A New Dog Owner’s Guide To Effective Crate Training
In the wild, a canine spends much of his time in his den. It serves as his home and refuge. It is the space in which he relaxes, sleeps, eats, and takes care of his family. This behavior represents the foundation of crate training. By providing your dog with a crate, you are giving him a space to call his own. He’ll come to perceive it as his personal sanctuary, a place to which he can retreat for rest or protection.
In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step blueprint for crate training your canine. We’ll start with a few suggestions regarding mistakes to avoid. You’ll then learn how to help your dog feel comfortable in his personal space, and eventually consider it his home within your home.
Rules Of Engagement: Mistakes To Avoid
One of the keys to crate training dogs and puppies is to help them to make a positive connection with their crates. To that end, avoid confining your pet in his crate as a form of punishment. Doing so will cause him to develop an aversion to it.
Also, if you are training a puppy, bear in mind that he will be unable to hold his bowels and bladder for longer than two or three hours. Avoid leaving him in his crate for longer periods. Otherwise,he may soil it,and thereafter develop an aversion.
Making The Introduction
In the beginning, the goal is to help your canine become comfortable around his crate. Proceed slowly. Avoid forcing him inside. Instead, place the crate in a high-traffic room of your house, and leave the gate open (or remove it entirely). Allow your pet to investigate it at his own pace.
It is helpful to place blankets, a few toys, and treats inside to encourage your dog to explore. This is a slow process for some pets, especially those that are skittish. So, be patient.
Increasing Your Dog’s Comfort Level
As your canine becomes increasingly comfortable with his crate, start giving him his meals near it. Begin by placing his food bowl near the entrance. After a few days, place it at the entrance, with part of his bowl inside the crate. With each meal, slowly edge his bowl more deeply into the crate until it is near the back.
While doing this, leave the door open. If your canine seems completely at ease, try to close the door, but leave it unlatched. Allow him to leave whenever he wants to do so.
Building Your Pet’s Tolerance
You will eventually need to close the door of the crate, confining your dog inside. Again, proceed slowly. Start with short periods, such as a minute or two, and gradually lengthen them. When the periods reach ten minutes, experiment with leaving the room.
The goal is to increase your canine’s tolerance for being confined in his crate while you out of his sight. He may require weeks before he can endure long periods.
When Your Canine Displays Displeasure
Many dogs take a long time to become comfortable with being confined in their crates. It is common for them to whine to compel their owners to release them. In some cases, the behavior is motivated by a need to urinate or defecate. If this is the case, take your canine outside immediately after releasing him, and bring him back to his crate afterward. If the whine is simply a tactic to seek release, ignore it lest you encourage your canine to display such behavior in the future.
Some dogs become comfortable with their crates within days. Others need weeks. Be patient, and accommodate your pet’s apprehension.
