Effective Crate Training Tips and Techniques
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Crate training involves teaching your dog to spend time in a dog crate - a plastic, wooden or wire enclosure. Many dog owners worry that this is cruel, but in fact, once they are used to it, most dogs really enjoy spending time in the crate.
Being in the crate taps into natural canine behavior, as wolves naturally seek out a warm, safe den in the wild.
The best time to start crate training in the first night the puppy spends in your home. By now you should already have bought a crate that accommodates your puppy's adult size. Buy one with a sliding panel, and adjust the panel, so the pup has just enough space to lie down and turn around.
Don't put a blanket and pillow in the crate, rather use a soft towel which is better at absorbing any spills.If your pup was bought from a breeder, see if you can get a strip of blanket with the mother's smell on it. This will help the puppy accept the crate more quickly.
Often dog owners put the crate in some secluded corner of the house - this is a mistake. Remember that dogs are social animals and thrive on interaction. Pick a spot where there are plenty of comings and goings, so the puppy doesn't feel left out.
For the first few weeks, you should put the crate in your bedroom at night. Expect a ruckus at first. Remember, she's just a baby, taken away from her family and put into a place filled with strange sights, smells and sounds.
Don't pander to every cry though, or you will be up half the night once she figures out that you come running every time she cries.
Within a day or two, your pup will be used to the crate and within a few weeks you can move her out of the bedroom. She'll probably kick up a fuss again, but provided you don't respond to her cries, she will get used to the idea quite quickly.
Pretty soon she'll love her crate and will probably sleep there by choice.
Another benefit of crate training is that it makes potty training so much easier. Dogs are hygienic animals. They will not ‘go’ in their sleeping area. So crate training teaches your puppy to 'hold it in', from an early age.
Remember that your pup will not have the bladder control of an adult dog, so keep her stays in the crate short - no more than an hour at a time.
When she starts barking and whining, take her outdoors immediately. Praise her when she does her business outdoors and she'll virtually house train herself.
There's a lot more about crate training puppies, dog care, types of dogs and other helpful dog advice at dogsanddogtraining.com




