Many dog owners choose to crate train their dog because they’ll be gone during the day at work. It’s not that they don’t love their dogs,’ it’s that they simply don’t trust them. Dogs that are left to their own device might be destructive, they might go potty in the house, or they might have an issue with another animal that lives in the home. As long as the crate isn’t used as a means of punishment, the dog will be just fine while the owner is why.. Dogs will actually learn to love their crate and they’ll see it as a place that is familiar and secure. How then, does one crate train a dog?
Let the Training Begin!
When you begin to crate train your dog remember to never place him in his crate if he seems nervous or tense. Don’t ever push your dog into the crate because you don’t want him to fear it, you want him to enjoy it. Let him walk into the crate on his own. It might take time but you want your dog to associate the crate as being a good thing, and not a bad thing.
Start by allowing your dog to go into the crate with something that he enjoys, like a bone or a toy to play with while he is inside. Keep the door open in order to make sure his first experience inside the crate is positive. Don’t close the door until your dog is relaxed and comfortable. This rule applies to not only crate training, but when you need to leave the house as well.
The Right Size Crate
When choosing a crate, or a metal cage for a dog, it’s important to find one large enough to accommodate the size of your dog. Ideally the crate needs to be large enough to allow your dog to both turn around and sit down. If he’s not comfortable in his crate he may become scared and afraid of being in the crate while you are away. Make sure his crate or cage is padded with a comfy blanket so he can nap. Be sure, as well, to give him some toys, and maybe a treat, to chew on, just in case he gets bored.
Larger dogs that have spent their lives in just one crate are more difficult to housetrain because no one ever gave them a boundary when it came to being in the crate. They’ve used the crate their entire for life for sleeping as well as using the bathroom. It’s best to teach them boundaries when they are little….so….
If you happen to be training a puppy, be sure to block off one end of the crate. By blocking off one end, your puppy will learn that he can’t and shouldn’t poop where he eats. When your puppy gets a little older you can either remove the block or buy him a bigger crate.
Where Should I Put the Crate?
When crate training a dog it’s best to place the crate near you, especially during family activities, just to give him the opportunity to observe your family on a daily basis.
At bedtime, be sure the crate is in your bedroom so that your dog isn’t alone. He’ll be comforted by the fact that he is near you, all the time. He’ll also learn your sleeping pattern and if he needs to go outside or he gets lonely, you’re right there next to him.
Never place a crate in a cold, dark, basement because that will give off the impression that you are abandoning him. He’ll soon find his crate unpleasant and you’ll have a difficult time trying to get him to walk in on his own and as written above, you never, ever, force an unhappy dog into a crate.
Crates and Behavior
If your puppy or dog is fussing while in his crate, it’s best to ignore him. If he’s fussing and you take him out, it only reinforces bad behavior. Give him five minutes or so and if he stops fussing, then take him out but don’t make a big deal out of it. If it’s been a while since he has gone potty, he might need to use the bathroom, but hopefully at this point he is already housetrained.
Potty Time
Aside from preventing problems in the house related to destruction, another reason for crate training is to help predict when your dog needs to use the bathroom.
Start by keeping your dog on a regular feeding schedule. Once he finishes a meal, place him in his crate for ten to fifteen minutes. After the allotted time, take him outside to his ‘elimination’ spot. Tell him to ‘Go Pee!’ Eventually he’ll learn how to pee on command.
Today we would like to thank https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cratetraining.html for helping us with this post. Be sure to visit their site for more information on crate training, and more.
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