Lesson 3: Improve to 10 Minutes of Quiet

Goals

Your goals in Lesson 3 are to:

• Work up to your puppy being quiet and calm in the crate for 10 minutes while dropping in no more than 10 treats during that period.
• Teach your puppy cues for “get in the crate” and “get out of the crate.”

Time Required

Lesson 3 usually takes 2-7 days, with a few sessions a day. Some pups will complete Lesson 3 the first day. Remember, this isn’t a race. It is more important for your puppy to succeed than to get done quickly so if your puppy takes longer, it’s fine.

When to move on to Lesson 4

You are ready to move on to Lesson 4 after your puppy is able to be quiet in the crate for 10 minutes with no more than 10 treats and no earthquakes.

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. For other challenges, check out the Troubleshooting and FAQs page.

Lesson Table of Contents

Setting Up for Lesson 3

Lesson 3 Training Sessions

• Step 1: Extending Time in the Crate
• Step 2: Teaching the Crate Cue
• Step 3: Using the Crate Cue

Reminders About Cues

Since you've completed Lesson 2, your puppy can rest quietly in the crate for at least 3 minutes, and understands that being quiet in the crate brings good things (treats and eventually, freedom). Hopefully, your pup also understands that when it barks in the crate, not-so-fun things will happen. Your pup is now ready to learn to be quiet in the crate for longer periods of time.

From now on, any time the puppy barks in the crate and you know it doesn’t need to potty, say nothing and cover the crate completely. Uncover the pup the moment it is quiet. Reward if the pup stays quiet for 20-30 seconds. However, if the puppy continues to bark after the crate is covered, gently rock the crate. From now on, these are your responses.

A. Your puppy stays quiet
pup is quiet→treats→release(More info)

B. Your puppy starts barking
pup barks→cover→pup is quiet→uncover→treats→release(More info)

C. Your puppy keeps barking while the sheet is down
pup barks-barks→cover→gently rock the crate→pup is quiet→uncover→treats→release(More info)

Setting Up For Lesson 3

Before starting each training session, set up the crate and gear exactly as you did for Lesson 2.

• 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 3 Training Sessions

Extending Time in the Crate

During these sessions, extend your pup's time in the crate until it is quiet and happy for 10 minutes.

1. Set your timer for 3 minutes.
2. Gently place your puppy in the crate.
3. If your pup remains calm and quiet keep rewarding but begin varying the time between dropping in treats. Sometimes drop several a second apart. Then slow down and drop one every 5 to 10 seconds. During this 3-minute session, try to get to the point where you are dropping a treat every 20 seconds.
4. If your pup starts to bark, cover the crate. If the pup continues to bark, gently rock the crate. When the pup is quiet, uncover the front of the crate, wait 1-10 seconds and go back to dropping treats.
5. When the timer goes off:
   undefinedundefined
6. Repeat once more in this session but only keep the pup in the crate for 60-90 seconds this time.

How to make progress with your pup. If you are doing lots of covering and gently rock the crate, make the time your pup is in the crate shorter. If your pup is quiet most of the time in the crate, then being increasing the time your pup is in the crate until its hit the 10-minute mark.

Teaching the Crate Cue

It's helpful to teach your pup a cue that means get in the crate. You can use any word or phrase that makes sense to you. We use “kennel.” Many people use “kennel up,” and lots use “crate.” Some even use "go to bed." all are fine as long as you are consistent.

When we first teach cues, we want to first get the behavior and then add the word. This can be hard for people because we are so verbal but you can do it! Once you know your pup will get in the crate when it's in front of the door, add the cue. Don't do it before that!

Now is also the time to start using your pup's release word. Release words tell the pup that it is done with the behavior. So if you release your pup from a sit, it can get up (or even lie down). If you release your pup from the crate, it can get out. We use "okay" for our release word but it's not a perfect cue since we tend to say it in conversation every day (and you can't spell it :-)). Other release words folks use are "break" and "free."

Step 1: Rewarding Entering the Crate

1. Place your pup in front of and very near the crate door. Within 3 to 4 inches is perfect.
2. Pull back gently on your pup’s collar.
3. Release the collar and see if the pup goes in the crate on its own.
4. If it does, reward it by tossing in a HANDFUL of treats.
5. Give your release word to give your pup permission to get out of the crate and tell your pup how good it is.
6. Repeat this sequence 5 or 6 more times before ending the session.

Step 2: Teaching the Crate Cue

Once your pup goes into the crate at least 80% of the time when it's in front of the door, start adding in your crate cue BEFORE you release the collar.

1. Place your pup in front of and very near the crate door. Within 3 to 4 inches is perfect.
2. Pull back gently on your pup’s collar.
3. Say your crate cue--"kennel!"
4. Release the collar and when the pup goes in the crate on its own reward with treats in the crate.
5. Give your release word to give your pup permission to get out of the crate and tell your pup how good it is.
6. Gradually vary how far the pup is from the crate when you say the word and release its collar. Don't go further than the pup can handle!

Step 3: Using the Crate Cue

It's time to start using the cue to send your pup into the crate. However, this is an essential point! DO NOT REPEAT THE CUE IF YOUR PUP DOESN'T GO IN!!!!

1. Start using the cue word each time you send your pup into the crate.
2. If it goes in, praise and reward it in the crate. You must continue to be generous with your pup, rewarding with at least a few treats EVERY time it goes in the crate!
3. If it does not go in, simply place your puppy in the crate as you did in earlier lessons. Do not repeat the command or throw in treats to get your pup to enter the crate. It's important that the pup understand that it is going in the crate but if it goes in on its own, it gets lots of treats and praise.

Reminders About Using Cues

• First, a little bit about using cues or what we used to call commands.
• Say a cue ONCE. If you repeat cues over and over, the dog begins to guess which one it has to respond to. You want it to respond to the first and only.
• Dogs don’t naturally generalize things they learn well so you will need to teach this cue in several places and different crates.
• Expect that your dog may not enter the crate when you give the cue in a new place or a new crate. Be ready to show the dog what you want by putting the dog in the crate. Then release it from the crate and let it try again.
• Anytime you know your pup is going to refuse a cue, either don’t say it or be ready to back up your request. So if you say the crate cue and your pup doesn’t go in, put it in. If you don’t want to do that, then don’t say the cue word.