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.
