Once your dog is used with the crate, you should lock the dog inside. You can go away for a bit and watch from a distance to see how he calms down. If you see him protest, keep him inside until he calms down. Let him go only when he does. If you do this for a few days, he should be learning to enter and exit the crate on his own.
Some people don’t like crate training because they think that it resembles solitary confinement. But, if you read some of the benefits listed here, and those that are not mentioned and you might find on your own, you can easily reach the same conclusion I did, that a crate is good both for the dog and his owner.
If you train dogs or puppies enough, you can make them love it, and not consider it a place that they want to avoid. If they’re not trained, they can feel lonely and unsafe in this environment.
Crate or den training is done because dogs need a feeling of security, a place of nesting, where there aren’t any distractions. Such a home can be a den. If the right techniques are used and it’s introduced properly, crate training can be OK for dogs, and they will not consider it a punishment.
1. Benefits of using a crate.
a) When you want to be sure that your dog isn’t running around on his own, and you need him to stay put, you can use a crate to control him.
b) If they’re in a place where they feel vulnerable, a crate will provide them a safe haven.
c) A crate can be a place to rest and relax for the dog, where he can’t be distracted or bothered.
d) You can use the crate to make sure that dogs with behavioral problems are kept under control.
e) If your dog is untrained, you can keep him under control, so he doesn’t bite your guests or cause any accidents.
f) If your dog has separation anxiety a crate can help him.
g) If you need to take the dog out, a crate can keep him secure.
h) His confidence is boosted because he is more secure.
i) Can help the dog with their training, since it can be a direction for their activities.
2. Size of the crate.
You should choose a crate that allows the dog to stand up on all fours, where he can lie down or turn around without the walls being in the way. If you also want to use the crate to travel with your dog, you should pick a larger one.
If training is the only reason why you use the crate, you should still pick one that follows the rules I talked about before. Using a big crate will allow the dog to do things that are unwanted in an area of the crate where they don’t have to sit.
3. How to introduce the crate to the dog.
Introducing the crate to the dog should be done when you’re comfortable with the idea. First, choose a crate that is appropriate. Second, put it in the house, in a place where the dog can notice it. In the beginning, remove the door from the crate, so the dog can explore it for a week or so.
If he doesn’t seem interested in the crate, you can leave some food inside, to get his attention. After a few days pass, you can try giving him food inside. This way, he will learn that the crate is his and he can enter it safely.
Sam Nichols
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-on-how-to-crate-train-your-dog-the-right-way-729562.html
#1 by ♥gσρρєя♥ on February 10, 2010 - 2:09 am
What does it mean to “crate train” your puppy?
Hi I might be getting a puppy soon, and some people said a good way to potty train it is to crate train it….I was wondering what exactly this is….Please help, and any other tips on potty training would be appreciated. Thanks.
P.S.-The puppy is 2 months old.
P.P.S.S. Also, when can I train it to go outside? It’s a cockapoo, if that makes a difference. THANK YOU!
#2 by justbeingher on February 10, 2010 - 7:11 am
It is properly called a kennel. Dogs are trained to kennel when the owner is not in the house or the dog wants/needs to have its own safe space.
You can use a kennel as a part of housetraning, but it is not the same as housetraining. A dog won’t crap or pee in the kennel unless it has no choice and can’t hold it. You STILL have to teach the dog it is not ok to pee and crap in the house when it is out of the kennel, and to pay attention to peeing and pooping when you walk the dog or let it out for that purpose.
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#3 by mariepsw06 on February 10, 2010 - 7:13 am
Crate training is basically putting your dog in a kennel large enough for them to get up, turn around and lay down..keeping them in this kennel during the night will prevent them from having an accident. First thing in the morning, you take them outside to do their business and this will teach them that they can’t just go anywhere in the home. Also, this is a safety thing for when you are gone. If they are in a kennel, they can’t get to wires, furniture or anything else that you may not want damaged or fo rthem to hurt themself.
Always leave a toy in the crate with the dog and a few treats. This will let them know that this is their safe haven. NEVER punish them by putting them in a crate otherwise trying to put them in there later on will scare them and they may bark or howl the whole time.
Not sure if I made much sense, but basically that is what ‘crate training’ is.
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#4 by crazykahlua81 on February 10, 2010 - 7:15 am
train it to go into its cage when you are not home. Don’t leave em in there for hours cause how would u like to be caged for more than four hours. If ur dog behaves leave him out all day so he can roam as he pleases or just buy a baby gate
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#5 by Patsy A on February 10, 2010 - 7:17 am
"just bein.." has good info about kennel training. Dogs, and especially puppies, like having a safe place to retreat to for some alone time. My daughter’s huge pit bull continued trying to back into his cage after he was too big to fit.
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#6 by drb on February 10, 2010 - 7:19 am
You should start training it to go outside the day you get it. To crate train a dog means to teach to accept being put in a crate for some period of time. Crates a used to safely transport dogs, to keep them from being underfoot if you need to clean, or have guests that don’t like dogs, or for use in potty training. A little while before you anticipate the dog having to relieve itself, you crate it. The will often nap, and when they wake up, it’s time to take them out. In this way, it helps prevent accidents, and helps teach them to go outdoors. Dogs don’t like to soil their beds, and so will be reluctant to go in the crate, unless it’s too big, or you keep them there too long. Once a dog is crate trained, it usuall becomes their private spot, and they will often go in on their own to sleep.
Be sure to get the right size for your dog. It should be big enough for them to stand, turn around easily, and lie comfortably, but no bigger.
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#7 by lylaina on February 10, 2010 - 7:21 am
crate training is really easy and effective. this is how i trained my dog and he got potty trained in 3 days. when you crate train your dog u r training it to go outside. you have to buy a small crate withan adustible wall in the inside. you want to adust the crate to be a tiny bit bigger than your dog. as the dog grows you make it bigger. everynight you put the dog in the crate to sleep. because the crate is about his size, he won’t potty in it because then he would have to sleep in it. while doing this you can also try to get him to go potty outside! you should also buy a play pen for him to be in when your gone.
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used this method with my dog, who was also 2 months.
#8 by one_fishslayer on February 10, 2010 - 7:23 am
Generally, a dog will not pee or poop where it sleeps. But if it can’t hold it….
With a puppy, you need to take it out often to do it’s business.
The last pup we fostered had some potty training "issues" so I tried something a bit different. It was suggested to me by someone who’s done this a lot.
First thing in the morning I would take our two permanent dogs & get the pup out of her crate & put her on a lead.
I would then take the group out to the designated area and tell her to "Go PeePee!" When she did her business she got much praise & treats. Of course, the OTHER dogs soon learned to do this and I suspect my Cattledog may have "faked" a few…
A baby gate to confine the pup to where it can be supervised is handy. Usually they will sniff and/or circle before they go.
Good luck. It takes time.
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#9 by caramellillady on February 10, 2010 - 7:25 am
When my Bei-Bey first came to our house we had a big crate for her because we knew that she would grow up to be a big girl. We had to put a box inside so that she wouldn’t have room to potty at one end then just go sleep on the other end. Every night before she goes to bed in a happy tone I tell her "Nite-nite!" and during the day if I have to have her out of the way (learned the hard way that she enjoys eating the dust piles when I’m sweeping) I tell her "Park It!" and she knows that it’s time to go into her bedroom.
The most important aspect of crate training is to make sure that the dog knows that they aren’t going into a cage but into their own private sanctuary. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES do you make the dog go into the crate for punishment, instead correct the behavior with positive reinforcment.
A puppy in a new home will probably whine in the crate but I’ve read and been told by the pros (vet, breeder, training instructor) that the best thing to do is let them cry it out. The crate is the dog’s own personal area and they should be comfortable in it since it is also their safe haven.
References :
At PetsMart there is a ton of literature, even breed specific magazines that are chock full of info. I don’t know what I would do if I hadn’t had those books when my little precious came to live with us!
B/T/W This link is just one of so many that can be helpful.
http://www.proplan.com/expertAdvice/trainingBehavior/cratetraining.hml?D=1554993&T=4184177
#10 by junkdodge on February 10, 2010 - 7:27 am
Read my article on crate training:
Crate training is one of the best things that you can do for your dog. It is also a great way to start off on the right foot for obedience training. You have to prepare yourself far more than you have to prepare your dog for this training. To most people, the crate conjures up ideas of a jail or punishment for your dog. The most difficult part of this training is to help owners realize the difference in the dog’s point of view.
We have to realize that a dog looks at a crate as a safe comfortable place to rest and not as a jail. Crate training is the way to go!
Scientists and doctors and animal rights groups have studied crate training for years. The one thing that they can all agree on is that it is NOT inhumane or cruel to your dog. Actually just the opposite applies. A crate provides a den or a hiding spot where the dog feels secure. It also provides a place where he can sleep, rest, or hide toys. Dogs live their lives by using their instincts, and having a den is one of these instincts.
The biggest hurdle that you will encounter when crate training, is the crying. It is true that when your dog is crying he is trying to tell you something. What the dog is telling you is that he is bored and maybe lonely. There are several ways to get past the crying stage of this, but first you have to understand what is happening.
Dogs are pack animals. Generally they do not like to be by them selves. When they are separated from the pack (you and your family), they start to get anxious. Remember, that a pack of dogs sleep in a den usually, not just one. So this new concept, just like every new concept, takes a little time to get used to. HAVE PATIENCE. It is up to you to make the crate positive. Never make the crate the place that the dog goes after he has been corrected. This needs to be a fun happy place for the dog. There are two basic types of crates. One is made of plastic or fiberglass and has slotted holes on the sides and a metal door on one end. This type of crate is thought to give the dog more of a sense of security. It is darker and has less ventilation.
The other style is the metal crate. It is made of metal bars, has plenty of light and ventilation. This gives the dog less of a security sense, but more interaction with what is going on around it. You should keep in mind the size that your dog will grow to and buy for that size. Any smaller and you will have to buy more than one crate. Any larger and your dog will be able to go to the bathroom in one end of the crate and still sleep at the other and this will inhibit house breaking.
The crate should be in a high traffic area during the day, so that the dog has social contact. Dogs thrive off of contact. Take it slow. Put your dog in the kennel for minutes at first.
1. Lure him in with a treat and leave the door open. When he gets comfortable with this, let him eat a meal in the crate, putting the bowl in the back of the crate and closing the door.
2. After he becomes totally comfortable with this, close the door and lock it.
3. Make it as comfortable as you can for the dog, not for you. Some dogs like fluffy pillows and blankets, some dogs just eat them and end up being fine with nothing in the crate but a toy. 4. Never take the dog out of the kennel when they throw a fit. Instead, wait until they calm down, and make the exit a positive association. If you give in to the dog, you will be reinforcing a behavior that the dog will associate crying and barking with being let out and he will do this until it is corrected.
The first night that you begin crate training, expect that he will whine and whimper. It is simply telling you that it wants attention. You will eventually learn the difference between a cry for attention and a cry to go to the bathroom. If you follow a schedule for feeding and going out, then it will be much easier to time when you take the dog out.
References :
http://www.expert-dog-training.net/crate-training.html
#11 by nicole c on February 10, 2010 - 7:29 am
I have a puppy… it means to teach your pup to stay in his\her crate while your gone.Leave a toy, blanket and pee pad.Make sure your not gone too long if your pup is new he\she might get sad.P.S I use to have two cockapoos.
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