It doesn't matter if your dog has behavior issues or is a puppy just starting in a world of living with humans, behavior management is paramount to the successful training and cohabitation with a dog.

​Baby gates, exercise pens, and crates are very useful tools that can and should be implemented as part of your dog's daily life and routine. Many people are opposed to crate training, however, when used properly, crates are a very humane tool to use. In addition to looking at crates as a training tool, all pet parents must keep in mind that at some point their dog will need to spend time at a vet clinic in a kennel.

Crate-trained dogs accept kennel time in a vet clinic so much better than those who are not. The increased stress level of a dog not familiar with confinement urinates and defecates in the kennel, barks, and digs to get out possibly injuring themselves and requiring further medical attention and even sedation. Too many times I have seen dogs break off their toenails and/or a tooth in their desperation to be free from the confines of a kennel. Vet clinics cannot just allow their patients to roam the clinic, so they are instead forced to keep the dog crated even though the dog is suffering from anxiety.

Gates, crates, and pens are also very useful for giving your pet a safe place to settle down when company is just a little too much for them. Many dogs becoming lost could have been prevented by having a secure location inside the home before a door was ever opened. Even kids can learn to help make sure their canine family member is safe and secure before inviting friends in.

Many dogs are great family companions yet are nervous around guests. That doesn't make them a bad dog or cause them to need rehoming. It simply means that this dog prefers not to have her home invaded by strangers. When she is comfortable being behind a baby gate, in an exercise pen, or crated she is much more relaxed with house guests because she knows she is safe and will not be forced to be in situations that are uncomfortable for her.

I often hear "She is crate trained but she screams when I close the crate door or tries to escape from it". A crate-trained dog views their crate as a comfortable place to be. They are not distressed nor do they fight to get out of their crate. If you need help crate training your dog download my online course Crate Training Made Simple

Why is behavior management important during training?

If you are training a puppy or retraining an adult dog, there will be times when you are unable to be there in the moment to prevent unwanted behavior from occurring. Each time a dog is allowed to practice behavior we deem unwanted, there is a greater chance of it becoming a reoccurring behavior (i.e. jumping on people, darting out the door, barking at the neighbor, stealing food off the table, etc.). This is when having your dog behind a safety gate or in a crate can be a training lifesaver! Different methods work for different dogs. Some prefer a crate in a quiet room, others a safety gate so they can still be part of things but have a clear boundary and yet others would rather be out of sight, out of mind (in the backyard or garage away from all of it).