If you have not crate trained your dog, below are 10 crate training tips to help you get started on the right path:
1. Keep the crate in a quiet place. This will help to teach your dog that his crate is a place for comfort and rest. Loud noises and distractions may simply be sure to perturb and upset your dog while he's in his crate.
2. Select a cushty dog bed. Your dog will require something comfortable to sleep on in the crate; a soft, plush dog bed will make your dog more attracted to his crate as a place of rest.
3. Don't let youngsters or other animals play in the crate. Your dog must see the crate as his refuge, and when he does, he'll likely become territorial. Respect your dog’s private space by keeping youngsters and other pets out of the crate at every point.
4. Choose a straightforward command to encourage your dog to go into the crate. You may want to use clicker training to coach your dog to enter the crate or a short command like “House”. Once your dog enters the crate, praise and reward him with a treat.
5. Don’t rush it. Crate training is a technique which will take time and will provide the most satisfactory results when it is not rushed or forced. If your dog appears uncomfortable entering the crate at any point, back up in your crate training methodology to allow him to acclimate.
Start slowly by keeping the crate door open with treats within. After a few days of this, close the crate door with the dog inside, and then let him out. After a couple more days, leave the dog inside for longer periods of time until he becomes completely snug in his new environment.
Jean Cote is a Dog Training expert who teaches dog owners on the internet how to train their dog and uses dog trick coaching as a positive and fun way to do it.
