The advantages of crate training your dog are numerous and not only benefit you and your home but also your dog. Crate training allows you to quickly house train your dog and provides a safe and secure enclosure for your dog to stay in if you leave the house during the day and while you sleep. Crate training provides the perfect environment for your dog to feel protected from any loud noises such as those during storms and fireworks, which could save your house from the path of destruction that so often follows a frightened dog. Through crate training, it will eventually become instinct for your dog to keep its dog crate clean and dry, recognising it as a sanctuary for peace and rest.

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Crate Training Basics

The most important aspect of crate training your dog is to ensure that the dog crate is never seen as a place of punishment but as a friendly place of relaxation and safety. Rather than long sessions of crate training where you and your dog may become frustrated, several short sessions each day are recommended.

The first step in crate training your dog is to introduce it to the crate with a positive and enthusiastic approach. Food and treats can be used to encourage your dog to enter and investigate the dog crate but always remain patient and never force your dog into the crate. After your dog becomes familiar with the crate, leave the door open and shower your dog with praise every time it enters the dog crate on its own. It is also a good idea to say a keyword such as “kennel” every time your dog enters the crate so it will eventually recognise the keyword and enter the dog crate on your command. Placing your dog’s bedding and a favourite toy in the dog crate will also help your dog identify the crate as its home.

If you are also toilet training your dog, it is important to take your dog outside as soon as you let it out of the dog crate. Reward your dog as soon as it goes to the toilet in an acceptable area and also use a keyword for toilet time so your dog knows exactly what to do in the future.

Repeating these steps continually until your dog learns the routine is vital to the success of crate training.

Crate Training from TheInfoInside

Crate Training a Puppy – Ty Brown