We all want our puppies to feel protected, secure and content, dog crate training helps them achieve just that! The popular dog crate becomes a dog’s den, a safe place to rest and be in for each dog. It should be the place where dogs will go to feel relaxed. All breeds of dogs and of all ages, can benefit from having been successfully crate trained.
What Is The Best Age For Your Puppy To Begin Dog Crate Training?
It is recommend that the best training for your puppy is to start crate training as soon as you get the puppy. And if you’re getting your puppy from an expert breeder, they will hopefully be crate training the puppy before you get them.
The Crate training process
Crate training typically takes several days for your dog to get used to. But that depends on various factors. Including its previous experience, as well as the puppy’s age. There are two crucial things to remember with crate training, the dog crate must always be connected with something enjoyable (eg never used for punishment). And training must be done in small increments to begin with. Take it slowly.
Step 1: Introduce Your Puppy To The Crate
The first step you should take is actually to introduce your puppy to the crate. It is a great idea to put your puppy’s crate in some part of your home where you and your family spend lots of your time. You can also put a towel or a comfortable blanket in it. Start by throwing a few treats in the crate, to encourage the puppy going in there by their own choice. Each time your dog is in the crate, reward her by giving her more treats. Slowly start doing this and closing the door for a few seconds, building up the time with the crate door closed.
Step 2: Start Feeding Your Puppy In Its Crate
After you have finished with the introducing of your puppy to its crate, start feeding the dog its meals in the crate. This will make the dog crate more appealing and help dogs to feel safe. It also has the added benefit of being able to prevent resource guarding behaviour.
Step 3: Begin Training Your Dog To Stay In Its Dog Crate For A Longer Period Of Time
This step should only be done per the month of age your puppy is. Only leave your puppy unattended in the crate for the hours your puppy is in age. For example, two months equals two hours, until the age of 6 months, being six hours. It is not recommended you leave a puppy in their crate all day and all night. If you leave a puppy in the crate overnight, make sure to get up to them a few times, as puppies can’t hold their bladders for very long.
In this step, you may call your puppy and give it a command to enter the crate. After that, give them a treat and close the crate’s door. Just repeat this several times and your puppy will gradually get used to staying in the crate for longer periods.
Step 4: Put Your Puppy In A Crate At Night Or When You Leave
As mentioned above, you can put your puppy in their crate for safety, when leaving for a small period of time during the day. And at night when they sleep. Put your puppy in the dog crate with your usual command and a treat. Then once the door is secured, quietly leave.
And another important thing is to put your puppy in a crate at night. You may do this repeatedly by giving your puppy the usual order for entering the crate and giving your puppy a treat. Your dog will start sleeping comfortably in the crate in no time. To make it more comfortable, putting a towel over it to darken the room will also help.
Crate training benefits
Crate training seems to be an excellent technique for guiding pups through the process of potty training. A crate is powerful enough to protect your puppy from getting into harmful behaviours (such as eating furniture or poisonous chemicals). If your dog enjoys chewing on things, a crate may be a very valuable tool. If your puppy is kept alone in your home and unsupervised, he may consume someting toxic or harmful.
The crate also aids in the development of a dog’s habitat instincts. Dogs seem to be natural den creatures and require a place to call home. When utilized correctly, a crate provides a safe haven for a dog.
Conclusion
Crate training represents an important component of introducing your new puppy. Realizing the need to crate training seems to be only the initial step. The training is really completely another story. A crate will be a helpful place for the puppy to go for many situations.
Make sure you encourage your dog that it’s dog crate is a secure and cozy room all to itself. Remember that a dog crate is very helpful to your dog and will make training more fun!