Crate training dogs is a necessity for most people and a great way to raise your dog from being a rotten little puppy to a well trained old friend. Some people worry that crate training might be cruel or that their puppy/dog will hate them for it, but when used for the right reasons, nothing could be further from the truth. Crate training your dog is a highly effective and perfectly humane way to establish your dog his own place in your home and give him a strong feeling of security.
Crate training is a popular dog training method which provides your furry friend with his own special den and establishes acceptable behaviors for life in your home, including housebreaking. Dog crates are also a safe place to keep your pet in the house while you are gone if they aren’t allowed roam the house without supervision. But crate training a dog is not only useful for potty training; it can be useful for many things.
Here are 5 important tips for crate training your puppy or adult dog…
1) Never send your dog to his crate as a punishment and don’t ever put your dog in the crate when you are angry at him for any reason. You want your dog to associate the crate with good things. If your dog misbehaves, simply lead him to the cage with encouraging words. Think of it as a happy place for your puppy to go for a break when needed. Try to sit with your dog for a while until he is used to the crate and reassure him that you are not angry.
2) Make your dogs crate comfortable and homey for them. Put blankets, chew toys, treats, and a pillow to rest upon. However, you shouldn’t put your dog’s food or water in the crate with him unless you will be away for several hours. It should be a place for them rest, not live.
3) Do not put your dog/puppy in the cage all, or even most, of the time. For example, don’t leave him in the crate all day while you are at work or all night while you are sleeping somewhere else. How would you like to be stuck in a cramped cage for hours upon hours? Not fun!
4) When crate training a dog, always be consistent. If your dog is jumping on visitors and you are using the crate to redirect him from this habit, be sure to crate him every time he does it. Remember to keep it a pleasant experience for your dog by staying positive and having your visitors go to the crate to say hello and pet your dog.
5) Crate training your puppy or adult dog is much more effective when you have a scheduled crate time. Like people, dogs needs to rest. Giving them a set “nap time” will help make them behave far better and calm them down too.
If you want a well trained dog, crate training your puppy is one part of the dog training process that needs to be done. Used correctly it will make your dog accept you as his master and pack leader, which is the first step in any successful dog training routine.
Crate train your dog offers him a little place to call his own. If done right, with love and patience, crate training a dog can help the two of you build an amazing friendship and take away some of the headaches that can come with dog ownership.
Crate Training Your Puppy
Whether you believe it or not, crate training is one of the best things you can do for your new puppy. Many people think that crate training a puppy is difficult, but it’s not if it is done correctly.
It is essential to take notes of the times when your puppy likes to eat, sleep, and “go potty” because this will help determine the best times for the crate training.
Crate training should be handled with the care and patience that you would expect from a loved family member, and is not about keeping your dog locked up for extended lengths of time. That is very bad to do!
Puppies naturally avoid soiling the area where they will eat and sleep and this is one of the reasons why crate training is important. However, there are bound to be accidents along the way when your puppy will poop or pee in the crate but he should not be punished for this because it will be counter-productive to your puppy potty training and crate training.
Crate training is one of the best methods for potty training a puppy, so it is more than worth taking the time to do it while they are still young to eliminate one more thing that can be a problem with dogs as they grow older.
Most puppies dogs will whine, bark, and maybe even throw an all out tantrum when they first start crate training so, while it might seem like your puppy doesn’t like crate training initially, most will learn to love their crate as their own place very quickly.
Crate training should start with short periods of time, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, and slowly build up to an hour or two as they get more used to their crate.
Crate Training an Older Dog
Many people assume that only puppies can be crate trained so they refrain from crate training older dogs because they think it is too difficult or can’t be done. This is not true.
There are also many people who think crate training is cruel and inhumane but this is also not true as long as it is done correctly. A dog that has been properly crate trained will actually enjoy the security of having its own place to go. Even at times when they are not expected to be in the crate you will often find your dog relaxing in it enjoying its own little space of the world.
Provided the crate is in a sheltered place and there is fresh water available they will be completely happy to have their own little home within a home. The crate should also be kept clean at all times and contain something comfortable to sleep on, such as a blanket.
The crate should always be made accessible for your dog with the door open when they aren’t required to stay in it so they are free to come and go as they please.
Older dogs can find the crate a very secure place for them to go since they tend to become less confident with themselves and their surroundings as they age. If an older dog does have an “accident” in their crate it is very important to clean it up immediately so they will continue to enjoy their space.
Finally, one of the most important things to remember is that your dogs crate should never be used as a place to send him as a punishment. Doing so will completely ruin your chances of ever making the crate a safe and happy place for your dog.
* Final note: It’s VERY IMPORTANT to remember that a crate is not a place to lock your dog or puppy away all day and night, and it’s not a place for them to live! The dog crate is only to be used for training purposes and as a place for your dog to call his own if he wants to get away. You can close them in the crate if you are going to be gone for short periods of time but they should NEVER be left in the crate for a long time. Dogs need to stretch, exercise, go potty, eat, drink, and socialize… none of which can be done in a crate! What’s the point in having dogs if you are going to make them live their lives locked in a crate?