Tips & Advice

Dog crate training tips

Crates can be an effective and great way when you are training your dog. They can be a tool used when you are toilet training your pup or simply managing pets’ behavioral issue. But, it does not happen overnight, so you have to put in a lot of work, have patience and be aware that your pet might require some time to get used to the crate. Therefore, here are some tips to make the process of crate training smoother for you and your puppy.

Make sure that the crate is comfortable and safe

Before you start training your puppy, you have to make sure that the crate is the right size and safe for your dog. There are specific regulations on the right sizing of dog crates that specific breeds should have. It mainly depends on the size of the dog rather than the breed of your dog. The crate shouldn’t be too small and too large, your pet should have enough space to stand up and turn around but not more than that. So make sure that you research and choose the right crate sizing. Also, you should consider the safety of the crate and if it has all the necessary requirements to keep you dog comfortable while he is in it.

Introduce the crate calmly

You shouldn’t make a huge fuss out of introducing your dog to the a crate. Stay calm and collected and don’t assume that everything will happen on the first go. Take small steps, and introduce the crate gradually to your puppy. You can start to use it whilst feeding your pet or for short timeouts. If the crate will be familiar, there won’t be any frustration and anxiety when you actually start to crate train your pup.

Timing

When you first start crate training it can cause anxiety for your dog. Therefore, you have to be very cautious about the amount of time your puppy spends in a crate at first. You don’t want to overdo and cause bad association with the crate. In order to be successful, the process has to be pleasant for both sides. Puppies of an age of 8 to 10 months shouldn’t be put in a crate for more than one hour a day at the beginning, whereas pets, who are at an age of around three months can be put in a crate for up to three hours. And, when your dog reaches the age of seventeen months, the time should be around five hours. Be cautious and remember, that dogs need to have human interaction and need to run around, so don’t place them in a crate for long periods of time for example for the whole day or night.

Don’t use the crate as a punishment

As already mentioned, you shouldn’t create bad associations with the crate for your puppy, therefore you should not use it as a punishment. If you use it as a punishment, you won’t be able to teach your dog anything. This is one of the most important dog crate training tips in order for you to succeed.

Offer treats and favorite toys

Offering a treat for good obedience can be extremely helpful, too. You need to make sure that your puppy knows when it has been good and what behavior will be rewarded. You shouldn’t punish your pup by locking them into a cage, but you should definitely set up some sort of reward system when your put is succeeding. Also, it is a great idea to place few of your doggy’s favorite toys in the crate so that there is something familiar and calming because crate training can be stressful to your pet.

Be calm and collected

Our pets are very good at sensing our feelings, so you want to make sure that whilst crate training your puppy, you are calm and collected. Your emotions will reflect on your dog, so if you are angry and scared, your pup will also feel the same emotions.

Observe and act accordingly

Just as all humans are not the same and act differently, animals are similar. Not all dogs will react the same to being put in a crate. So, all of these dog crate training tips should not only be taken into account, but should also be applied in practice. When starting to crate train your pup, observe the reaction and emotions of your pup and act accordingly. You shouldn’t strictly follow any schedule and handbook if you see that your dog is stressed. Every dog is different and the process should be tailored to each specific pup.

Be patient

And most importantly, be patient. Crate training for dogs is a lengthy process, which takes time and a lot of work. When starting this process you have to understand that it will take time and the progress might not be immediate. But don’t give up and stop the crate training, because, our pets are very intelligent, and if you put in hard work, it will definitely pay off after a while.

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