Go to a safe space

Go to a safe space

1. Throw a treat into your dog’s safe space (crate/pen/room etc) and say the cue “Bed”. Leave the door open and allow them to go in and get the treat then come out again. Make no fuss as they come out. All good things happen inside the safe space.
2. Throw a treat into your dog’s safe space (crate/pen/room etc) and say the cue “Bed”. Close the door for 1 second then reopen it and allow them to go in and get the treat then come out again.
3. Throw a treat into your dog’s safe space (crate/pen/room etc) and say the cue “Bed”. Gradually increase the time that the door is closed. If your dog barks/ whines/ scratches then you have progressed too quickly – reduce the time the door is shut again for a few repeats.
4. Cue “Bed”, when your dog walks into the safe space say “Good” and give them a treat. Shut the door as before but now vary how long it is shut for. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but never longer than your dog is comfortable with.
5. If you are going to use the safe space when people come to the door, start to also go and open the front door whilst they are in there to help them get used to sounds that they will hear, including saying “hello”.
6. Once they are doing well, you can add the sound of the doorbell/a knock prior to putting them in their safe space, so that the bell/knock can start to become a cue to go in their bed.