You may have heard that an old dog is no longer able to learn new tricks, but that's not the case. While adult birds may be more stubborn and need to unlearn bad habits, it shouldn't be too difficult to get them into a cage and leave them inside without barking or moaning. Get to know your four-legged friend's way of thinking, provide him with the right incentives, and gradually accustom him to the desired behavior, so you can be sure you can keep him in the cage without any problems.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Introducing the Dog to the Cage
Step 1. Place the cage where it will stay for the long term
In this way the dog will get used to considering that space as a "den" in which to feel at ease. Put it where you spend a lot of time, for example in the living room or study.
Step 2. Place a towel or blanket in the cage
Find the softest and most comfortable fabric possible. Open the door and let the dog explore the interior at his leisure before closing it inside. Some animals will instinctively be curious and will immediately sleep in the cage.
Step 3. Use the treats as an incentive to stay in the cage
Encourage your dog to enter the space reserved for him by leaving food nearby. Afterwards, start putting the treats at the entrance and finally on the bottom. If the animal refuses to enter completely, be patient and don't force it.
- Keep tossing the morsels into the cage until he calmly reaches the bottom to eat them. Do not close the door the first time you enter.
- Choose a treat your dog loves. While some individuals eat everything, others are happier when they are given particularly delicious foods. Ham, for example, is almost universally adored by these animals.
Step 4. Encourage the dog to spend time in the cage without feeding him
Food is the most effective stimulus to train your dog, but if you feel your dog is already overeating and the training isn't over yet, you can continue without food rewards. Bring the animal close to the cage, then play with it and talk to it in a cheerful voice. Make sure the door is open and secured, so it can't hit him and scare him.
As you would with tidbits, try tossing your dog's favorite toy to the bottom of the cage
Step 5. Feed the dog in the cage
Once he knows that environment, try to get him to have his regular meals there. The animal will learn to positively associate the cage with food and will consider it a safe place.
- If he is still reluctant to enter, place his bowl at the entrance. With each meal, push her a little more towards the bottom of the cage.
- Once he is comfortable eating inside the cage, close the door while he is distracted by the food. The first time you do this, open the door as soon as it's done. At each meal, leave the door closed for a longer time, until your dog is locked up for 10-20 minutes after he eats.
Part 2 of 3: Train it for Longer Periods in Cage
Step 1. Encourage your dog to spend time in a cage on a regular basis
Once he learns about that space, leave him indoors for short periods while you are indoors. Call him, put him in the cage and give him a treat, or say an order like "Doghouse!". Make sure you have an authoritative tone.
- Sit silently near the cage for 5-10 minutes, then go to another room for a few minutes. Come back, sit back without saying anything, then let the dog out. Repeat this exercise several times a day, always increasing the duration of confinement.
- Once your dog is quietly in the cage for about 30 minutes without seeing you, you can start leaving him locked when you leave the house for a short time or let him sleep there at night.
Step 2. Put the dog in the cage when you go out
Once he can spend 30 minutes indoors without getting anxious or making noise, you can start leaving him in the cage for short periods and get out of the house. Do not give weight to your departure with affectionate and prolonged greetings, because you would make the animal understand that you are leaving and would make it anxious. Praise your dog briefly, give him a treat when he enters the cage, then walk away quickly and quietly.
- Get the dog into the cage using the command of your choice and give him a treat. You can also put some non-dangerous toys inside.
- Don't always cage him at the same time as your routine before going out. Although you should avoid leaving it closed for too long before leaving, place it in the cage for 5 to 20 minutes before going outside.
- When you come back, if he is very happy to see you again, do not reward him by greeting him enthusiastically.
Step 3. Keep the dog in the cage at night
Lock him up by giving him the order of your choice and a treat. It may be a good idea to keep the cage in the room so that the animal does not associate that space with total isolation.
Once the dog sleeps through the night without moaning or barking, he begins to gradually return the cage to its original position
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with Unwanted Behaviors
Step 1. Don't allow him to moan or bark
If your dog whines, cries, or barks when you leave him in the cage for the night, it's hard to tell if he just wants to go out or if he needs to do the toilet. In the first case, he will usually stop complaining after a few minutes.
- If he continues to complain after you ignore him for a few minutes, use the order you usually give to encourage him to poop, like "Do you want to go out?". If he reacts positively, take him out. It is important not to play with him and not to take him for a walk when trying to cage-train him.
- Make sure you don't reward your dog with a tidbit when he complains or will start complaining whenever he's hungry.
- Never hit your dog, even gently. It would be animal abuse, which can lead to your dog developing anxiety and depression. Even shaking the cage or yelling at them can cause them anxiety and make the situation worse.
Step 2. Prevent him from biting the bars
It is common for anxious dogs to chew on bars, but this habit is not good for their teeth and can be annoying. You should start with the verbal command you taught the dog in general training. Try telling him "No!" with a firm voice. Repeat until he's careful.
- If verbal punishment does not get the desired result, try another solution. Some dogs interpret scolding as a form of reward, because they still get attention from you, so they're not always effective.
- Put something else inside the cage to chew on, such as a rubber toy or bone.
- Try spraying a bitter apple spray on the bars. It is a product that is not harmful to dogs, but that leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth and prompts them not to lick or bite the bars.
Step 3. Prevent separation anxiety
You shouldn't use the crate to deal with your dog's separation anxiety, as he may get hurt by trying to escape. You need to properly accustom the pet to spend some time alone.
- If you are leaving for a few days, ask the person who will feed and take the dog out to play with him, possibly enough to make him tired and sleep when he is alone. This way he will feel less anxiety.
- Try turning on the radio or television so that you don't think you're alone in the house. Often these tricks can calm him down.
- Get help from a professional dog behavior specialist.
