Crate Training Your Dog

Once he gets used to this, you should lock her in. you could walk away from him or watch him as he calms down inside. If he shows any signs of protest, you should not let him outside. Instead, let him settle down first then let her leave after. Do this for exercise for a couple of days until she has learned to enter the crate and leave it on her own.

Many people protest against crate training a dog because, according to them, it is similar to solitary confinement. However, with the benefits listed above and a number of other benefits that are not mentioned here, anyone could conclude that a crate could benefit both the owner of the dog and the dog itself.

With appropriate and sufficient training, crate training your puppy or dog will make him see it as his haven instead of an enclosure that makes him feel unsafe and lonely.

Den or crate training is based on the instinct of the dog to find some security with nesting places that are isolated from all distractions. For dogs, den serves as their home. Through proper introduction and selection of the right techniques, the dog will not be threatened by its appeal to punishment.

Benefits of using a crate

a) For occasions when the dog cannot run around freely, placing them in a crate will be a good choice for controlling their movements.

b) The dog will feel relatively safe inside the crate especially when located in places where they are most vulnerable.

c) They would have a place for solace when they wanted to rest or when feeling under stressed where no one could bother them.

d) A crate could also be used to limit dogs with problem behaviors.

e) It is also a good place for puppies that are still untrained and might cause some troubles inside the house like accidents and biting.

f) This could also be good for dogs with separation anxiety.

g) It could secure the dog whenever the owner has to bring him outside.

h) It increases his confidence due to the security it provides.

i) Could enhance training by giving the dog a direction for routine activities.

Size of the crate

The crate should be large enough to accommodate the dog on all fours, to let him lie down comfortably and to give him enough space to turn around without hitting the walls. However, if you also intend the crate for travel, the carte should be larger than the aforementioned size.

If however, you are using the crate only for training, it should follow the guideline that was just mentioned since a larger crate would give him enough elbow room to do unwanted things in specific areas of the crate.

How to introduce the crate to the dog

The best time to introduce the crate to a dog is when you feel that they are ready for it. After buying the right crate, you could place it somewhere in the house where it would catch the dog's attention. Let him explore his crate first for the first week with the door removed.

If he does not show any sign of interest, try leaving some of his favorite treats inside. After a couple of days, try feeding him inside. This would condition his mind that the crate is for him and he could safely do some activities inside it.