Day 6 -- Getting Ready

We're getting ready for Thanksgiving here and practicing how we are going to interact with guests. I use an exercise pen (x-pen) or a crate with Kazi and Capri for a couple of reasons. I use it for house training; if one of them does not go to the bathroom when I take them outside, I can confine them for about 10 minutes and try again. This is not a punishment. The confined area is simply to prevent them from toileting in the house. It still has toys, a bed, and stuffed Kongs or other treats to make it a pleasant environment for the dogs. Most dogs will not soil areas where they sleep or eat and this seems to be the case with Kazi and Capri as well.

I also use an x-pen if I can't watch them directly. Any time a dog does something they are not suppose to (i.e. chew on furniture or pee in the house) they get reinforced for that behavior. It feels good to chew on something so it pays off for them. It's like getting a cookie for being naughty. If I prevent them from doing these behaviors they don't get reinforced for them. Right now Kazi and Capri are teething so it's very tempting for them to chew on things. If I am in the room with them I can interrupt that behavior and redirect them to a more appropriate thing to chew on and praise them when they are doing the right thing.

The x-pen will be perfect for Thanksgiving because I can let my guests in the door without the dogs practicing jumping on people. That gives me a chance to instruct all my guests how to behave when I do let the dogs out. I want to make sure NO ONE is petting them if they are jumping up. This only reinforces that jumping behavior. Everyone will be instructed to turn their back if the dogs start to jump and praise them lavishly and pet them if they sit. We've been practicing all week for this day! I'll also make sure they are well exercised before the guests arrive. It would be unfair to expect them to behave if they had a whole lot of excess energy. Luckily training wears dogs out a bit with all that thinking. We are looking forward to tomorrow!