How To Train A Dog In A Crate
Introduction
Whether your dog spends time in a crate while you’re away from home or just wants to sleep there at night, the goal is for your dog to feel relaxed and comfortable in their crate when you’re gone. A happy, well-trained dog will stay put in their crate until you open it. There are some simple steps that can help ensure that your dog feels at ease, including using a properly-sized crate, rewarding them with treats when they go inside, and leaving them in there while you’re out. With these steps, you can teach your dog to feel at ease in a crate during any part of the day, whether you’re at home or out working.
Start with a crate that is the right size.
To begin training your dog in the crate, you’ll need a crate that is large enough for your dog to be comfortable and safe. The ideal size will vary depending on the breed of dog you’re working with but as a general rule, you should be able to fit at least two fingers between the bars of the crate and your pet’s body when he’s lying down comfortably. It’s also important to make sure that dogs can’t use any part of their bodies for leverage or support when trying to escape from the cage during training.
In addition to being large enough for comfort, crates should never be too small or cramped so that dogs feel trapped within them—this can lead them into stress-induced behaviors such as chewing on their bedding or even gnawing on woodwork around doors and windows (if those are accessible).
Put your dog inside and give them a treat.
Now it’s time to set up the crate.
- Place the crate in an area that you want your dog to go, like near his bed or under a table. Don’t put it too far from where you are sitting, but also don’t have him so close that he feels like he is being confined too much.
- Put a treat inside when you first place him inside and make sure he has quiet time before letting him out again (for example: if you are going to be gone for five minutes then leave for five minutes). Don’t let him out until he is calm and not barking or growling at all!
- Each time after this step try leaving your pup alone for longer periods of time until they no longer need treats as an incentive
Leave your dog in the crate while you are within sight.
It is important to establish a routine for the dog. Dogs will feel more comfortable if they know what to expect, and this can be established through a regular schedule. The crate should be in the same place all of the time, so that your dog knows where it is and that it means “safe” and “time to relax.”
If you have multiple crates around your house, keep them all in one area of your house so that when you say “crate,” even if you’re talking about another room, your dog will know exactly what you mean. This also helps establish some consistency as well – if they learn that “crate” means going into one specific place (even when there are other things around), then they will feel less stressed by moving or rearranging items throughout their daily life because this isn’t causing any confusion about where everything should go!
Leave your dog in the crate while you leave home.
- After you have left your dog in the crate for a few minutes and he has calmed down, test him by opening the door. If he attempts to follow you out of the crate, gently restrain him and shut the door again.
- If whining or barking occurs when first put into a crate, it is effective to walk away from the crate until quiet is achieved. This may take several minutes or longer depending on how excited your dog is initially at being confined in such an unfamiliar place. When your pet becomes quiet, reward with praise and perhaps some treats before leaving him alone once more.
- To make this process easier on both of you, try leaving him alone for increasingly longer periods until he does not protest when confined for an hour or more at a time without having been trained to do so beforehand (see below).
Setting aside some time every day to work with your dog, feeding them in their crate, and rewarding them with treats can help ensure that they feel comfortable in their crate.
If you are considering crate training your dog, it is important to understand what the benefits of crate training are and how it can help enhance your relationship with your pet.
Crates have been shown to be useful in helping train dogs that suffer from separation anxiety or other behavioral issues. They also help teach dogs boundaries and keep them safe when they’re left alone at home while their owners are away or at work.
In addition to being a great training tool, crates are an excellent way for you to bond with your new puppy and provide them with security during those first few months until they become more comfortable around the house.
With these steps, you can teach your dog to feel at ease in a crate during any part of the day, whether you’re at home or out working.
With these steps, you can teach your dog to feel at ease in a crate during any part of the day, whether you’re at home or out working.
Crate training is a great way to house train your dog and helps ensure that they don’t have accidents when left alone. But it also has other advantages:
- You can use it to keep your dog out of trouble when you are not home. For example, if someone comes over while you’re gone, they won’t be able to get near your trash can if your pup is confined inside his crate with the door shut; this will prevent problems with counter surfing (stealing food off counters) and other behaviors that may lead to getting into trouble or hurting themselves.
Conclusion
When a dog is comfortable enough to spend time in their crate, this can be a very good thing for both you and your pet. It can allow you to have peace of mind when leaving your home or provide valuable training opportunities during long flights or road trips. By following these steps, you can help make sure that your dog will feel safe and happy inside of it.