Crate Training Dogs
Crate training dogs is a fantastic way of training your pet regardless of it being a new puppy or fully grown dog. It is definitely worth considering as it can be very effective as training a dog can at times be very frustrating if not approached in the correct way.
It is not a completely simple concept however and you will need to learn a few fundamental rules when crate training dogs. You need to have an idea of what is going on in your dogs mind so that you know when and when not to encourage them to use their crate.
To begin with, the basics of crate training dogs are very similar to other types of dog training programs. Persistance, patience and consistancy are absolutely key. Keep things simple for your dog to avoid any confusion and always use simple commands to tell the dog to get into the crate. You will need to use the same word and say it in a firm but not aggressive way, don’t waste your time yelling at the dog. A reward when they do the right thing as opposed to a punishment when they do the wrong thing works way better when crate training dogs.
Steps To Crate Training Dogs
- You should NEVER the crate as a form of punishment, where the dog is banished to it if it has misbehaved. If you do this the dog will associate the crate with being a ‘bad dog’. Just as in humans, we don’t want to go into the ‘sin bin’ and this is exactly the same case for your dog. It’s important that they associate this space with comfort and saftey, so always keep this in mind when crate training dogs.
- Be patient. A gradual, structured introduction to the crate works best when crate training dogs so try not to rush things. If you can get your dog to associate the crate with a positive and happy experience they are much more likely to go in there on command. Another way to reinforce this is to give them a treat when they do enter the crate when told to
- Leaving your dog locked in the crate for an extended period can create some problems. If the dog is in there too long and they have to relieve themselves in the crate, they will be reluctant to use it again. If for any reason this situation has occurred, you should not make the mistake of yelling at the dog as it really is your fault, not theirs!
- On letting the dog out of the crate you should immediately let them outside to ‘use the facilities’. This method is also extremely useful not just for crate training dogs but for housebreaking them also.
- Forcing your dog to go into the crate is also a mistake and should be avoided. If they are scared or anxious it is best to reassure and calm them down before putting them into the crate. As I said in the first point it is crucial that they feel safe in the crate and they will then use it as their den.
In summary, crate training dogs is not a hard process but it does require some attention and above all patience, but when you get it right, then you and your dog are sure to have a wonderful and rewarding relationship.
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