Crate Training Lowers Stress
Crate training is a process of teaching your puppy to accept and enjoy being in a crate. A crate is a small enclosure that provides your puppy with a safe, comfortable and cozy place to sleep, rest and relax. Crate training can have many benefits for you and your puppy
Crate training can have many benefits for you and your puppy
Among others these are:
- Preventing destructive behavior and accidents when you are not around to supervise your puppy.
- Providing your puppy with a sense of security and comfort when he is alone or in a new environment.
- Making travel and vet visits easier and less stressful for your puppy.
- Helping your puppy learn bladder and bowel control and speed up house training.
- Giving your puppy a place to retreat and unwind when he is tired or overwhelmed.
Don’t use the crate to punish your pup
However, crate training is not a way of confining or punishing your puppy. It should be done gradually, positively and patiently, so that your puppy associates the crate with good things and not with fear or anxiety.
Just follow these steps
- Choose the right crate. You will need a crate that is sturdy, secure and easy to clean. You can choose from different types of crates, such as wire, plastic or fabric crates. The most important thing is to choose a crate that is the right size for your puppy. The crate should be big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably, but not too big that he can eliminate in one corner and sleep in another. You can use a divider to adjust the size of the crate as your puppy grows. You can also make the crate more comfortable and inviting by adding a soft blanket, a chew toy and a water bowl.
- Introduce the crate. The first step is to introduce the crate to your puppy and make him curious and interested in it. Place the crate in a busy area of your house, such as the living room or the kitchen, where your puppy can see and hear you. Leave the door open and put some treats, toys or food inside the crate. Let your puppy explore the crate on his own and reward him with praise whenever he goes near or inside the crate. Don’t force or lure your puppy into the crate if he is hesitant or scared. Let him take his time and go at his own pace.
- Feed your puppy in the crate. The next step is to feed your puppy his meals in the crate to create a positive association with it. Start by placing his food bowl near the entrance of the crate and gradually move it further inside as he gets more comfortable. If he is reluctant to enter the crate, you can toss some treats or kibble inside to encourage him. Once he is eating his meals inside the crate without any hesitation, you can close the door while he is eating and open it as soon as he finishes. Gradually increase the time you leave the door closed after he finishes his meal until he can stay in the crate for 10 minutes without any fuss.
- Increase the duration. The next step is to increase the duration of your puppy’s stay in the crate when you are at home. Start by asking your puppy to go into the crate using a cue word like “crate” or “bed” and giving him a treat when he does. Close the door and sit near the crate for a few minutes. Then open the door and let him out without making a big fuss. Repeat this several times a day, gradually increasing the time you leave him in the crate and moving away from the crate until you can leave him alone in another room for 30 minutes without any problems.
- Crate your puppy when you leave. The final step is to crate your puppy when you leave the house for short periods of time. Follow the same routine as before, but don’t make a big deal out of leaving or returning. Just calmly put your puppy in his crate with a treat and a toy and leave without any fuss. Don’t say goodbye or apologize to your puppy, as this can make him anxious or excited. When you return, don’t greet him enthusiastically or let him out immediately, as this can make him think that being in the crate is bad and being out of it is good. Wait until he is calm and quiet before opening the door and praising him.
We listed some very fine crates in this post “Best Dog Crate for Crate Training”.
You can get much more information at Wikipedia.
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