Crate training your dog provides him with a home within a home and can satisfy many dogs’ need for a den. Crate training your dog has many advantages, such as being an effective
housebreaking tool, reducing separation anxiety, preventing destructive behavior, and for use as a cabin for your dog when traveling or staying at a hotel.
Crate training your dog needs to be properly approached and correctly used. First, the crate needs to fit the size of your dog. A properly sized crate should allow your dog to stand fully, stretch out and turn around. Crates are sold based on adult weight or by breed type. There are various types of crates; some are wire mesh that allows lots of ventilation and dogs can see easily. Some crates are plastic which are lighter in weight, but can limit the ventilation and what the dogs see. Some crates fold fairly flat to allow ease of transportation.
Dogs are naturally clean animals and do not like soil where they sleep. This instinct will cause the dog to hold off going to the bathroom in the crate. However, puppies under the age of 9 weeks will need to eliminate 8-12 times a day and should not be expected to not ever soil their crate. All puppies will need to be let out of their crate to go to the bathroom very often. After removing them from the crate, immediately take the puppy out side to eliminate. If your puppy messes in his crate, do not punish him. Take the puppy outside to finish, and wash out the crate using a pet odor neutralizer.
To prevent having to purchase several crates as your puppy grows, many crates will come with a divider to close off part of the crate. If a divider does not come with the crate, use a piece of plywood or other homemade divider to assist with housetraining by not providing space to sleep in one end and eliminate on the other.
Crating should not be overused or the dog may associate it with isolation from the family and resist being crated. Crate training your dog needs to be a positive experience. To accustom a puppy or older dog to a crate, start by getting them used to entering the crate. Throw a few treats inside the crate – some dogs may immediately enter the crate, others may be more reluctant. Keep the kennel door open and allow the dog or puppy to come in and out of the crate. Feeding dogs in the crate can help reinforce a positive experience, but should be used sparingly to avoid a disruption in routine. Crates should also be placed where when crated the dog still feels a part of the family. After the puppy or dog becomes comfortable with the crate, close the door but stay nearby watching television,
cleaning or just walking around the house. When crate training your dog, start with short periods such as one half hour and work up to longer periods of time. Crating duration with the exception of overnight should be 1-3 hours for puppies 11 to 14 weeks old, 3-4 hours for puppies 15 to 16 weeks and 4-6 hours for puppies and dogs over 17 weeks.
Please remember that the crate is not intended as a place to lock up your dog and forget him. Providing safe toys and chews are necessary to help prevent boredom when your dog is crated. If you need to be out of the house longer than 6 hours, it is recommended that you have a friend or dog sitter let your dog out to eliminate and run off some energy. If used properly, crate training your dog is one of the most efficient and effective ways to train a dog and provide them with a safe environment when you can’t be with them.
