10/21/2026
**Repost - fixed glitch in video
The last trainer told this dog's owner to discourage him from following him around the house. It went as far as shouting at him to go away. To offer him food to go in his crate but he wouldn’t go in. To yell at him to stop barking in there. The dog would panic in the crate and attack the crate out of distress.
Apparently, that was supposed to help his separation anxiety.
It didn't.
Today was lesson one.
Total lesson time was 55 minutes.
We started with food, giving him the opportunity to think and discover the crate for himself. He had a moment of clarity and chose to go in without being prompted.
Next, a verbal cue. Leash on, then off. No food. He goes in and lies down, settling almost immediately.
Watch what happens at the end. We're sitting on the floor, playing, being silly, just hanging out. I tell him, "That's a lot of movement for one day," and he walks into his crate on his own.
I'm not claiming we've fixed his separation anxiety in one session. But this is a hell of a good start.
He's discovering a new way to relate to the crate and discovering strengths he didn't know he had.
We're building confidence and adaptability, not micromanaging behaviour that doesn't matter or move us forward.
Self-motivation. Self-discovery.
That's where we start.