Dog crate training tips

How to Crate Train Your Dog in Nine Easy Steps – American

7 hours ago

1. Choose the Right Crate for Your Dog. Finding the best crate for your dog is key. “You want to get one that’s durable, comfortable, and flexible with whatever training you’re doing,” says Flayton.
2. Establish the Proper Mindset. “The more the dogs associate the crate with a relaxed mindset, the more they’ll ultimately enjoy hanging out in there,” says Flayton.
3. Determine How Your Dog Will Be Most Comfortable. Some people use dog beds or towels to create a comfy environment, but that may not always be the best option.
4. Give the Dog a Treat After They Go Into the Crate. Once again, positive association rules. One of Flayton’s favorite tricks is giving the dog a KONG toy filled with peanut butter that she’s put in the freezer.
5. Keep an Eye on the Time. Your dog needs time outside the crate to play, eat, and use the bathroom. Dogs don’t want to soil where they sleep, but if there’s too long of a stretch without a walk, they might end up doing so.
6. Play Crate Games. The dog shouldn’t see the crate as a negative place. To ensure this, incorporate the crate into fun games where the pup goes in and out of the open crate at their own will.
7. Keep Your Dog “Naked” “Dogs should never, ever have collars or tags or anything on when they’re in the crate,” warns Flayton. If the tag gets caught in the crate the dog could strangle.
8. Set Your Dog Up for Success. Once you are ready to give your dog more time inside the crate, do it in small steps. “You don’t want to go out to dinner for six hours,” cautions Flayton.
9. Be Patient. Prepare yourself for at least six months of training. There will be ups and downs since dogs aren’t linear learners, but success will come, says Flayton.

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Crate Training a Dog: 16 Effective Crating Tips to Keep

4 hours ago

1. Choose the Right Dog Crate. Dog crates are one of the most popular and first items new pet owners buy. Fortunately or not, there are many different types available (metal, soft, plastic, travel, single or double door, with dividers or without, and more).
2. It's a Safe Place (Not the Naughty Corner) Crating a dog is about providing pets with a safe space in which they can relax and have some peace, whether your at home or not.
3. Create a Cozy Nest. From the very beginning, the more appealing you can make the crate look and feel for the dog, the easier the training process. Making a dog crate an irresistible space for dogs isn’t difficult, but it takes some thought and desire to do so.
4. Security Blanket. You can help more nervous pets to feel secure when crate training a dog by covering part of the crate with a blanket. This gives your pet the option of hiding away in their little den, which is especially helpful for anxious dogs during thunderstorms and fireworks.
5. Provide Water. Not essential for early stages of crate training, but useful later on. Depending on how long your pet stays locked in a crate, you may or may need to provide them with a water bowl.
6. Your Attitude. Research has shown that our dogs pick up on our moods far better than we pick up on theirs. Your pet will notice any negative vibes, whether you’re anxious about leaving him or frustrated when crate training a dog isn't going well.
7. The Introduction. How you introduce a dog to his pet crate will shape the dog's first impressions of this new space. It's important not to rush. Put some of the dog's favorite toys, blankets and other items inside the crate, and use treats placed by the crate door to let the dog approach it in his own time.
8. Gradually Extend the Length of Time in the Crate. When Fido becomes comfortable with entering and exiting the crate on his own, as well as staying inside with the crate door open, he’s ready for the next stage of crate training a dog – feeding inside the crate.
9. Give the Dog Crate a Name. Decide on a name for the crate so that you can link it to a command (some even buy or make name tags for crates). Commands such as “Kennel” and “Crate” are clear and easy for your dog to grasp and know that it's time to get in the crate to rest.
10. Begin Going Out of Sight. At a later stage, it's time to put your dog’s favorite toys, blankets and other items inside the crate, let your pooch investigate it all and stay inside, then when he's relaxed and focusing on his toys, you can gently shut the door.

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18 Best Crate Training Tips You Need To Know

8 hours ago

1. Be patient. Crate training a puppy takes time and patience and can be frustrating as well. It can take up to six months to fully train your dog to understand and like their crate.
2. Never use the crate as punishment. As mentioned before, the crate is intended to be a place where your dog feels safe. You want your dog to love the crate, which is why it never should be used as a punishment.
3. Choose the right dog crate size. You want your puppy to view the crate as his ‘den’ where he is comfortable and safe and snug. When choosing a dog crate, remember to take into consideration how big your puppy will get.
4. Decide where to put the dog crate in the house. In our house, the crates were beside the kitchen and table, where the dogs could see us and we could see them.
5. Set a dog training schedule. It’s important to create a routine, whether for eating, walking, sleeping, pooping. It’s amazing how the dog’s body functions work.
6. Length of Crate Time According to Age. Puppies need a lot of pee breaks, especially when they are very young. For the first three months, a puppy needs to be let out of the crate often.
7. A dog shouldn’t wear anything on him while in a crate. While your dog is in a crate, you should remove his collar, especially if it has dangling tags.
8. What to put in the puppy’s crate. You should add some kind of comfy bedding at the bottom of the crate. For a puppy, a waterproof and chew-resistant pad would be best.
9. Use treats to crate train your dog. When you first start crate training, extend your arm inside the crate with a treat in your hand. Make sure your dog sees the treat.
10. Training a puppy at night. Expect to not sleep much during the first week of crate training your puppy. You have to remember that your little fur baby was used to sleeping snuggled with his littermates.

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