Crate Training a Dog or Puppy

Crating or crate training your dog is a great way to keep your dog from causing any trouble when he is not yet properly trained. Crating is also a great potty training tool as well. Dogs will tend to hold it in rather than soil their crate which is viewed by them as their personal territory and when let out of the crate they will go and relieve themselves after you take them to an appropriate area. Crate training will develop your dog's control of their bladder and bowel movements. Depending on your dog the crate training process can take anywhere from several days to several weeks.

It can take some time for your dog to get comfortable with their crate so you need to introduce the crate slowly. Put the crate in a room where he'll get a lot of attention.

1. Introduction
To start off with put a soft towel or blanket inside the crate and play/talk with your dog near the crate. Next encourage your dog to enter the crate by putting some treats or his favorite toy just outside the door of the crate, then at the beginning of the crate and after that toss the treats all the way into the end of the crate. If he doesn't want to go in don't force him in, let him go at his own pace. Leave the crate door open during this process. This process can take anywhere from several minutes to a few days.

2. Meals
The next step is to feed your dog meals near the crate. After several meals put the food as far into the crate as he will go, if he doesn't go in start by putting the food in the beginning of the crate and place by food a little further into the crate each time until the food is in the back of the crate. When you think your dog is comfortable with eating in the crate close the door when he begins to eat and open the door as soon as he is finished. With each meal after that leave the door closed a couple of minutes longer each time until you reach about 10 minutes. If your dog begins to whine or cry while inside the crate don't let him out until he has been in there for the predetermined amount of time or he will do it every time. It is important that your dog is able to see you when they are in the crate.

3. Longer Time Periods
When your dog is comfortable in the crate you will be able to confine him for longer time periods. To start off with call your dog over to the crate and give him a treat. Give a command to signal for him to go into the crate such as "bed" and encourage him to go in by pointing to the crate with a treat in hand. After he enters the crate reward your dog by giving him the treat and pet him and say "good boy/girl" then close the door. Next quietly sit by the crate for a few minutes then go into another room for a few minutes. Come back sit quietly by the crate for another few minutes then let him out of the crate. Repeat this process several times a day. With each successive repetition, slowly increase the amount of time you leave him in the crate and the amount of that time you are away from the crate. When your dog stays quietly in his crate for at least 30 minutes when you are away from the crate, you can begin to leave him crated when you leave the house for short periods of time or at night when he sleeps. This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

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