By Gerald Hartenhoff
Though maybe slightly harder than teaching a pup, crate training a dog isn't as tough as some might assume. If done correctly, crate training will keep your dog out of trouble and help him to feel more secure in the house.
The following are a few tips that you can use to help with the crate training process.
Your pet should be able to easily stand and turn in the crate. If they are not able to do those types of things easily, then the crate is not big enough.
You can obtain a special type of pad that is designed to fit just right, or you can use whatever he normally sleeps on. If the bedding is comfortable and your dog likes it, the fact that it wasn't custom-fit to the crate is a non-issue. Make sure to choose washable bedding that is easy to clean.
If it happens that your dog shows fear when he is exposed to the crate, and very little is known of the dogs past, he may have had a bad experience or had just been left in one way to long and way to often. These issues will require more patience with your pet in order to successfully crate train.
Introduce Gradually
Begin by putting the crate in an area where your pet likes to be. Leave it there and the door ajar. Let your dog go inside at his own pace, don't rush him.
Another tip is to put some treats or favorite toys right at the entrance; this will pique your dog's interest in the crate. After some time, you can place treats inside the crate.
If your pet goes inside of its own accord, you can have a go at shutting the door (just don't exit the room; make sure your pet knows you are there). In the beginning, for a few minutes you should leave it closed.
You can slowly increase the amount of time the dog spends in the crate by closing the door for increasingly longer durations.
Next, for a few minutes, exit the room; slowly raise the amount of time you are gone.
Unless your dog is secure with the current step, do not proceed on to the next one.
The worst possible thing you can do for your dog is to," punish then crate". Your dog will associate negativity with the crate by doing this. He needs to learn that it is a good place to live without any fear or tension associated with it.
After you have successfully accustomed your dog to the crate, he may be left in it for a few hours.
Some people make the decision to put their dog in a crate while they are at work. Some people crate dogs overnight. Do not do both. If you crate your dog in the day while you are working, in addition to the period when you are asleep, then your pet might spend over 16 hours per day in the crate; more time than they will spend outside of it. This is not acceptable.
Crate training will take a significant amount of time if done properly. Although it could possibly take several weeks or even months, having your dog crate trained is truly worthwhile. During training, it's important to reward your dog while he's in the crate so he starts thinking that going into the crate is a good thing, and not some kind of punishment. Just take your time and don't rush it. Your dog will be crate trained before you know it.
Gerald has been involved in all aspects of the dog business for a number of years. Hopefully this crate training a dog will prove to be of some use to those who need it most. For more visit My Dog Training Advice
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