Fundamentals of Crate Training

Crate training can have many uses. It can be used to help with housetraining, and it can be used to give them a safe place to go to. Crates are also a great way to transport dogs. However, there are some ground rules to cover when it comes to crate training.

• One, do not ever use the crate as a punishment. Crate training only works if the dog associates the crate with positive feelings. Using crates as punishment undermines this.
• Introduce the crate casually. The worst thing to do is bring the crate home and immediately lock the dog inside it. Put the crate in a part of the home the dog frequently visits. Keep the door open and put a blanket and a toy in there. See if the dog explores the crate. It might also help to place food inside or near the create.
• After the dog is willing to go into the crate on his or her own, use it for mealtime. Place their food bowl near the back of the crate. If this doesn’t work, just place it near the entrance of the crate and movie it back little by little until the dog is taking meals completely inside the crate.
• Once they are comfortable taking meals in the crate, close the door. For the first time, close the door and open it quickly. From there, keep the door closed a little bit longer after each meal. Once they can stay in the crate on for a few minutes, try leaving the room for a bit to get them used to being in there without your presence.

This method can help a dog get used to being in a crate gradually without a lot of stress. In time, the dog may even see the crate as his or her own little hideaway.