Practical Crate and Tie-Down Skills at Work, School, and Beyond

As our puppies transition out of needing their YES Space for household management, the crate and tie-down become your primary tools when puppy freedom needs to be limited (e.g. movers or workers coming in and out the front door, a busy BBQ with food and garbage too close for comfort, staying overnight at a hotel, settling into a new home, etc.). However, if we only pull out these tools when the need arises, this can lead to rusty confinement skills and frustration when we need our tools the most!

Generalizing Crate Behavior
Once a puppy is comfortable settling in their crate and has been introduced to the idea that you might occasionally disappear and come back, we are ready to start generalizing their crate skills.

• Practice having the puppy crated in different areas of your home, in the middle of hustle and bustle, during quiet moments, and out of sight. For some puppies, crating in a room where they can hear (but not see) others having fun can be even more challenging than being crated in the center of the action!
• Puppy sleepovers are also a great way to generalize crate behavior! Whether the puppy goes to a sitter or joins you on a trip, the first few times they are crated in a new place, it can help to offer a stuffed Kong or other toys to help the puppy settle in. With some practice, a crate can even be a familiar comfort when sleeping away from home.
• It can take some work to help puppies understand that all crates are the same. Plastic crates, wire crates, metal crates, and even fabric crates – the rules are the same: settle in for a chew and a nap and I’ll be back for you soon!

Appropriate crates: As the puppy grows, make sure their crate is big enough for them to comfortably stand, turn around, and snooze. Soft crates should not be used until puppies are consistently calm and settled while crated and do not attempt to break out. We don’t want pups learning to be Houdini!

Generalizing Tie-Down Behavior
Similar to generalizing crate behavior, there are a few different aspects of tie-down skills we can introduce to our puppies!

• Practice tethering the puppy in different areas of the home.
• Practice stepping out of sight, building up to the puppy remaining settled and comfortable unattended. This is great preparation for dogs to be tethered in a “real life” work or school environment, as well as the GDB kennels! Always use your provided cable tie-down in a sturdy tether location if leaving a puppy unattended for any length of time.
• Bring your tie-down along to work, to a friend’s house, or even to a park (though it goes without saying that pups should never be tethered and left unattended in public!)

Appropriate tethers: A mature, trustworthy dog can be temporarily tethered using a regular leash or a longer tie-down if you are supervising nearby. Puppies who still occasionally chew on or fight against the tether should only be tethered using the provided plastic-covered cable tie-down, well secured in a sturdy tether location. We don’t want pups to learn they can chew through leashes or pull hard to reach nearby temptations!