Difficult dogs aren’t always dog that bite or struggle. Noisy, easily excitable dogs can be very difficult too. They disrupt the day and cause stress for the other dogs.

I’ve been trying out some things with new clients and especially puppies. It’s been pretty successful.

I set them up in the kennel right next to my table and arm myself with lots of super super yummy treats. I don’t say anything, I just start dropping treats to them. I give out lots of treats, broken into very tiny pieces so I’m not overloading their tummies. It doesn’t take long before they have their full attention on me. When they are watching me, waiting to see if I’m going to rain yummies on them again, they usually are not paying much attention to the other dogs, to the fact they have been left alone by Mom, to being in a kennel. At that time, I slow down the treats just a little bit.

They pay even more attention to me then. When I reach behind me, am I reaching for another treat or my comb at my station? They start to wonder about my pattern. What makes it time for me to give them another? While their little wheels are turning, trying to figure this out, again, they are not barking. They are not paying attention to the fact they are in a crate. They are quietly trying to figure it all out.

At this point, I try to capture a behavior. Usually it’s when the dog either sits or lies down. He gets a quiet “Good boy” and the treat. It’s really the first time I talk to them much at all. They are usually pretty quick to get back up again and at this point, most of the nervous excitement is gone, so it doesn’t take long for them to sit or lie down again and that’s when they get another.

Most puppies are pretty smart. They figure out really quick what makes the treats happen. If I’ve started with them sitting, I also watch for them to lie down, which eventually they will, and start treating for that too. When they pick that up, I stop treating for the sit and give it only when they are in a down.

Within a few hours, they are calm and relaxed, just hanging out waiting for their turn to go home. Because they are right next to my table, I am able to continue working without much interruption.

Dogs get better at what they get to practice most, be it barking and screaming in a kennel or sitting quietly. Three or 4 appointments with them kenneled right by me, and the routine for them is sitting quietly. They’ve only had the opportunity to practice that, so they get really good at it. They can usually then be moved into the kennel room without any problems.