Crate Training Your Dog

Deciding to crate train your puppy or dog is a personal choice. Some people think that it is mean to put your dog in a crate but it can be a great training tool and a great comfort to your pet. It is only mean, if you leave your pet in the crate as constant punishment and or if you leave him in the crate for long periods of time.

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Providing a crate for your puppy can satisfy his need for a den-like enclosure, be an effective housebreaking tool, reduce separation anxiety, prevent destructive behavior, and keep your puppy away from dangerous household items.

When training your puppy to go in the crate, you may want to remove the door or wire it up. If the crate comes with a floor pan place a piece of cardboard or a towel between the floor (or crate bottom) and the floor pan in order to keep it from rattling.

Make sure to put in your puppy's favorite toys and dog treats at the far end opposite the door opening. Toys should always be inedible and large enough to prevent their being swallowed. Any fragmented toys should be removed to prevent choking.

Some puppies prefer a soft bed in their crate while other prefer lying on a hard flat surface. If you provide a blanket make sure the puppy doesn't chew on bedding - if so remove it to prevent choking.

Whenever possible, place the crate near or next to you when you are home. This will encourage the pup to go inside it without his feeling lonely or isolated when you go out. It takes time to condition your pet to a crate.

When crating your pet at night, put your dog in the crate (start using a consistent command and a treat). Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. It is best to keep the crate nearby so that they don't associate the crate with social isolation. Time spent with your dog-even sleep time-is a chance to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

Guidelines:

Remove your puppy or dog's collar before confining in the crate. Even flat buckle collars can occasionally get struck on the bars or wire mesh of a crate. If you must leave a collar on your pet when you crate him, use a safety "break away" collar.

Be certain that your puppy has fully eliminated shortly before being crated. Be sure that the crate you are using is not too large to discourage your pup from eliminating in it. Rarely does a pup or dog eliminate in the crate if it is properly sized and the dog is an appropriate age to be crated a given amount of time.

How long do you leave your pet in a crate:

9 - 10 weeks Approximately 30 - 60 minutes
11 - 14 weeks Approximately 1 - 3 hours
15 - 17 weeksApproximately 3 - 4 hours

Except for overnight, neither puppies nor dogs should be crated for more than 5 hours at a time.

Make sure your puppy or adult dog gets plenty of exercise. It is best to get them out and exercised before putting them in the crate, especially if they are going to be left for several hours. If you can't get them outside to walk, consider a treadmill. This way they will want to spend a good portion of their time wanting to sleep.

Crate training can be very rewarding for both you and your pet. These are just some tips on crate training. If you decide to crate train, you may want to talk with a trainer and/or purchase a book on crate training.