How to crate train a pet puppy or dog – easy-to-follow steps for effective crate training
As a puppy or dog owner, you will always make his/her health and well-being a top priority. After all, a puppy or dog that is happy and content contributes a lot to its overall good health and well-being.
Making your puppy or dog feel safe and secure in their environment is paramount. Let’s be honest, everyone needs a hole to escape to for some peace and quiet every now and then, and believe it or not, puppies and dogs are no different.
The crate as a piece of equipment can seem a little confusing. After all, isn’t it a cell by another name? Well yes it is, but that’s a human perception of it. Your puppy or dog doesn’t know this. He/she really doesn’t think the same way as you and has no idea what a chest is.
Successfully crate training your puppy or dog is much easier than you might imagine. First and foremost, the crate should be the most amazing, cozy and friendly place for your puppy or dog.
So how do you achieve this environment and make him/her feel happy and secure in the crate?
From day one, when you first get your puppy or dog, the first step is familiarization with the crate. We want it to be a friendly place, remember? What better way to do this than to put his food in the crate at mealtime?
You will find that your puppy or dog will concentrate on the food. He/she will be hungry and will not consider the environment in which he/she is eating at this stage.
Repeat this procedure with each feeding and before long you will find your puppy or dog rushing to the crate eagerly awaiting their dinner with a wagging tail.
Another good familiarization technique is to take a favorite toy and play with it and your puppy or dog. After a short time, place the toy with him/her in the crate. Close the door and let the session continue, he/she will be absorbed by the toy, not the crate.
Try to keep these training sessions reasonably short to begin with. Puppies have short attention spans and get bored very easily. You want him/her to have a stress-free time in the crate, and as easy as it is for your puppy or dog to adjust to the crate, it will take time and patience on your part as well, so little and often is best.
Always try to end your workouts on a positive note, it’s not always that easy, but a little extra help in the form of treats is a useful training tool. You’re trying to make your puppy or dog feel happy while they’re in the crate, so use some closet love to help you out.
Place him/her in the crate, close the door, and give them a treat or chew while they spend some time in the crate. So, by association, your puppy or dog will soon learn that this is a great place. Whether they think they can get a treat, get fed, or just spend time with a toy.
Your training progresses by extending the periods of time your puppy or dog spends in the crate, culminating in being able to leave him/her safe in the knowledge that he/she is more than happy and content to be in an environment that encourages him/her to feel safe.
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