, don’t escalate how hard you rock. You are looking for the least rocking that gets the right result.

What to Expect From Your Pup After You Rock the Crate

Puppies react in a wide variety of ways to crate. Some are unphased while others are slightly stressed. Check for signs of stress in your pup when you next uncover the crate. If your puppy is really stressed by the crate, you may see any or all of the following indicators:

• Ears pinned back
• Tail tucked under his belly
• Body carried low to the ground when moving around crate
• Licking its lips
• Drooling
• Quivering
• Hiding from you

If you see these things, don’t give up crate training but instead follow the guidance in Pups and Dogs That Are Afraid Of The Crate.

• After you rock the first time, you may see your puppy bracing itself low to the ground. This is perfectly normal. Just go back to dropping treats.
• Sometimes puppies won’t eat treats after you've rocked the crate during a session. The puppy does not know what happened — the world just moved!
• If your pup isn’t showing signs of stress or anxiety, continue on with Lesson 2, even if your pup isn’t eating as many treats.
• If your pup is very stressed, release it from the crate and take it outside. Go back over Lesson 1 several more times before starting again on Lesson 2 with even more gently rocking.

Should You Rock the Crate when Your Pup is Whining But Not Barking?

Although whining is annoying, it is not the same as barking, howling or yelping. Many puppies unconsciously whine when they are anxious. It’s like humming to yourself. If you rock the crate, you will increase their anxiety and thus cause more whining, not less.

You can reduce or stop whining by decreasing the pup’s anxiety. Make the puppy more comfortable in the crate by going back to Lesson 1 and continuing to work on its emotional state while in and around the crate.