Lesson 5: Keeping Quiet No Matter Where You Are

Goal

Your goal in Lesson 5 is that your puppy will be quiet in the crate while you are home no matter where you are — in the same room or elsewhere in the house.

Time Frame

Lesson 5 usually takes 3-7 days, with a few sessions a day. Some pups will complete Lesson 5 in two days.

When to Move On To Lesson 6

You are ready to move on to Lesson 6 after your puppy is able to be quiet in the crate no matter where you are with no covering or earthquakes.

Troubleshooting

If your pup is struggling with one aspect of this process, stay closer to the crate or room with the crate so you can reward quiet more. Also be sure you are covering as soon as your pup barks.

Lesson Table of Contents

Setting Up for Lesson 5

Lesson 5 Training Sessions

• Step 1: Moving Around the Room
• Step 2: Being Present In The Room
• Step 3: Moving In And Out Of The Room
• Step 4: Being Elsewhere in the House Quietly
• Step 5. Being Elsewhere in the House Noisily

In this lesson, you will teach your pup that it can be relaxed and whether you are in the same room or elsewhere in the house. Pups differ in which, if any, of these bother them. Some want you with them and are unhappy when you aren’t. Others only worry when you are in another room. Regardless, go through these steps with your pup to be sure it is calm and quiet no matter where you are.

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→earthquake→pup is quiet→uncover→treats→release (More info)

Setting Up For Lesson 5

Before starting each training session, set up the crate and gear as you did in the past with a few additions: train when your pup is tired, include a yummy chew item in the crate, play background noise in the room with the pup, and, if possible, put a video camera on the pup so you can watch when you are in other rooms.

• 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 when your puppy is tired.
• 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.
• Place a delicious chew item, like a marrow bone or pigs ear, or several stuffed Kongs.
• Play background noise in the room where the pup is crated--a TV, radio, white noise machine, etc.
• If you can set up a camera on your pup, for example your phone or a Nest, do so.
• Take your puppy out to potty immediately before you begin training so you are sure he does not need to pee or poop.

Step 1: You Moving Around the Room

Here you will begin teaching the pup to understand that no matter where you are in the room, it should remain calm and settled.

1. Quietly move around the room while tossing treats into the crate. Be very generous at first, tossing treats in every 15 to 20 seconds.
2. Anytime the pup barks, cover the crate fully.
3. If the pup continues to bark, do an earthquake.
4. When the pup is quiet, uncover and go back to rewarding it every 15 to 20 seconds.
5. Go through each of these steps. Move quietly through each of these. If your pup has trouble with any of them, stop the barking (cover-earthquake-uncover-reward) and then increase how frequently you are rewarding your pup for being quiet before extending the time
   a. Walk by the crate and toss in a treat.
   b. Walk by again moving a little farther away before coming back to toss another treat.
   c. Walk beside the crate, drop in a treat.
   d. Repeat this process changing your location throughout the room.
6. When your puppy can remain quiet with you moving around the room you should increase the interval of time between the treats being tossed. Remember to always vary how frequently you reward.

Step 2: Being Present In The Room

This challenge will teach the pup to relax in your presence, while it is not the center of attention.

Situation 1

Sit in a chair and read where your puppy can see you from the crate.

1. Toss a treat into the crate every few minutes.
2. If you can reach, treat while you are sitting in the chair.
3. Also get up, walk over to the crate to drop a treat in and then go back and sit down.
4. Alternate between sitting and walking to the crate while treating.
5. Continue to vary the timing of rewards while you are present in the room.
6. Remember, anytime he barks, cover the crate fully.
7. If the pup continues to bark, do an earthquake.
8. When the pup is quiet, uncover and go back to rewarding it.

Situation 2

Have the crate near the kitchen so you can stand at the sink and do the dishes. You will now be present with the puppy but also busy doing something else. Remember, this is dog training time so getting the dishes done is secondary to crate training!!

1. Walk toward the crate and toss in a treat.
2. Go back and do some dishes.
3. Walk back to the crate and toss a treat.
4. Continue to vary the timing of rewards while you are doing the dishes.
5. Remember, anytime he barks, cover the crate fully.
6. If the pup continues to bark, do an earthquake.
7. When the puppy is quiet, uncover and go back to rewarding it.

Situation 3

Pretend to make a phone call. Unless you have a very understanding friend, do not actually call anyone since this is dog-training time and you need to focus on your puppy.

1. While on the phone walk toward the crate and toss in a treat.
2. Go back and talk some more to your imaginary friend.
3. Walk back to the crate and toss in a treat.
4. Continue to vary the time between rewards while you are present in the room on the phone.
5. Remember, anytime he barks, cover the crate fully.
6. If the pup continues to bark, do an earthquake.
7. When the puppy is quiet, uncover and go back to rewarding it.

Situation 4

Sit in a chair and read where your puppy can’t see you from the crate.

1. Reach over the crate top and quietly drop a treat into the crate every few minutes.
2. Ping-pong the timing of rewards but try to get the treat in before your pup barks.
3. Gradually increase the time between treats.
4. Remember, anytime he barks, cover the crate fully.
5. If the pup continues to bark, do an earthquake.
6. When the pup is quiet, uncover and go back to rewarding it.

Step 3: Moving In And Out Of The Room

This challenge teaches your puppy to remain calm while you come and go from the room.

1. Toss the pup a treat and calmly walk out of the room and out of the puppy’s sight.
2. Wait no longer than 3 seconds and return to toss another treat.
3. Walk back out of the room.
4. Wait no longer than 10 seconds and return to toss another treat.
5. Stay in the room and walk around, moving to the crate to reward the pup.
6. Leave the room again waiting a bit longer to return this time.
7. Repeat the delivery of the treats, varying the time between leaving and returning to give treats, again remembering to use the ping-pong method.
8. If the puppy barks, walk back to the crate without saying anything or making eye contact. cover the crate fully. If the puppy continues to bark, do an earthquake. When the pup is quiet, uncover and start over at Step 1 but leave for no more than 5-10 seconds.

Step 4: Being Elsewhere in the House Quietly

This challenge teaches your puppy to remain calm while you are elsewhere in the house. Be sure the pup cannot see you leave the room from its crate.

1. Toss the pup a treat and calmly walk out of the room.
2. Wait quietly for no longer than 3 minutes and return to toss another treat with no comment or eye contact.
3. Walk back out of the room.
4. Wait quietly no longer than 10 minutes and return to toss another treat.
5. Stay in the room and walk around, moving to the crate to reward the pup.
6. Leave the room and remain quiet elsewhere in the house for 30 minutes.

Step 5. Being Elsewhere in the House Noisily

This challenge teaches your puppy to remain calm while you are elsewhere in the house. Be sure the pup cannot see you leave the room from its crate.

1. Toss the pup a treat and calmly walk out of the room.
2. Make a little noise and immediately return to toss another treat with no comment or eye contact.
3. Leave again, go a little bit further and make a little noise. Return to toss another treat with no comment or eye contact.
4. Repeat as you go further and make more noise until your puppy doesn’t care when you are elsewhere in the house, on the computer, etc.