Dog Crates and Dog Crate Training

When people begin considering the idea of getting a puppy or dog one thing that should come to their minds is whether or not they know the basics of dog crate training. Experts recommend that anyone who gets a dog should train them using a crate for both their benefit along with the new addition to their families.

Training can take a varied amount of time depending upon the effort put into it, the breed and how well your individual puppy takes to it. For some people it takes a few days while with others it takes a few weeks. The important part is to remain consistent.

In order to be successful with dog crate training you must follow a few simple but crucial steps to make the process go as smoothly as possible for both of you. When introducing your dog to the crate, be certain to make it comfortable by inserting a blanket or towel inside. In order to convince him or her to enter you may need to toss a treat inside.

Building up your dog’s comfort with the crate is the key to getting them to enter it without having anxiety which is accomplished by making baby steps.  Do not force them into being in the crate too soon or too much and allow them to spend brief time periods of about ten to twenty minutes in the crate to get comfortable with it before you begin leaving them alone for long periods of time.

A few problems that occur with crate training arise when people place their dog in the kennel for too long. Puppies, for example, cannot be placed in the crate for longer than 3-4 hours because their bowels are not strong enough. In dog crate training many people also experience the issue of whining. Whining should not be given attention because then they may realize that whining equals getting out and they may whine any time they are placed inside the crate. Another thing that a crate should not be used for is as a form of punishment or for separation anxiety.

Dog crate training should be used for night times and when you leave the house. Your dog or puppy should feel comfortable inside their crate and you can do this by keeping their favorite toys and treats inside as well as ensuring that it is adequately sized for them to be able to stand up and turn around.

Most pet owners know that one of the keys to owning a dog is to crate train him or her but one key piece of the puzzle that is often left out is the vast ability of dog crate supplies that are on the market as well to provide ease of use and comfort.  Once you have settled on a specific crate you can look into your options for getting accessories and supplies.

Dog crate supplies offer a wide range of variety.  A dog crate pan is something many owners are familiar with. They’re usually plastic and are used with a specific model of crate for ease of removal if an accident occurs or other cleaning purposes. Once you have one of these you will want to browse the range of dog crate supplies for a comfortable mat or bed that will fit inside the crate. They come in a variety of shapes and materials to match your décor and pets individual needs.

If you’re not really going for a furry polyester bed in the crate you also have an option of getting a mat or even just putting a soft blanket inside to keep them comfortable. Since their crate is like a den to them they need to be comfortable at all times while inside it.

One odd item that is on the market for dog crates is a heating pad that can be inserted into your pets bed to keep them warm for up to twelve hours while they are in there. Luxury has reached a new level for all canines across the world. Of course, this is an accessory that can be used both in and out of the dog crate.
If your pet is going to be put into the crate for an extended time period, such as if you’re going to allow him or her to be in there overnight or while you’re at work, you will also want to make sure that they have adequate food and water to keep them going throughout the day. Any reputable pet shop that carries dog crate supplies will have clip on bowls for both food and water in a variety of sizes to assist you in your dog crate training venture.

Regardless of what type of accessories you choose you need to ensure your pet has both space and comfort to have the easiest possible road to a successful crate training venture.

 When crate training many people end up ultimately giving up and failing because they don’t know the basics to the process and go into it with an empty slate that only leads to headache and stress. If you’re a first time crater or even an experienced one, there are a few tips you should keep in mind when training your puppy or recently acquired dog.

The whole purpose of having a dog crate is to allow it to keep your dog secure by means of a simple cage that contains a dog crate door in a variety of materials from wire, to metal, to plastic. Making sure that your dog has a crate that caters to their needs without being too big is one of the major steps to success. Your dog needs to have room to walk through the dog crate door and be able to turn around and lie down. However, you don’t want him or her to be able to use it as a toilet and then lie down in a separate section. That would classify as being too large of a crate for their size.

In choosing a crate you will also have the option of having one door or multiple dog crate doors. The functionality of having more than one door is mainly for size and space concerns you may have.  One door will allow your dog to enter and exit from one location while multiple gives them the luxury of another or even two other choices of entry and exit.  It isn’t a big deal and sometimes choice of what type of dog crate door yours will have will narrow down to which is cheaper for you.

Consistency is the key to a successful crate training experience. If you associate a command such as “kennel” with your dog and point to the kennel they will get the message and begin to enter when you tell them. Sometimes tossing in a treat will give them the bit of encouragement that they need in the process as well.

You may also want to think of keeping the dog crate door open even if you’re not trying to get your dog to enter. Soon they will associate the crate with being a comfortable second home to them and may freely exit and enter on their own free will. With some effort and time you will soon have a dog or puppy that is crate trained and your home will be free of accidents.