In our last article, we talked about stockpile management. This time, we are going to provide some tips on house training your pet so that if the time comes to evacuate, it is not too stressful for them to be confined to a cage.

House Training

Wouldn’t it be awesome if your pet would just walk into their cage on command, no questions asked? Not just in emergency situations, but also when you need to travel with them in a car or plane.

Life in evacuation shelters can be very stressful for your pet. Having their own private space, even a small one, can make the experience a lot less difficult. Training to help them get used to being in small spaces is important for this to work.

To help your pet adapt to their cages, put the cage in the living room or anywhere else in the house that your pet likes to chill. Putting something like their favorite toy or snack inside may also help prompt entering the cage. When it looks like they are about to go in, you give them the command (ex. “House!”). Once they are inside, give them a treat, and praise them. Repeat this process over and over, and in time, your pet will learn that the cage is not a scary place, but a place they can relax and receive treats.

The next step is closing the door of the cage. Feeding your pet in the cage or giving them chew toys that will keep them preoccupied will help them get used to spending long periods of time inside.

It’s never too late to start practicing! Patience is key.