Dogs are den animals in nature and in the wild they look for little, secure shelters for their dens. This is the explanation that providing a crate for your pet is a common, successful tool for training. If you can successfully acclimate your puppy to its crate your pet will have a familiar, secure "den" that will make housebreaking, travelling and bed time much easier.
Be Aware: Before you begin crating your dog be aware that if your dog spends excessive time in its crate it could cause all types of psychological and behavioural problems. Your dog shouldn't be left in its crate for hours in the day, let out in the evening, only to go back to its crate overnight. Dogs in that situation can become destructive, panicky, unhappy and bark constantly. If you must leave your dog alone throughout the day while at work, there are alternative options to crating it. You can create a pen indoors or outdoors, and/or have someone come by the house to let your dog out of its dog crate and take it for a walk. Dogs need activity and are extremely unhappy confined for long periods of time. Your dog may get panicky since it has no way to know of when it is going to be let out again.
That having been said, if you can spend some time with your dog during the day and can let your dog out of its crate every couple of hours, dog crate training can be a good experience for both you and your dog.
Steps to Crate Training
Dogs like predictability. They like being on a schedule and having the ability to know what is going to happen. This improves their behavior and disposition. That is the reason why crate training can be a smart way to house train your young dog. The crate may be employed as a place to nap and rest between bathroom breaks and play. Creating a schedule for taking your dog out to do its business and get exercise will improve the success of crate training.
Pick the Right Crate
The key to choosing the best crate for your dog is getting the correct size. You should find a crate that is large enough for your dog to stand, sit, stretch out and turn around in. Anything smaller than this will be exceedingly uncomfortable for your pet and will make crate-training more difficult. Anything bigger than this will make it tempting for your dog to utilise a corner of the crate for its toilet. Dogs do not like to go to the loo where they sleep so they typically won't soil the right sized crate.
When setting up a new puppy in its crate, consider a little crate or barricade part of the crate until it grows into it to avoid soiling.
Crate Location
The location makes a difference in your dog's happiness being in the dog crate. When you're home and the dog is crated you should be close by the crate. If feasible, while crating overnite place the crate in your bedroom. This avoids feelings of isolation and panic and allows you to be aware right away if there's a problem.
Getting Your Dog Used to Its Crate
The crate-training process should begin slowly so the dog doesn't feel punished, pushed or forced into its cage. This would have negative results on crate-training. Make the crate inviting for your dog by placing pads on the floor, blankets, toys and treats within the crate.
The dog should be encouraged into the crate while you speak to it and reassure it. You might like to lead your pet into its crate by placing treats inside . Don't close the door on the crate the first couple of times your pet goes inside. You want to establish the crate as a relaxing refuge, not a cage. Praise your dog for going into the crate. Teach them it is a positive place.
Once your dog feels more comfortable in the crate you can start closing the door. The best time to try this is after they go to sleep inside the crate. Ideally you would give your dog a few experiences limited to its crate while you are home. Praise the dog for good behaviour and give it lots of treats. Start with short periods of time confined. Work your way up to a full half hour left in the crate. Once the dog is ok in its crate for this long without incident, you can begin leaving it in for longer periods, for example overnight.
Always make a calm exit from the room and don't drag out your leave-taking. This may only make the temptation to whine and try and escape worse. Simply praise the dog, give it a treat and then leave. When you return do not create excitement by being loud or excessively enthusiastic. Let your dog out of its cage and praise him. This inhibits unnecessary anxiety over the crate.
If Your Pup Whines Or Barks
This behaviour is common and can be particularly tough on you and your pet. The key is to avoid awarding barking or whining by letting the dog out of its crate. Doing this tells your dog that if they bark or whine they'll be let out of the crate - which is the complete opposite of what you are trying to acheive. Instead wait patiently for it to stop fussing for one or two minutes. Then you can let the dog out, praise them, give them a treat and encourage the good behavior. It's vital that each training session ends on a high note.
Words of Wisdom
- Do not use the crate as punishment. This creates a negative feeling towards the crate as a cell and not a comfortable, safe place. If necessary, use the cage for brief time outs for aggressive or damaging behavior. Be certain to let your dog out as soon as it has calmed down and praise good behaviour.
- Crate-training happens at different rates for different dogs. Based on your dog's age, disposition and previous experiences, crate-training can take anywhere from just a couple of days to several months. Some dogs will simply not take to crate-training, especially older dogs who have been improperly crated in the past.
- Remove any collars or tags before placing a dog in a crate. These can be choking/strangling hazards.
- Be aware of the environment where the crate is placed. Do not leave your pet in a crate where there are hot or cold temperatures, or it is exposed to the elements in any way.
- Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners in a dog crate, carrier, or pen as it will inspire your dog to urinate.
- Never leave your dog in its crate for over 3-4 hours at a time.
- Crate your dog only till it can be trusted to roam freely in your home without any safety or destruction issues.
Be Aware: Before you begin crating your dog be aware that if your dog spends excessive time in its crate it could cause all types of psychological and behavioural problems. Your dog shouldn't be left in its crate for hours in the day, let out in the evening, only to go back to its crate overnight. Dogs in that situation can become destructive, panicky, unhappy and bark constantly. If you must leave your dog alone throughout the day while at work, there are alternative options to crating it. You can create a pen indoors or outdoors, and/or have someone come by the house to let your dog out of its dog crate and take it for a walk. Dogs need activity and are extremely unhappy confined for long periods of time. Your dog may get panicky since it has no way to know of when it is going to be let out again.
That having been said, if you can spend some time with your dog during the day and can let your dog out of its crate every couple of hours, dog crate training can be a good experience for both you and your dog.
Steps to Crate Training
Dogs like predictability. They like being on a schedule and having the ability to know what is going to happen. This improves their behavior and disposition. That is the reason why crate training can be a smart way to house train your young dog. The crate may be employed as a place to nap and rest between bathroom breaks and play. Creating a schedule for taking your dog out to do its business and get exercise will improve the success of crate training.
Pick the Right Crate
The key to choosing the best crate for your dog is getting the correct size. You should find a crate that is large enough for your dog to stand, sit, stretch out and turn around in. Anything smaller than this will be exceedingly uncomfortable for your pet and will make crate-training more difficult. Anything bigger than this will make it tempting for your dog to utilise a corner of the crate for its toilet. Dogs do not like to go to the loo where they sleep so they typically won't soil the right sized crate.
When setting up a new puppy in its crate, consider a little crate or barricade part of the crate until it grows into it to avoid soiling.
Crate Location
The location makes a difference in your dog's happiness being in the dog crate. When you're home and the dog is crated you should be close by the crate. If feasible, while crating overnite place the crate in your bedroom. This avoids feelings of isolation and panic and allows you to be aware right away if there's a problem.
Getting Your Dog Used to Its Crate
The crate-training process should begin slowly so the dog doesn't feel punished, pushed or forced into its cage. This would have negative results on crate-training. Make the crate inviting for your dog by placing pads on the floor, blankets, toys and treats within the crate.
The dog should be encouraged into the crate while you speak to it and reassure it. You might like to lead your pet into its crate by placing treats inside . Don't close the door on the crate the first couple of times your pet goes inside. You want to establish the crate as a relaxing refuge, not a cage. Praise your dog for going into the crate. Teach them it is a positive place.
Once your dog feels more comfortable in the crate you can start closing the door. The best time to try this is after they go to sleep inside the crate. Ideally you would give your dog a few experiences limited to its crate while you are home. Praise the dog for good behaviour and give it lots of treats. Start with short periods of time confined. Work your way up to a full half hour left in the crate. Once the dog is ok in its crate for this long without incident, you can begin leaving it in for longer periods, for example overnight.
Always make a calm exit from the room and don't drag out your leave-taking. This may only make the temptation to whine and try and escape worse. Simply praise the dog, give it a treat and then leave. When you return do not create excitement by being loud or excessively enthusiastic. Let your dog out of its cage and praise him. This inhibits unnecessary anxiety over the crate.
If Your Pup Whines Or Barks
This behaviour is common and can be particularly tough on you and your pet. The key is to avoid awarding barking or whining by letting the dog out of its crate. Doing this tells your dog that if they bark or whine they'll be let out of the crate - which is the complete opposite of what you are trying to acheive. Instead wait patiently for it to stop fussing for one or two minutes. Then you can let the dog out, praise them, give them a treat and encourage the good behavior. It's vital that each training session ends on a high note.
Words of Wisdom
- Do not use the crate as punishment. This creates a negative feeling towards the crate as a cell and not a comfortable, safe place. If necessary, use the cage for brief time outs for aggressive or damaging behavior. Be certain to let your dog out as soon as it has calmed down and praise good behaviour.
- Crate-training happens at different rates for different dogs. Based on your dog's age, disposition and previous experiences, crate-training can take anywhere from just a couple of days to several months. Some dogs will simply not take to crate-training, especially older dogs who have been improperly crated in the past.
- Remove any collars or tags before placing a dog in a crate. These can be choking/strangling hazards.
- Be aware of the environment where the crate is placed. Do not leave your pet in a crate where there are hot or cold temperatures, or it is exposed to the elements in any way.
- Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners in a dog crate, carrier, or pen as it will inspire your dog to urinate.
- Never leave your dog in its crate for over 3-4 hours at a time.
- Crate your dog only till it can be trusted to roam freely in your home without any safety or destruction issues.
About the Author:
Pamela Noble writes helpful articles on pet topics for DogFolks.com . You can find information on great pet products on the Dog Folks website.
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