Because there is so much press about abuses like dog fighting and dog racing, many dog lovers are scared of the idea of confining a dog to a crate, or atiny dog cage. Though abuses can, and do, occur, the crate is not meant as a place to incarcerate a dog. It’s not a tool for punishment. Rather, your dog’s crate functions in pretty much the same way as your kid’s bedroom.
In order for the crate to be a positive experience for your dog, begin the process of crate training on aday when you have time to remain at home and observe your dog’s behavior. During the day, for instance, put your dog within the crate for brief periods such as 15-minute intervals. A successful crating session has occurred if your dog appears comfortable. If your dog whines or tries to get your interest, ignore her, but take note. If it is’s simply a cry for attention, she’ll soon learn that crate time is personal time, and will start to occupy herself or rest. If the whining becomes worse, or does not stop over a couple of days of consistent crating sessions, there might be a deeper issue there, and you need to consult an expert.
After the session, permit your dog to pick up her usual schedule of play and bathroom breaks. Crate her again each couple of hours or so, lengthening the duration for 5 minutes each time. If she is doing well, you should be doing 30-minute sessions by the end of the day. If you run a home based business this should be much simpler than if you work a regular job.
That evening, put her to bed in the crate after she’s had her nightly bathroom break, naturally. She’ll probably go to sleep fast.
If she spends her 15-minute interval whining, simply continue crating her during the day in 15-minute intervals until she starts to feel comfy enough to stop attempting to get your attention. By bedtime, she should be comfortable enough to spend a night in the crate. If she whimpers at this point, don’t worry – particularly if she is very young. A young puppy will still be afflicted by separation anxiety and missing her mother. Successful crate training will give her comfort and stability during this hard transition period.
The crate may also be a valuable tool when it comes to housebreaking your dog. Itis a rare dog which will go potty when limited to asmall space. Like humans, they find the idea of soiling themselves pretty disgusting and will avoid doing so if they can. For that reason, if youare crate-training and potty-training at the same time, take your dog outside to use the bathroom after each crate session. Give her five or 10 minutes to do her business and give her praise when she does.
If youare using the crate specifically to potty-train, you may wish to recrate her after a nonproductive bathroom break. When she goes in the yard , however , praise her lavishly and release her to play.
Many individuals who use crates for their dogs leave the crate door open when the dog isn’t in the crate, to give the pooch access to it. Remember, the crate is a good thing. It is your dog’s room. The mere fact that your dog chooses to pass some time there on her own is a good sign. This will become a place of security and will supply reassurance for you and your dog.