Crate Training Made Easy: Your Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide for Puppies
Introduction:
Puppy crate training is a fantastic method of managing the safety and well-being of young puppies. When used correctly, the crate is invaluable for establishing good habits in your puppies and preventing problem behaviours before they arise.
Puppy Crate Training - Why Do We Do It?
Over time, the crate will become your puppy’s private area, which they will grow to love and feel secure in. You will come to rely on your crate in many day-to-day activities, including:
• One of the crate's first and most important uses is in the puppy toilet training process. Crate training is the best way to quickly teach your puppy to eliminate (go to the toilet) outside.
• Crating our puppies teaches them to chew on the toys we provide and prevents them from chewing on the things we don't want them to chew on (shoes, furniture, curtains, etc.). This is the key to establishing good habits in our dogs and preventing destructive habits, which can be challenging to rectify.
• When your young puppy is in his crate, he is safe from dangerous household items. Unfortunately, many puppies are severely injured and killed every year as a result of chewing wires, ingesting poisons, or eating foreign objects.
• Separation anxiety is a huge problem for an increasingly large percentage of dogs. Proper crate use can help reduce the chance of your puppy developing separation anxiety. The crate becomes a place where your dog is calm, out of trouble, and accustomed to being alone.
• Crate training can help with various situations, including travel, vet visits, and staying safe during busy times.
Never Ever Use Your Crate as a Tool For Punishment!
• If you have friends or visitors coming and going from your home, the crate is the perfect place to keep your puppy safely confined for a while.
• Because most crates are lightweight and portable, you can move them from room to room so your puppy can be close to you all day!
• Many crates are suitable for putting into your car, making your puppy's travelling experience safer and less stressful.
• When your puppy grows to love his crate, it makes trips to places such as your vet and dog groomers a more bearable experience.
• When puppy crate training is applied correctly, your puppy cannot get into mischief.
Selecting a Crate for Your Puppy
The crates come in two general styles - durable plastic and an all-wire mesh type, which is often collapsible. It's a personal choice which style of crate you go for, but the most important thing is buying one that is the appropriate size for your dog. Get a crate that will be large enough for your fully grown puppy and partition it off until he grows into it.
Apart From The Dog, What Else Goes In The Crate?
1. Bedding - choose a friendly, comfortable dog bed that your feisty little pup can't chew up and swallow. Be sure to choose bedding suited to your climate.
2. Chew toys - get a couple of suitable chew toys that you can stuff and freeze. This keeps your puppy busy and teaches him what is appropriate to chew on. Most dogs love Kongs.
3. Water - keep an excellent supply of clean, fresh water. Heavy wide-based bowls that won't be tipped over are best, or you can buy one that clips securely onto the crate wall.
Introducing Your Puppy to the Crate
Your puppy's first impression and experiences with the crate are all important. You must set it up so your puppy views the crate as a safe object right from the start. Your goal is for your puppy to love the crate and choose to use it himself rather than as a gimmick he associates with isolation and loneliness.
Try some puppy crate training tips below to make the crate inviting to your puppy - always take it slowly. Put the crate in the room with you and your puppy, and leave the crate door open wide.
1. Drop a few tasty treats in and around the crate and let your puppy clean them up. Be sure to give heaps of encouragement and praise if your puppy bravely steps into the crate.
2. If your puppy has a favourite dog bed or blanket, put this inside the crate to encourage and make it more homely for him.
3. Feed your puppy all his meals in the crate (door still open).
4. With your puppy outside the crate, place a chew toy inside the crate and close the door. Your puppy will beg you to let him at it! Open up the door, let him in and praise his efforts.
5. When your puppy is not around, put a chew toy (like a stuffed Kong) inside the crate and open the door. Let him discover the "treasure" and leave him inside to enjoy the find.
6. When your puppy is comfortable in the crate, close the door and feed some treats to him through the mesh. First, leave the door closed for 10 seconds, then gradually increase the duration. Don't increase the time too quickly; if your dog becomes distressed or whines, you are moving too fast.
7. Build up the time he is in the crate slowly, first when you are in the room, then step outside the room briefly. Ideally, your puppy's first long stretch in the crate is overnight with the crate in your bedroom.
Puppy Crate Training - Shaping the Behaviour
The tips above usually make most puppies comfortable in their crates. If you are having trouble with a problematic or nervous pup, try this puppy crate training exercise to shape the desired behaviour.
1. Place the crate in an area where you and your puppy spend time together - leave the crate door open.
2. Any time your puppy shows interest in the crate (like a look), praise him and throw him a tasty treat. Repeat this over and over.
3. You'll find that your puppy soon becomes very interested in his crate. This step asks more of your puppy. Don't praise and treat only a glance at the crate now; wait until your pup walks towards the crate, then enthusiastically praise and reward with a treat.
4. Repeat Step 3 many times and then make it harder again for your puppy to earn a treat. Hold off with your praise and treats until your puppy steps into the crate. Repetition and reinforcing the desired behaviour is the key.
5. Your pup should pop out of the crate to work for his treats. Now, you hold off with your praise and treats until your puppy goes into the crate and sits down.
6. The final step is to have your puppy step inside the crate and sit down. Then, you will close the crate door (only for a few seconds) and feed some treats through the door.
Attach a cue word to this process, such as "bedtime" or "go to crate". Say your cue word every time your puppy steps inside the crate - he will soon associate the word with the act of getting into the crate.
General Rules of Puppy Crate Training
• Always take your dog’s collar off when he is put in the crate. Otherwise, the collar can get caught on the crate, resulting in disastrous consequences.
• Ensure you aren't asking your puppy to hold off from going to the toilet longer than he is physically capable.
• If your puppy does have a toilet accident inside his crate, punishment is not an option, but you should be upset with yourself. Immediately clean up the mess, including the use of an odour neutraliser.
• Be careful when crating your puppy in hot weather. Be especially cautious when your puppy is crated in your car; temperatures can quickly become extreme inside vehicles.
• Except for overnight and one-off occasions, you should never crate your dog for more than 3 or 4 hours.
• Dogs love their exercise and walks with you. So, if you crate your puppy, they will require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. This can also include some training sessions.
• Never release your puppy from his crate (unless the situation is getting dangerous) if he is causing a fuss by whining, barking, or being destructive. If you give in to these demands, you reward and reinforce this undesirable behaviour.
• Don't fall into the trap of only crating your puppy when you leave the house - the crate will begin to be associated with you going if this happens.
Conclusion
Success Story:
“Thanks, Zita, the crate training advice was so useful, and I am very happy to say that both dogs have done three good nights in the crate in a row now, so I think we are there! It is going even better than I could possibly have dreamed of. Many thanks again." - Anna x
Good luck with your puppy crate training - following the plan consistently and patiently will lead to great results.
Zita x
Zita Wells
Pet Patrol 365
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