You and your dog will both benefit from crate training your adult or puppy dog. Crate training can be intimidating for some people. Dogs feel safe and at home in crates because they are small and enclosed, like dens in the wild.
Introduce your puppy or dog to the crate gradually, with lots of positive reinforcement. Your dog will soon find the crate a comfortable and safe place to rest. It may take some time to train adult dogs rather than puppies to use the crate, but if you are patient, your dog will soon be a fan of it.
Part 1-Prepare the Crate
Choose a suitable spot for your crate
Crate training is best started in an area where you spend most of your day, such as the living room or kitchen. Dogs love to be social and feel part of the pack. You should not keep the crate in a separate area, such as the garage or basement. Your dog should not feel that the crate is an isolating punishment.
- When training a puppy, you should make sure to move the cage to your bedroom at night so that the puppy can go to the bathroom.
- Dog owners often set up two crates: one in their living room and one in their bedroom.
You can make the crate more comfortable for your dog.
For your dog’s comfort, place a blanket or towel at the bottom of the cage. You can drape a blanket or towel on top of a wire or mesh crate to make it more comfortable for your dog.
- Dogs and puppies may mistakenly think the bedding is something they can chew on or use as a bathroom. If this happens, take the bedding out and clean the cage. You can put it back later, as your dog grows.
- Don’t stuff the crate too full of toys, treats, pillows, or other items. Your dog should be able to relax in a crate. Too much entertainment can cause them to get stressed.
Be enthusiastic about the crate.
Your dog might come over and inspect it. To show enthusiasm, say positive things about your crate and let your dog explore it. If you force your dog to use the crate or close the door immediately if he enters, It takes patience and time to get used to the crate. Your dog will be more excited if you are more excited about it.
Part 2-Gradually train for the crate
Open the door of the crate.
You can leave the door open to encourage your dog’s curiosity and ask him to go in. Your dog might be tempted to go inside, but he may not be convinced. To let your dog know you are happy, praise him for entering the crate.
- If your dog attempts to enter the house, do not close the door. Wait until your dog is inside the crate before closing the door.
Add some treats to the crate.
To build interest in your dog, you can leave the treats in the crate for a while to get them used to it. Or let the dog go to the treats right away. You can let the dog poke its head in the crate to grab the treats, but it is fine. Gradually place the treats farther back in the crate, until the dog must go inside to retrieve them.
Put your dog’s favorite chew toy or other favorite toys in the crate.
You can try placing a favorite chew toy or a new, more appealing treat inside your dog’s crate.
Start feeding your dog in the crate.
Place the food item in the back of the crate and let the dog enjoy his first meal.
Shut the door.
When your dog is content to stand and eat in the crate, you can close the door. Keep your dog close by so he can see you. After the dog has finished eating, you can open the door after the dog finishes. After each meal, slowly open the door for a few minutes more until the dog stays in the crate for 10 minutes.
Make your dog more comfortable with being left alone in the cage.
Give your dog a treat and call him to the crate. Next, give your dog a command such as “kennel-up” and point to the cage. Encourage him to go in. Give him a treat, and then close the door. For the first five to ten minutes, stay close to the crate. After that, take a break and go outside for a while. Return to the room and let the dog go.
You can crate your dog when you are away from home.
If your dog is able to stay in the cage for at least 30 minutes without whining or showing signs of distress during this time, you can let him go while you are out. Before you go, exercise your dog and then put him in the cage. Perhaps you want to bring a toy with you. You can simply place him in the same crate you used previously and then leave.
You should crate your dog at night.
If you have a puppy that needs to pee, it is best to keep it in your bedroom. You can move the dog’s crate to another location as soon as they get used to it.
Don’t leave your dog in a crate for too long.
Over-crating can cause problems. The following guidelines will help you to avoid leaving your dog in a cage for more than 5 hours.
