How To Crate Train Your Dog(s)

On our last blogs we talked about why a person may want to use a dog crate and how to select the proper one.  With this blog, I would like to follow up on the last two a bit by offering some advice on how to train your dog or dogs with a dog crate.  I have done my best here to break down some steps to use when training.  Keep in mind that some dogs may take longer than others to train and the important thing is to keep with it and be patient.  Just like people, dogs will learn at different paces.

The first thing you want to do is find the right location for the crate.  You want to place the crate in your home where you and your family spend most of your time.  Then place a blanket or towel in the crate.  Take the door off or raise it so that the dog can enter and leave at will.  Allow the dog to explore the crate.  Most dogs are curious and will begin to explore the crate on their own.  However, if they do not then you can encourage it by bringing the dog over to the crate and try to get them to enter the crate.  You can usually use small treats to coax them into the crate.  Do not force the dog to enter.  Again, just be patient and use the treats to entice them into the crate.  This sometimes can take several minutes or even days with some dogs. Please be patient with them!

After you have introduced your dog to the crate, the next step is to start feeding your dog his regular meals near the crate or in the crate if they are comfortable with entering the crate at this point.  When the dog is comfortable with entering the crate to eat his or her meal then close the door while they are eating and then re-open the door once they are done eating.  After the first time doing this with the door closed, you will start to add time to how long the door is closed for until you have left him or her in the crate for up to ten or fifteen minutes following their meal.  If your dog begins to whine then it may be too long of a period being closed in too soon and you may have to decrease the amount of time closed in for the next time.  However, you cannot let them out while they are whining.  Wait until they have stopped or they will think that they are going to be let out every time they whine.

Once your dog has become accustomed to eating his or her meals in the crate and a short stay following their meals, then you can start to lengthen the time they are in the crate.  You will start to close the dog in the crate for short periods while you are at home.  You will get the dog to the crate and give them a command such as "crate" while pointing to the crate.  Once the dog enters the crate then you will praise them and give them a small treat and close the door.  Stay close to the crate for the first several minutes and then spend the next several minutes out of the dogs sight in another room.  Once the dog become accustomed to this for at least thirty minutes at a time then you can start to leave the dog for short periods or allow them to sleep in the crate at night.  Again, be patient, this is not going to happen overnight and it can take several days to several weeks to get to this point.

After your dog has gotten to the point where you can leave them for thirty minutes at a time, then you can begin to leave them longer.  You still go through your normal crating routine by giving them the command to enter the crate, praising them when they enter  the crate, and giving them a small treat.  You can leave your dog crated from anywhere from five to twenty minutes before leaving.  You should vary this some so they do not become anxious with the routine.  Do not over excite the dog when you return either as this too can create anxiety.  At this point, you still want to crate the dog for short periods while you are at home so they do not relate the crate to being left home alone.

So, this is dog crating 101.  This is just a brief overview of dog training with a crate.  I do suggest that if you do not have the patience or are having some difficulty with crate training your dog or dogs that you contact someone that can help you professionally.  As I have stated in the past, dog crates, are a great training tool.  But, as with any great training tool, you need to work at training your dog properly in order to get the full benefit from it.

As I stated in the last blogs, at baddogsupplies.com, we do carry a wide selection of dog crates, kennels, and carriers.  So, check us out for your dog crate needs.  Let us know if there is any way we can make your selection easier.