Posts Tagged ‘crate dog training’
Crate Training a Puppy .
kennel training a puppy makes all the other steps in dog’s training go so much smoother, the same way a solid foundation makes for a superior wall.
Establishing you as the Alpha member of his “pack” is one very good reason for when he is very young.
Another reason for crate training is that dogs love predictability.
To know what is going to happen in any given situation makes him/her happy, and more apt to be the best-behaved dog it can possibly be.
A strong crate is the very basis of good puppy training. A wire crate with a lock is the best kind. Check that it is large enough for him/her to stand up and turn around. But not so large that he/she can roam and wander around. A too-large crate will inhibit house breaking.
A crate that is just the right size will be perceived as his/her “den”, where puppies never “go potty”. They will learn to hold it if you don’t make a prison out of it.
Never leave a puppy under 8 weeks, longer than one hour in his/her crate. He/She will soil it, after struggling and suffering as long as he can.
Place a nice mat in there with a bone. Start with leaving a tasty treat in there, they will go in and get it. Do this several times without closing the door, let it come in and out freely for an hour or so. Praise it highly each time s/he goes in; make it all very pleasant.
Once its attention is on the treat, close the door. Praise it quietly, “What a good boy/girl, it’s ok, such a good boy/girl!” In 10 or 20 seconds, no longer, let it out without a word, no praise, just a pat. Do this for increasingly longer intervals, without giving him/her an opportunity to get upset. This can be done several times the very first day.
Make sure every training session ends on a happy note, this is extremely important.
Once he/she sees the crate is his/her own private territory, he/she will go in there on its own, expecting treats and your attention. When he/she does, say, “Wanna crate?” with a happy face while getting his/her treats.Start leaving the room while he/she is in there for 2 minutes and onward, gradually. When you return, don’t make a fuss, just walk over and open the crate. In 3 days he/she will be officially crate-trained, ready to be left alone for some time – no longer than an hour at first.Leave him/her gradually longer, slowly and carefully.
Why do I need a crate for my puppy? Because they love it is the best reason.
They feel very safe and secure in there.
When you leave a puppy alone, |it[he/she] always suffer from separation anxiety to a certain extent.This may lead him/herhim to any behavior that brings him/her comfort, which is chewing, digging, or when it is severe, voiding his/her bowels.
When placed in a crate, he/she feels safe because nothing can get to it, nothing can harm him/her. It will sleep and chew and wait for you to come back. When leaving it overnight at the vet, if your dog is not crate trained he/she will cry the entire time, feeling lost and abandoned.
If your dog is crate trained, he/she will be confident that you will return, you always do. Needless to say, the vet’s office will be strange and will cause him/her some anxiety, but nothing compared to the sheer terror he/she will feel without experience in being locked in.
When you crate train a puppy, make sure you do not make a prison of its crate. Do not use it as punishment. Do not leave him/her there for more than 2 hours, just time for a long puppy nap and some chew time. After that, he/she may cry. Don’t remove him/her while he is crying. This will only make it think he has to cry to get out. No matter what, make sure it is being good when you open the door. It will learn he/she that crying will not get him/herout.Do not make a fuss when you are letting him/her out, just quietly open the door and take it out to potty. When he/she potties, praise him/her to high heaven! Dogs naturally do not go where they nest, but sometimes it happens. Don’t scold, simply clean it out with a bland face. He/She will learn the lesson. If possible, try to clean it while he/she is outside so it returns to a clean crate.
crate training a dog is critical for your dog’s well-being.