Introduction
Ideally, your dog should always behave well, and crate training is an essential pillar of teaching manners to a dog. The positive association of your pet towards its crate helps it to learn independence and responsibility. It is because the crate helps the dog calm its anxiety and feel safe.
While some people will perceive the crate as a cage, however, it is not the case here. Canines are wild animals naturally trained to live in a den. It means that they have an affinity for small, enclosed spaces.
We have summarized some guidelines for dog owners that will help them with crate training. Here is everything you need to know about how to crate train your dog.
Set up the Crate:
1. First, decide what should be the material for the crate. The recommended materials are wood, plastic or metallic, but metal is robust compared to any other. It should be comfortable, durable, and flexible.
2. Insert the proper bed for your pet inside the crate. The bedding you set inside the crate depends from dog to dog. It is not necessary that all dogs like soft bedding; rather,
Some like hard ones. Some online research may help you chose the right bedding for your breed.
3. Make sure that it is large enough for your pet to sit and stand.
Lay and turn in any direction comfortably, but it should not be too big. It is recommended to purchase a crate for adult size, even if you are training a pup. People often divide the large crates into two portions by using a partition.
4. The temperature of the room should be appropriate for the dog. It must be neither too hot nor too cool.
5. You must place the crate in a quiet and peaceful place. Keep it away from the airflow, heat, and places with high traffic. If there is a top, cover the crate with it; otherwise, cover it with a cloth so the dog may feel safe.
6. For a change, take your canine outside for toilet needs, play games, and impart some training.
7. Keep a suitable toy inside for your pup, so it will not get bored inside. The puppy may swallow or choke on very small toys. Take care to remove anything that may harm it.
Get your Dog Trained:
Now you are sure that the crate you have created is comfortable and fit for your pup,
1. Offer some treats to your dog, few things inside the crate, and some outside. The things which you place inside the crate should be better than those you put outside. Eating food inside the crate is always an enjoyable activity for a dog.
2. When the dog is inside for a sleep, remove its collar and tag.
3. If you place the food outside the crate, keep the dog’s favorite food near the crate and let the dog pick itself.
4. Sit near the crate and communicate with the dog or puppy, verbally or orally. For
For example, when you have to send it in the crate, speak “Go inside,” or when taking it out, say “Come out.” After few days, the dog or puppy will be familiar with your language and follow your instructions.
5. You have to repeat the above steps from time to time during the day. After few days, you will find that the dog is repeating the routine which you set up during training.
6. With your patience during the training, the dog will know that it is a good, cool, calm, and quiet place. A comfortable bed will also pay attention towards the crate to sleep or to take rest. In this way, there will be minimum chances for the dog or puppy to run away from you.
7. Like humans, animals also have a psychology and hence dogs too. Sometimes when you want to train the dog, it is lazy, which is the time for the crate. This means it is tired and wants some rest of sleep, but if it is active, you can take it out for an exercise
or washroom.
8. Some toys can also be placed outside, which will allows them to Play.
9. You can also train your dog by playing small games. For example, place a treat inside the crate and cover it with a cloth. The dog will try to reach the treat then you can uncover the crate.
10. Treat can also be given from the roof of the crate. Sometimes dogs and puppies enjoy this action.
11. Initially, since the dog does not have the training, you may be disappointed from time to time, but with your patience and little attention, you will succeed in your desired task.
12. It is not necessary that you fix a place for the crate; rather, you can change it in your home. You have to keep in mind that the new place should also be calm and quiet and there should not be much disturbance of people passing around.
13. If you realize any noise like people talking loudly or shouting, the dog may be disturbed and behave abnormally. In such a case, you can increase TV noise or play some music around to pay the dog’s attention.
14. On holidays when you are going out of your home and staying at another place, for example, in a hotel or motel, you have to take a crate with you. It is also possible in case you change your residence. In such cases, first set the crate at a proper destination, then take the dog to the room. In this way, it will quickly adjust in the crate.
15. Don’t leave your dog home alone for a long time, and if you have to, then request somebody to take care of the dog.
16. Set proper time for dog’s meals. Don’t give it a diet before it sleeps, and it is important to give a treat as soon as it gets up in the morning.
Conclusion:
Whenever a dog is tired after a day full of playtime, it will need uninterrupted peaceful sleep. For this purpose, a proper resting place, that is, the dog’s crate, should be there in the owner’s house.
When you adopt a puppy, you must learn how to crate train a dog because a it is your dog’s small home. Keep the crate at the appropriate place in your home so that your dog can enjoy proper rest and sleep.