How to Crate Train Your Dog

Why use a crate?

There are so many reasons to utiltize a crate.  It makes housetraining so much simpler and it gives dogs their own space.  For example, when you were growing up, did your parents tell you to go find a spot in the house to sleep or did they give you a bed?  Didn’t you retreat to your room when you wanted to be alone? You had your own space, your dog deserves one as well. Probaby, the most important reason is that it maes life less stressful for your dog.  What happens if your dog gets sick and stays overnight at the vet? Rest assured, your dog will be confined for their own safety in a crate. If your dog is not use to a crate, it will make a stressful situation even more stressful.

The list can go on and on.  Dog training is a field where most experts disagree on everything, however,  the one thing that they all agree is that crate training is an integral part of raising a dog.

 

Introducing the Crate

People ask all the time, where should I put the crate?  I tell owners, “Wherever it is most convenient for you.”  Preferably where the family spends most of its time or in your bedroom.  Some owners do not want or can not have the dog in their bedroom and that is a personal preference.  You want it centrally located so that during appropriate crate time, your dog can see you and spend time with you around, while not being able to sneak off and chew a piece of furniture or urinate on the rug.  

Feed your dog in the crate.  I don’t know why, but many owners tell me that they heard to NOT feed their dog in the crate.  I can’t imagine where that started but think of it this way, if your dog is being fed in a crate, think of how quickly they will learn to love it.  They will associate something very positive with it in a very short period of time.

Put their treats, toys etc in the crate.  This is an area where the children in the house have to respect the dogs belongings and not take anything out.  Children have their area for their toys and games, and so does the dog.

If you have multiple dogs, this is an absolute necessity.  Any time you are giving the dogs bones or treats, they should be separated and given their treats and bones to chew on in peace and without another dog hovering.  Yes, some will brag and say, “My dogs all have their bones together and there is no problem”. That is lovely, but what happens when one dog decides to fight over it and let’s face it, if you are like me, you have a career, a family and a home to manage, who has time to watch the dogs and make sure that they play nicely alongside one another?  Dinner needs to be made, homework done, garbage out. It is difficult enough making sure the teenagers play nicely with one another. I personally, don’t have time to micromanage the dogs while they chew their favorite bone. Do you?

Teach the Dog the Crate command

This is super important skill to teach your dog. You want them to go there on command.  If you are in our day school or private lesson program, you and your dog will be taught this skill.  If you are not one of our students, check out our youtube.com channel for that lesson.

Sleeping in the Crate

The safest place for your puppy and even adult dog to sleep when you are not home or at night, is in the crate.  This way, you don’t have to worry about the puppy chewing on some cords, your adult dog getting into the chocolate your children left out.  I tell all of our owners, another important time for this is during holidays like the 4th of July, keeping your dog inside the crate during fireworks will help soothe them and decrease the chances of them panicking and bolting out the door or gate.

During parties, put your dog in the crate.  This way you don’t have to worry about Senile Aunt Sally, letting the dog out the front door when no one is looking or your bratty nephew Billy pulling on Babe’s ears when she is chewing on a bone.  Your dog will be safest and happiest here.

My Dog Hates the Crate

Maybe you just brought home your new dog, either a puppy or an older dog and each time you put them in the crate they scream, bark and howl incessantly.   What should you do? Do not let them out,each time they cry. You become their doorman. Each time you place them in there, give them treats and feed them in there.

If it continues, do not hesitate to teach them the word no and tell them no.  You can also use a spray bottle to spray them in the face when they are barking. Generally, they will cry themselves out and it will stop in time. Covering it up with a sheet can be helpful as well.

Remember one, thing, you have to be more stubborn than your dog.  They will test you and as long as there is a payoff for them, they will do whatever it is you don’t want them doing.  Consistency and persistence is key.

If you are having more difficult issues that those outlined above, with training your dog to like the crate, emails or call us and we will be glad to give you additional help.

 

As always, for better dogs,

 

Babette Haggerty