PUTTING YOUR DOG IN “TIME-OUT” IS WASTING TIME

º
Happy dog in autumn forest

Feeling a little frustrated with how your dog training or puppy training is going? Giving your puppy lots of time-outs in the crate but that doesn’t seem to be doing anything? Well, I’m here to tell you why.
Dogs and puppies do not have the ability to make connections between intelligent concepts. They do not understand that being put in their crate is punishment for jumping on guests. This is just not a dog’s language.


So all this dog training of “time-outs” that you have been doing is not going to help you. To stop an unwanted behavior you need to correct the dog. A correction is something that is intolerable to the dog.
Being chased around the house (which is a game) and then being put in the crate (which is not uncomfortable) is not communicating clearly to the puppy or dog what you want them to do.
A better way to handle a jumping dog is to correct the behavior. Use a leash and regular collar, or prong collar, remote collar, shake a can of pennies or spray the dog with a water bottle. Or if your dog finds another action intolerable pursue that course. You need to make the act of jumping uncomfortable and intolerable to the dog.


I used to put my dogs in the backyard as a “time-out” when we had guests over. And all I would see was their happy panting faces and smooshed noses against the glass as they wondered when they could be let in to assault the guests. Ha ha.


So take control of your dog training and puppy training. Stop using the crate as a “time-out”. Instead, speak your dog’s language and help them understand what behavior is not wanted in your home.

More Tips

Check out our other posts

Does Training Count as Mental Exercise for Dogs?

Is your dog still full of energy even after a long walk?

The problem may not be a lack of physical exercise—it could be a lack of mental stimulation. In this article, you’ll discover why training counts as mental exercise, how it can help reduce common behavior problems like jumping, barking, and destructive chewing, and why just 10 minutes of focused training can be more effective than an hour of physical activity.

Learn simple ways to challenge your dog’s mind through training games, food puzzles, scent work, and everyday enrichment activities that create a calmer, happier, and better-behaved companion.

Read More »

The Dog Training Secret Most Owners Overlook

You walk your dog, play fetch, and make sure they get plenty of exercise—so why are they still barking, pulling on the leash, jumping on guests, or acting restless at home?

The answer may be simpler than you think. Many behavior problems aren’t caused by a lack of physical exercise but by a lack of mental stimulation. In this article, you’ll discover why mental exercise is essential for your dog’s well-being, how just a few minutes of brain work can reduce unwanted behaviors, and simple ways to create a calmer, more focused, and better-behaved dog.

Read More »

Your Dog Has 5 Bosses—and That’s the Problem

Think your dog is stubborn? Think again.

Many behavior problems—from ignoring commands and pulling on the leash to jumping on guests and begging at the table—aren’t caused by a lack of training. They’re caused by confusion. When family members use different commands, enforce different rules, or reward different behaviors, dogs are left guessing what’s expected of them.

In this article, you’ll discover how inconsistency creates hesitation, why your dog may listen to some people but not others, and the simple changes that can transform confusion into confidence.

Read More »

The Hidden Psychology Behind Dog Regression After Travel

Did your dog suddenly stop listening after boarding or vacation?

You’re not alone. Many dogs regress after travel because changes in routine reset their expectations and create confusion.

In this blog, you’ll learn the real psychological reason dogs test boundaries after vacations, how accidental habits reinforce bad behavior, and the simple “vacation reset” smart dog owners use to get their dogs listening again fast.

Read More »