What Dogs Can Teach 2 in The Taste of Honey

Crate training is a proven technique to potty train dogs. I’ve used it three times now with perfect success. But something interesting has happened with Reilly. His crate has become his refuge. We still have to crate him if we leave the house or we’ll come back to something chewed or destroyed–furniture or shoes, usually. I think he even realizes he can’t help himself when he’s left on his own because he eagerly runs to his crate when he knows we’re leaving. Maybe it’s habit. Maybe he knows it means he can’t act out. Maybe he’s just really eager to please and be the “good boy.” Also, whenever he feels threatened or scared or in trouble, he runs to his crate. It’s his safe spot. His calm zone. A place he feels protected both from his own actions (and therefore consequences) and outside stimulus. The lesson and irony here is that I do this, too. Most humans do. When we are afraid, we hide in our own cages. The difference is, we carry our cages with us.