Crate Training Dogs

Pets - No Comments » - Posted on February, 6 at 4:03 am

Bringing that new puppy (or adult dog) into your home doesn’t have to be a maze of poop and puddles. Crate training dogs can teach your dog not only how to use the bathroom outside, but to feel safe and secure.

Using a crate is appealing to a dog’s natural instinct as a den animal, since dogs are genetically designed to find a secure place to sleep. Your dog’s crate training will provide a secure place for your dog, and will help your training process go much smoother.

Choosing the Correct Crate Size

When you purchase a crate for your dog, find one that is the right size. If it’s too small, your dog will not be able to turn around or move. If the crate is too large, your dog may not avoid messing in the space.

When crate training dogs you need to effectively teach them the right behavior while eliminating the wrong behaviors. Having a crate that fits your dogs and allows them to turn around and stand will provide the right tool to do this.

Introducing the Crate

When introducing your dog to the crate, make it an appealing place. Put favorite toys inside to attract your dog, and make it comfortable with a bone and blanket. Leave the door open so your dog can explore the crate without feeling “punished” and reward your dog with a treat when he goes inside voluntarily.

Letting your dog go in on his own during crate training and rewarding him will give him ownership in his “den space” and he will learn that it is a positive experience.

Starting the Training Process

When you first start leaving your puppy in the crate, make sure to be home and leave him for short periods of time. This part of crate training dogs keeps them from getting stressed when you leave for an hour or so before you let them out. Over time, extend the amount of time you leave your puppy.

Even though you are crate training your puppy to prevent accidents around the house, you will still need to work actively with your dog to potty train. Make sure that they have the opportunity to potty immediately before leaving your dog in the crate.

Another thing to note is that for safety reasons, you should always remove your puppy’s collar when putting him in the crate. There have been instances when collars have gotten hung on the bars, and this can lead to a very bad situation, one that we certainly do not wish to encounter.

When crate training dogs, don’t use the crate as punishment. You do not want the dog to associate the crate as a negative sign. He then will not enjoy going inside the crate. The crate should be seen in a positive light so that your dog will want to enter into his home. It should be a sanctuary for your dog – only use it as a brief timeout if it becomes necessary.

Your dog will most likely enjoy crate training. It is a popular and humane way to teach your dog the expected behaviors, which makes dog ownership much more enjoyable.

Chris Alexander is the publisher of DogTrainingCoursesReport.com, a website that helps users research popular dog training courses and dog training products by providing unbiased facts and user experiences.

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