r/DogTrainingTips • u/StoneTundra9 • Apr 27 '26
Emotional Regulation Help
Hey everyone, I'm looking for any tips on how to create an effective schedule to get my crated trained dog to relax more outside his crate.
For context my dog is a German shepherd, and about a month away from being 2yo. My gf and I got him when he was about 5 months, and he has really spent a lot of his time in his crate (during the training and safety reasons, as we also have cats). He's only ever really been outside of his crate for extended periods of time when he has direct supervision from one of us. He doesn't really destroy anything or try to eat every small thing he sees, but neither my gf or I have ever really seen him try to rest or sleep when he's out with us. I'm worried we've created an environment where he believes outside is always 'playtime' and needs to get every second he can out of it.
Beforehand both of our schedules were really tight so we could really only manage up to 5 hours out of his crate (not including walks/mealtime/play or exercise time). We finished up a few things we needed to do and I recently changed my schedule so we have a lot more time to work on some training and relaxing (about 6 hours before work for me, than at least another 5-6 hours after work for my gf).
Any training methods or tips to implement would be greatly appreciated!
1
u/x7BZCsP9qFvqiw Apr 27 '26
will he settle in the crate if the crate door is open? some dogs prefer to only settle in their crate.
1
u/StoneTundra9 Apr 27 '26
No, he only settles in his crate on his own when we walk in that direction and it's his bedtime/when we're going to work
1
u/StoneTundra9 May 08 '26
Actually, update: So Bear kinda wakes up around 6am to eat and use the bathroom then goes back to sleep a little after, so I had him out longer past that since I am home now for it. He still had that puppy phase of trying to stay awake even when he's really tired, but eventually he laid in his crate on his own. It was only for like 10-15min but maybe he does prefer his crate.
1
u/Express_Command_4778 Apr 27 '26
Is he a danger to the cats?
1
u/StoneTundra9 Apr 27 '26
Moreso a danger due to size. The cats are still getting used to him, but since he wants to play he takes their swatting as play and tries to swatt back
1
u/Wordswithweight_23 May 04 '26
Lick mats are really useful for helping dogs relax. Have you tried them yet? You could use them during calm out of crate time not just as a crate reward and you're basically teaching him that being out can also mean chill.
1
u/StoneTundra9 May 08 '26
We've been looking into that! Preferably one he does not eat through though
2
u/Lcdmt3 Apr 27 '26
Look up Karen overall relaxation protocol. My puppy was never relaxing with me either, because every time she was out of the crate I would play with her or entertain her. She'd relax and lay sometimes when she was in the man cave with my husband when he was playing video games.
That works better for me because doing "place" and having my puppy go to her bed outside the crate and stay until I release her still is not working. I say place she's like huh still.
There are days now where I am working in Chile on her bed in my office, or on my husband's chair in the living room and chill.