Crate Training Your Puppy

Why Crate Train?

Crate training your dog brings with it numerous benefits, starting in puppyhood and lasting throughout his lifetime. Proper crate training is essential to developing a positive association that will lead your dog to willingly enter his crate. Throughout his life, your puppy will likely be in several situations requiring him to spend at least some time in a crate, such as going to the veterinarian, being boarded while you are away, traveling by plane and staying in hotels. Crate training your dog early on will help ensure that he fully cooperates in these situations and does not feel unnecessary stress as a result of them.

Bear in mind that dogs in the wild sleep in dens, which are usually fairly small enclosed areas where they feel safe and secure. Your dog’s crate should fulfill this exact purpose, satisfying his natural instinct to rest in a safe haven. Crate training can also help with housebreaking because it works with dogs’ natural instinct to avoid soiling their sleeping areas. Crating your dog can also prevent destructive chewing caused by boredom or separation anxiety and can keep him away from hazards such as dangerous household chemicals when you are away.

Creating a Positive Association

Ensuring that your puppy has a positive association with his kennel is of utmost importance in crate training. If he considers his crate punishment or associates it with loneliness, he will not want to go into the crate. Many dogs who have been properly crate trained actually enjoy their crates, and will use them willingly to sleep at night or nap during the day. To help create a positive crate experience for your pooch, consider the following tips:

-Place the crate in a social location of your home. Keeping the crate in the living room or otherwise near the action of the family will help your puppy create a positive association. You do not want the puppy to feel that his crate is a place where he gets isolated from the family. Stock the crate with toys, chews and a soft bed (or towel/sheet) for comfort.

-Start slowly. Begin by tossing a treat into the crate and cheerily instructing your puppy to get the treat. Refrain from shutting the door of the crate just yet. Instead, praise your puppy for entering the crate and allow him to freely enter and exit.

-Use a one word command for instructing your dog to enter his kennel. This can be as simple as “kennel” or “house.” Use the command along with enthusiastic praise each time the dog enters the crate, even if he is only going for a treat you have placed inside. Never force him into the crate. Before long your dog will obediently enter the crate when he hears the command.

-Do not leave him alone right away. While your puppy is adjusting to his crate, help create a positive association by not leaving him alone just yet. Once your puppy is comfortable entering and relaxing in the crate, begin by closing the crate for brief periods of time while you are at home. Continue the positive reinforcement by praising him while he is in the crate. This will help prevent your puppy from thinking that the crate is only used when he is going to be left alone.

A crate should never be used to punish a dog. Additionally, do not let your dog out of the crate simply because he is crying or barking. This will only teach him that barking and crying will result in getting what he wants, and he will repeat the behavior. Just as you positively reinforce your dog for good behavior, such as entering the crate voluntarily, you should refrain from reinforcing behavior that is unacceptable.