Crate Training a Puppy.

October 24th, 2009 at 8:33am

crate training a dog makes all following steps in dog’s training go so much smoother, much like a solid foundation makes for a superior wall.

Establishing you as the Alpha member of his “pack” is one very good reason for starting your puppy in a crate when he is very young.

A further reason for crate training is that dogs need predictability.

To be able to predict what is going to happen in any given situation makes him/her happy, and more apt to be the best-behaved dog s/he can possibly be.

A strong crate is the very basis of good puppy training. The best kind are wire crates with a lock. Check that it is large enough for him/her to stand up and turn around. But it shouldn’t be so big that it may enable he/she to roam and wander around. A too-large crate will inhibit house breaking.

A crate that is just the adequate size will be considered as his/her “nest”, where puppies never “go potty”. They will learn to keep it if you don’t turn it into a prison.

Never leave a puppy under 8 weeks, longer than one hour in his/her crate.It will soil it, after struggling and suffering as long as he can.

Put a nice pad in there with a bone. Treat him/her to something tasty for your puppy to find in there. Do this more than once without closing the door, let it come in and out freely for an hour or so. Praise him/her highly each time s/he goes in; make it all very pleasant.

Then when its attention is on its treat, close the door. Praise it quietly, “What a good boy/girl, it’s ok, such a good boy/girl!” In 10 or 20 seconds, no longer, let him/her out without praising, just a pat.Do this for increasingly longer intervals, but do not give it an opportunity to get upset. This can be done a number of times the very first day.

Make sure every training session ends on a happy note, this is crucial.

Once he/she sees the crate is its own private territory, it will get in there on his/her own, expecting treats and your attention. When he/she does, say, “Wanna crate?” with a happy face while getting his/her treats. Start leaving it in there alone as from 2 minutes, increasing the time gradually. When you return, don’t make a fuss, just walk over and open the crate. In about3 days it will be officially crate-trained, ready to be left alone for an hour, no longer at first. Leave it gradually longer, slowly and carefully.

Why do I need a crate for my puppy? Because they love it is the best reason.

They feel very safe and secure in there.

When you leave a puppy alone, it always has some measure of separation anxiety. This leads ithim to any behavior that brings him/her comfort such as chewing, digging, or if it is severe, voiding his/her bowels.

When placed in a crate, he/she feels safe because nothing can get to it, nothing can harm him/her. He/She will sleep and chew and wait for you to return. When leaving him/her overnight at the vet, if your dog is not crate trained he/she will cry the entire time, feeling lost and abandoned.

If your dog is crate trained, he/she will be confident that you will come back, you always do.Of course the vet’s office is strange and will cause him some anxiety, but nothing like the pure terror it will feel without experience in being locked in.

While crate training your dog, make sure you do not make a prison of its crate. Do not use it as a form of punishment. Do not leave him/her there for more than 2 hours, just time for a long puppy nap and some chew time. After that he/she will cry. Do not remove it while he is crying. This will make it think he has to cry to get out. No matter what, make sure it is being good when you open the door. He/She will learn he/she has to be quiet to get out. Do not make a fuss when you are letting it out, just quietly open the door and take him/her out to potty. When it potties, praise him/her to high heaven! Dogs naturally do not go where they nest, but sometimes it happens. Don’t scold, simply clean it out with a bland face. He/She will learn the lesson. If possible, try to clean it while he/she is outside so it returns to a clean crate.

crate training a dog is critical for a dog’s well-being.