C ontrary to what some people think, crate training your dog isn’t “locking them up.” Dogs are naturally den animals, which means they are comfortable being in safe, enclosed spaces.
How to crate train your dog means working on your dog’s instincts to seek comfort in a quiet, dark place when their environment becomes too loud or overwhelming. Sitting in a crate can help calm your dog’s anxiety and is also essential for housetraining. It helps if your dog has a habit of chewing on items when stressed or if they tend to become fidgety when you have guests over.
Below, we’ve summed up the 6 main tips for crate-training your dog, along with some additional advice on molding it to your dog’s behavior.
Some Things You Must Know
- Crates can help manage dog behavior such as chewing or tearing up items, but they should never be used as a form of punishment.
- Going about crate training the wrong way can make your dog feel anxious, trapped, and scared.
- Don’t leave your dog in the crate for too long. Your dog needs proper exercise, activity, and human interaction throughout the day, and crating them for too long can negatively impact their health and happiness.
- For puppies under six months, don’t leave them in the crate for longer than 3 hours at a time, as most puppies have weak bladder control at this stage.
- Using treats and praise to reward your dog during training teaches your dog that a crate is a safe place, but no dog should ever be spending most of his time in a crate.
How To Crate Train Your Dog
Building on advice taken straight from animal behavior experts, here’s how to crate train your dog in 6 easy steps.
- Choosing The Right Crate
The crate shouldn’t be too large but invest in one that is large enough for your dog to stand up and move around. For puppies, you might want to rent crates to switch out as they grow, or you could buy an adjustable one.
If your dog prefers sleeping in dark, enclosed spaces, buy a kennel or airline crates, while wire crates may work for other dogs. The crate should always have a comfortable bed, and once your dog adapts to training, leave the door open so he can go into it whenever he wants. This will also be a cue that your time wants some alone time.
- Introduce Your Dog At The Right Time
You should begin training by introducing your dog to the crate. You can do this by placing it in a room where you spend the most time, such as a bedroom or living room. Bring them over to the crate, let them sniff around, and talk to them in a cheerful voice.
Make sure to choose the right timing to do this. If you bring your dog over when he’s playing, he will want to walk right out. Doing it when they’re rested or relaxed will encourage them to see it as a safe space. If your dog doesn’t immediately take to the crate after introduction, move on to the next step.
- Using Treats/ Food
Start by placing a treat near the entrance for your dog to get. Reward them with treats or their favorite toy when they enter the crate. This helps them make a positive association with the crate. If your dog feels comfortable near the opening, push the treat/food bowl to the back of the crate.
Slowly, you can begin to feed your dog meals in the crate. Once they become comfortable, you can start closing the crate door while they’re eating for short periods. Do this slowly and let your dog out if he begins to whine. You can gradually increase the period when they become more comfortable.
- Crate Games
You want your dog to view the crate as a comfortable place where he can go to unwind and rest. You can help your dog do this by playing games involving the crate, such as getting your dog to fetch a ball from the crate or seek out hidden treats.
- Crating Your Dog
Once your dog becomes comfortable with staying in the crate for longer than 30 minutes, you can leave them in there for the night or when you go out. Do not immediately leave them and disappear for 6 hours. Work your way up to the time. Leave them with some safe toys or a plushie/pillow in the crate.
- Be Patient
Crate training can take up to six months and depends on your dog’s personality and behavior. Be patient and calm throughout, as your energy will rub off on your dog.
If you follow these tips and give it time, you’ll become an expert on how to crate train your dog in no time!
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- dogs
- How To Crate Train Your Dog
- Crate training your dog
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