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Crate Training For Dogs

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Dog Crate Training

First you will need to help them get used to the crate, before you begin locking them in. You can watch your dog from a distance to see how long it takes them to calm down and get used to the crate. If he shows any signs of protest, you should not let him outside. Be patient and let him calm down and then you can let him out. Do this exercise for a couple of days until he has learned to enter the crate and leave it on his own.

Many people protest against crate training a dog because, according to them, it is similar to solitary confinement. Still, the benefits to crate training your dog mentioned in this article, and several other benefits that we will not take the time to explore, show this to be a good method for both the owner and their dog.

With appropriate and sufficient training, crate training your puppy or dog will make him see it as his haven instead of an enclosure that makes him feel unsafe and lonely.

This type of training is based on the idea of a den or nesting place where dogs can go in order to feel safe and secluded. For dogs, a den can serve as their home. Your dog will respond well to your patience and use of correct techniques when training them to use the crate.

Why You Should Use a Crate

a) For occasions when the dog cannot run around freely, placing them in a crate will be a good choice for controlling their movements.

b) Dogs will begin to feel secure inside the crate and appreciate the safety zone it provides when they are in an unfamiliar place.

c) They would have a place for solace when they wanted to rest or when feeling under stressed where no one could bother them.

d) Some dogs may have some behavior problems that can be helped with proper crate training.

e) It is also a good place for puppies that are still untrained and might cause some trouble within the home such as biting.

f) This could also be good for dogs with separation anxiety.

g) It could secure the dog whenever the owner has to bring him outside.

h) It increases his confidence due to the security it provides.

i) Crates could enhance training by giving the dog a better sense of direction for routine activities.

Size Does Matter

The crate should be large enough to accommodate the dog on all fours, to let him lie down comfortably and to give him enough space to turn around without hitting the walls. However, if you also intend to use the crate for travel, the crate should be larger than the regular above mentioned size.

If you are using the crate for training only, it should follow the guidelines that was just mentioned, since a larger crate would give him enough room to do unwanted things in the crate.

How to introduce the crate to the dog

Once you feel your dog is ready for the crate, that is the best time to introduce them to it. After buying the right crate, you could place it somewhere in the house where it would catch the dog’s attention. Let him explore his crate first for the first week with the door removed.

If he does not show any sign of interest, try leaving some of his favorite treats inside. Once he becomes more familiar with the crate, try feeding your dog inside it. This will condition his mind that the crate is for him and he can safely go inside it without fearing any harm.