Several Serious Advantages Of Crate-Training Your Dog

Because there is so much press about abuses like dog fighting and dog racing, many dog lovers are scared of the idea of confining a dog to a crate, or a small dog cage. Though abuses can, and do, happen, the crate is not intended as a place to lock up a dog. It’s not a tool for punishment. Rather, your dog’s crate functions in the same way as your kid’s bedroom.

In order for the crate to be a positive experience for your dog, begin the method of crate training on a night or day when you have time to remain at home and observe your dog’s behavior. During the day, for example, put your dog inside the crate for brief periods such as 15-minute intervals. A successful crating session has happened if your dog seems comfy. If your dog whines or attempts to get you interested, pay no attention to her, but take note. If it is’s simply a cry for attention, she’ll shortly learn that crate time is personal time, and will start to occupy herself or rest. If the whining gets worse, or does not go away over a couple of days of consistent crating sessions, there may be a deeper issue there, and you must consult an expert.

After the session, allow your dog to restart her ordinary schedule of play and potty breaks. Crate her again each couple of hours or so, extending the period for five minutes each time. If she is doing well, you should be doing 30-minute sessions by the end of the day. If you run a home business this should be much simpler than if you work a regular job.

That evening, put her to bed in the crate after she’s had her nightly potty break, of course. She’ll probably fall asleep quickly.

If she spends her 15-minute interval whining, simply continue crating her throughout the day in 15-minute intervals till she starts to feel comfy enough to stop attempting to get your attention. By bedtime, she should be relaxed enough to spend a night in the crate. If she whimpers at this point, donot be disturbed - especially if she is very young. A young puppy will continue to be suffering from separation anxiety and missing her mom. Successful crate training will provide comfort and stability during this hard transition period.

The crate can also be a valuable tool when it comes to housebreaking your dog. It’s a rare dog that will go potty when confined to asmall space. Like humans, they find the idea of soiling themselves pretty revolting and will avoid doing so if they can. Because of this, if you’re crate-training and potty-training at the same time, take your dog outside to use the bathroom after each crate session. Give her five or 10 minutes to do her business and praise her lavishly when she does.

If you’re using the crate especially to potty train, you may want to recrate her after a nonproductive potty break. After she goes in the yard praise her lavishly and release her to play.

Many people who use crates for their dogs leave the crate door open when the dog isn’t inside, to give the pooch access to it. Remember, the crate is a good thing. It is your dog’s room. The indisputable fact that your dog chooses to spend some time there on her own is a very good sign. This will turn into a place of security and will supply peace of mind for you and your dog.

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