Discover How to CRATE TRAIN Your Puppy Now!
You’re far from alone if you want to learn how to crate train your dog. Every year, millions of dog owners learn how to crate train their dogs or restrict them to a single room when they leave the house. Crate training can reduce your dog’s anxiety and decrease the likelihood of destructive behavior and incessant barking. A crate is also an invaluable tool when you’re housetraining a new puppy, and it can make life much easier if your dog keeps trying to sleep on your sofa or your bed.
Your Dog Will Love His Crate
Whether you’re simply trying to decide whether a crate is a good idea, or you’ve taken the next step and you’re actually learning how to crate train your dog, you’ll appreciate knowing that most dogs love their crates. Dogs in the wild seek out small, safe spaces to burrow into and stay safe and warm. Crates perform that function admirably by giving dogs a safe place they can call their own. Dogs that have free run of large, open spaces often have difficulty identifying their specific “home” or “den” within it, and they can become riddled with anxiety trying to maintain control over the entire large area.
Discover How to CRATE TRAIN Your Puppy Now!
How to Crate Train Your Dog
Crate training is best done when your dog is still a puppy, because a mature dog that has never been crated will probably have some difficulty adjusting to the confined space and may become anxious. A puppy might be upset too, but he will adapt much more rapidly, and if he’s never slept in your bed, he probably won’t have much of anything to remain disturbed about.
During the day, it’s best to place your dog’s crate in a room where people can keep your dog company, such as your family room or living room. It should be placed in your bedroom at night so you’re present to provide comfort. After a while, perhaps a month or so, you should be able to leave the crate in the same place all the time, but at the beginning try to stay near your dog’s crate to keep him calm and feeling safe.
Make sure your dog’s crate gives him a clean, comfortable place to sleep in and contains a toy and water. It should be just large enough for him to sleep in and turn around, but not large enough for him to walk around in. Your dog might soil a crate that’s too large, because he’ll still be able to sleep comfortably and cleanly in the unsoiled end. If he can turn around inside the crate, it’s big enough, and not cruel or inhumane.
Discover How to CRATE TRAIN Your Puppy Now!
Never let your dog out of his crate if he becomes upset during crate training. That will only teach him that you’ll let him out and/or give him attention if he acts up. Instead, only let him out of the crate after he’s been calm and quiet for at least five minutes. When you do let him out, praise him lavishly, and give him a treat to let him know he behaved properly.
When you’re first starting your crate training, leave your puppy inside for only an hour or two at a time. As he matures, you can gradually lengthen that period to correspond to the hours you’ll be at work or a full night’s sleep.
Crate training your dog properly will ensure that he doesn’t become destructive, anxious, or bark for long periods of time when you leave home. A puppy will adapt quickly, causing less stress for everyone in your household.
