How to Stop a Dog Barking in a Cage
You hate to do it, but you need to put your dog in a cage. Perhaps it’s best while you’re away at work so he’ll stop chewing the carpet. Or maybe he gets too rambunctious around visitors. What’s even worse than putting your dog in a cage, however, is the incessant barking. You can stop a dog barking in a cage with a lot of patience and a few strategic tips.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Make the cage his heavenly haven. Introduce your dog properly to the cage well before making him stay in it. Put it in a cozy corner with the door open and bedding inside. Get him to enter the cage daily by throwing treats inside and rewarding him more once he enters it. Cuddle, coo and woo him once he’s inside, showing him the cage is a great place to be.
-
2
Keep him occupied. Keep the cage filled with a few chew toys that you know he won’t choke on unsupervised. Very tough nylon bones work well.
-
-
3
Move the cage so he doesn’t feel isolated. Another tactic to stop cage barking is to move your dog into the middle of the action. Unless he is used to his cage in the cozy bedroom, move it into the middle of the living room or where people are so he doesn’t feel alone.
-
4
Teach him the cage is not permanent. Before you leave your dog in a cage for a lengthy period, start with 5- or 10-minute intervals. Put him in the cage and leave him alone. Do not give in to his whines and cries, but make sure he stays the whole time. Keep increasing the length of time, and even leave the house, as if you were going to work. Show him you will return soon.
-
5
Ignore him. If you go running to his cage every time he barks, your dog is going to associate barking with you coming to "save" him.
-
6
Cover it. If all else fails, you may want to throw a sheet or blanket over the cage in a kind of “lights out, be quiet” gesture. This method works wonders on birds, and often works for dogs. Just don't make it too heavy a fabric so he ends up in a caged steam bath. Air should be able to circulate.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Outfit the cage with a water bottle that attaches on the outside so your dog doesn’t get dehydrated. These are sold at pet stores.
Make sure the cage is securely fastened.
Make sure the cage has no sharp edges. Never use a broken cage or one that’s been cobbled together in a ramshackle way.
Watch what’s surrounding the cage. Even if that new blanket or electrical cords look far away, move them farther away. You’ll be amazed how far a dog can reach when he’s bored and locked in a cage.
Don’t treat the cage as a form of punishment, or the dog will hate it even more.
Never leave a dog in a cage with rawhide or things that can be broken down into small pieces that he could choke on.
- Photo Credit Photo of Sawyer by Ryn Gargulinski
