Dog Crate Training – Crate Training Your Dog

One of the most effective ways to train your dog is to use a crate. A dog crate is a cage made of moulded plastic or wire, which provides your dog with a comfortable, safe, and secure environment when you are unable to supervise it. As well as protecting your dog from a number of household dangers, such as poisons and electrical cables, crates can also assist with housebreaking. If used correctly, your dog will soon learn to love being in its crate and should eventually start entering it confidently of its own accord.

How To Begin Crate Training

It is obviously best to begin crate training when your dog is still a puppy; although older dogs can still be trained successfully. You should begin the training process as soon as your new dog arrives home, as this will help to speed up the settling in process. Crates come in a variety of styles and sizes to suit different sizes of dogs, and range in price from around $32 to $220. Stainless steel food and water bowls, which clip onto the sides of the crate, can also be purchased at a cost of around $7 to $14 each.

Ideally, a puppy should begin with a small crate and then move up to a bigger one once it has outgrown it. This may, of course, work out quite expensive; so it may be better to purchase a bigger crate in the first place and then block off one end of it to reduce the initial size. A crate should be large enough for your dog to stand up, sit down, stretch out, and turn round in comfortably.

Once you have purchased a suitable crate, it is time to begin the following training process:

1. Place the crate in a suitable part of the house, such as the kitchen or family room, and then put some dog toys and a soft rug or blanket inside it.

2. Before placing your dog in the crate, remember to remove its collar and take it to the toilet. Once your dog is safely inside the crate, close the door and stay next to it for a short while.

3. Offer your dog some treats through the side of the crate and talk gently to it until it has calmed down and looks settled. You can then move away from the crate and leave your dog alone for a short period of time.

4. Go back to your dog and check that it is still happy and comfortable. It may take your pet a little time to adjust, and it may whimper and whine at first in the hope of being let out again within a few minutes. You should, however, never let your dog out until it has settled down and stopped whining for at least five minutes; otherwise it will think that all it has to do is complain and you will remove it immediately.

5. The first thing you must do when you open the crate door is to give your dog lots of fuss and attention. Then you must provide your dog with a drink of water and a toilet break before placing it back in the crate. You should start off by leaving your dog in its crate for about thirty minutes, and then gradually increase the time to between three and four hours – this will get your dog used to being left in the crate when you are out of the house for a period of time. It is worth remembering that puppies should not be left for too long on their own at first, as they have little bladder control until they are over four months old.

6. If your dog goes to the toilet in its crate, don’t make a fuss about it. You should simply remove the dog, clean up the crate, and then continue with the training process. You should never use the crate as a punishment either; otherwise your dog will associate it with unpleasantness and may start refusing to use it.

7. Always bear in mind that your dog’s crate is his/her domain and not a toy; so do not allow children or other animals to go inside it.

As well as being perfect for use in the home, crates are also great for travel. Some crates even come in special angled designs so that they can fit snugly in the back of the car. Once your dog has accepted its crate, you will find that it makes your life and your dog’s life much easier. You will never have to worry about making a trip to the vets, or trying to keep your dog away from a nervous visitor again!