Our First Night

We made it through the night!  No accidents!  Thor was crated, of course.  Twice he woke up and started to vocalize so I took him out.  The first time he peed; second time, nothing.  That's okay.  He tends to vocalize in his crate when first put in.  I'm learning how hard it can be to be a cross-over trainer!

For those who don't know... A cross-over trainer is one who has abandoned the old traditionally-used (and often aversive) training methods to embrace the new scientifically-based methods.  This requires ignoring all undesired behavior.  In the old days, I would have reacted to barking in the crate by yelling, throwing keys, and/or a squirt of water.  None of those worked very well if at all.  Now, it is important that I not react at all. 

This is so hard!  In my head, I am yelling.  I'm thinking, "What would it hurt if I squirted him?"  And immediately I know that it WOULD hurt.  Okay, so a squirt of water may not be physically painful.  But would YOU like to squirted in the face?  I know I wouldn't; and I no longer do anything to me dogs that would be unpleasant to me.  So I'm being completely non-reactive and each time Thor settles down a just a wee bit faster than the time before.  I did make a tiny mistake this morning.  I glanced at him as he was barking.  Now that is not a terrible mistake, but this is a dog who likes eye contact.  So a mere glance will be rewarding to him.  I don't want to let that happen again.  Ignore, ignore, ignore!  When he is quiet, he gets verbal praise and, sometimes, a treat.

And I am exhausted!