Before I begin these steps there is something that everyone needs to understand. You not only have to have a crate to use with this training guide. You also need a lot of PATIENCE. If you don’t possess this ability then please do not attempt to train your dog yourself. The crates are never to be used as a tool for punishment. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s begin.
*Always take your time when training your dog. Only go as fast as your dog is comfortable with.
DON’TS
DO NOT leave your dog in his home all day. Keep a regular schedule to allow your dog to relieve their selves every few hours. Puppies can hold their bladder around 4 hours and older dogs 6-8 hours.
DO NOT force your dog inside their crate or use it as a tool for punishment. Crates are intended to be your pet’s secure home and do not need to be associated with punishment.
DO NOT put your pet inside the crate if they have diarrhea or is vomiting. This can cause bacteria or worms to grow inside the crate.
DO’S
• Let your dog get comfortable with his crate as slowly as he needs to. Forcing them inside the crate will not accomplish anything. Overly praise him with your voice, toys or treats.
• Make sure your crate is large enough to accommodate your dogs size. If you have a puppy it would be wise to invest in a crate that will grow with your dog.
• Make the crate into a comfortable, relaxing area for your dog by adding their favorite toys and a comfortable bed. If the only place for them to have a soft bed or get to their favorite toys is the crate then they will be more willing to use it at their leisure.
• Give your pet enough time to get use to the new crate. At first your dog might be very nervous about entering the enclosed area but over time they will improve with PATIENCE.
So that was the dos and don’t of crate training dogs. Make sure you keep those dos and don’ts in mind at all times when training your pet. Now here are a few basic steps to start your crate training. These will make crate training your dog as easy as pie!
Step #1) Open the crate door and secure it so it will not move. Bring your dog as close to the crate as he is comfortable with. Praise him and give him treats every time he gets closer to the crate or even acts curious about it. (make sure you do not praise him or give him treats if he backs away)
Step #2) After your dog has became accustomed to being around the crate drop treats right at the crate opening. After your dog has eaten a few treats place more a little farther inside the crate until you get your dog to go all the way in. (do not shut your dog inside the crate as soon as he is in, this will only frighten him)
Step #3) Create a positive association with the crate. Start this by feeding your dog their meal inside the crate. If your dog still will not go all the way into the crate you will need to put the bowl as far in as they are comfortable with. Push the bowl in farther during each feeding until your dog is eating with his body all the way in the crate.
Step #4) After your dog is accustomed to eating his whole mean inside the crate (this usually happens after several days of having the food all the way in) then you need to take the next step and close the door while he is eating. *During this training process it would be best if you stay by the crate. Start by immediately opening the crate when your dog finishes eating but gradually increase the time the door stays closed.
Step #5) The next step will be to get your dog adjusted to going into the crate when its not feeding time. During this stage you will need to decide on what command you want to use. Something as simple as “crate” will work fine. Encourage your dog into the crate with treats or their favorite toy. Close the door; give him praises and more treats. Make sure that you stay by the crate and talk to them. After a few minutes open the door and let your dog back out. Give them an abundance of praises when they are back out of the cage. Do this for longer amounts of time every day until your pet can stay in the crate for long periods of time without becoming anxious.
Step #6) Do this for longer amounts of time every day until your dog can stay in the crate without becoming anxious. Stay close by the crate during these training periods. If your dog gets nervous and whines you might be progressing too fast for your dog. If this situation occurs then you will need to slow down and progress at a slower rate.
Step #7) After you have followed all the steps you will be on your last step. This is the final step and you can give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done. During this process you will need to put your dog in his crate and leave the room. At first you want to leave only for a few seconds. Build up this time so that you can leave for long periods of the day.
If you put these steps into action you will have a crate trained dog in just a matter of weeks. It all depends on the dog and trainer so some might take longer or be completely trained in a matter of days. Remember patience is the key to crate training dogs.
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