A Look At What Crate Training A Dog Involves

By Author: Tim Bell
Total Articles: 17
Comment this article

Crate training a dog can be a time consuming and demanding task, but once completed it will provide a lot of convenience and will prove to be handy under different situations. Bringing home a puppy or dog means that you have to shoulder the responsibility of having to train him so that he knows where to eliminate and which parts of the home he can access and which he cannot. Teaching a dog the house rules is one of the best ways to enjoy their company and it will also help him learn what he can chew upon and what things are not to be chewed upon.

Crates are also safe for transporting the pet in a car and they are also a good means of taking him to places where he can enjoy himself, especially in those places where dogs are not allowed to roam about freely. Proper crate training a dog will pay rich dividends and the crate in turn also can become a safe place where the pet can learn to spend their time happily. Just make sure that while confining him to the crate that he is also provided adequate amount of drinking water. For this purpose, spill proof water bowls are the preferred choice or you can pick bowls that can be ...
... attached to the kennel gate.

It is important to select a suitable crate which ideally should be made of plastic or which are collapsible and made out of metal. Collapsible kennels are good for a pet when the owner is going to be present in the home for long periods of time, but are not recommended if the owner is going to leave the pet unattended for long periods of time. Crates are available in a variety of size and are readily available at almost every pet store. The crate must however be sufficiently large to contain the pet and it should be big enough to allow for him to stand and turn around freely.

The actual crate training a dog process can last for a day or it can extend to weeks. The duration taken to complete crate training of your pet depends on factors such as the age and temperament of your dog as well as your own experience in training dogs. What is important is that you should ensure that the crate reminds the dog of something pleasant and the training must be performed in small steps that are to be taken one at a time.

To start the crate training process, you will first of all have to introduce the pet to his crate. It helps if you place the crate in an area that sees much human activity. In addition, it also helps to place a soft towel or blanket in the crate after which you can introduce your pet to his crate and be sure to use a soothing tone of voice when telling him to enter the crate. Be careful that the door to the crate is left open and fastened in that position to prevent it from accidentally closing and hitting the dog which will cause him to be frightened and even injured.

You can use some small treats which can be placed in the crate. Doing this will encourage your pet to enter and use the crate. Do not try forcing your pet into entering the crate, but instead cajole him and induce him with some treats in a bid to get him to enter into the crate.

Next, be sure to feed him his meals in his crate. This is an important step that should be taken after the pet has been introduced to his crate. Then, get him to stand comfortably in his crate and allow him to eat his meals there but close the crate door while he is doing this. Follow this up by opening the door as soon as he has finished eating his meal and then leave the crate door open, but ensure that he remains in his crate. Once he gets used to staying in the crate, you can start to condition him to remain in the crate for extended periods of time.

Once he has got into the habit of eating his meals in his crate and he does not show any fear or anxiety at being left in his crate, you can allow him to remain there for a short while, but under your supervision. You can start calling him over to his crate and by giving him a treat; you can get him to enter his crate.

Encourage him to get into his crate by either using commands or by pointing to the inside of the crate and give him a treat once he follows your instructions. Once in, you should praise your pet and give him another treat after which it is safe to shut the crate door. All that remains in so far as crate training a dog goes is to then stay with him for about ten minutes and then leave him in his crate for a few minutes in your absence. Then, return to the crate, open its door and let him out.

TW Bell has been involved in the small animal business for more than 15 years. He has raised rabbits for over 20 years. He specializes in rabbits and dog crate training. He enjoys helping others learn to care for their animals. He has multiple sites which have instructional pages on small animals and their care.

RabbitCavy

CratesKennels