Katushka | 12-29-2006 06:47 AM | Getting them used to totes??? For those of you who's dogs weren't naturally calm and quiet when you first put them in a carrying tote/purse, how did you get them used to it? Vixxi never used to say a word let alone move even when I first got her and we started, but she seems to be a little more reluctant now to get in than she used to. If I give her a treat in it, she's perfectly fine.
To help get them used to it, do you do anything else but just put them in and carry them around at home as 'practice'? When/if they whine, are you supposed to say 'No!' or otherwise let them know it's unacceptable; or do you just ignore it and let them work it out and get used to it on their own? I always wondered about that- same goes for when the pup is whining in it's crate (if you already know he/she doesn't need to potty and is just whining from seperation anxiety.) There are people who'll try to verbally 'correct' the dogs behavior by telling it to be quiet (which I have seen to work for many people); and others who just ignore it rather than giving it ANY attention. I've just always ignored it once I know she's pottied and all that, as she DOES have seperation anxiety; but it's harder to 'ignore' it if it's whining in a tote that's pressed against your side, lol. |