Another golden nugget from "Crate Games"

I took this gem of an idea straight out of Susan Garrett’s “Crate Games“. I put a sign on each puppy’s crate asking passersby to treat them, and left a bowl of assorted yumminess on top as well. It was only Raph’s second show (we had three cancelled due to the hurricane) and Gitta’s first show. So neither had a chance to get nervous about being in a crate with strangers walking by.

Every time I looked over, someone was treating them and they looked happy as can be!!! This came STRAIGHT out of crate games though this 2 min segment was geared toward dogs that are uncomfortable with people approaching their crate. Though Susan Garrett gets full credit, I was quite proud of myself that I noted it, remembered it, and actually acted on it! I think because I had puppies, I immediately realized what a wonderful idea this would be for a dog that hadn’t had a chance to become uncomfortable. If I hadn’t had puppies in the house, I might have promptly forgot it since my other dogs are old hands at being crated at trials. Many people commented on what a wonderful idea this was and we will continue with this at every trial till the pups are a year old! It has now become part of my permanent puppy curriculum.

The sign says “PLEASE TREAT ME! I want to learn that strange people and dogs predict great things!!!”.