How to Crate Train Your New Dog

Tip: How to Crate Train Your New Dog

Why Crate Train Your Dog?

If you listened to my radio show August 14 on www.healthylife.com you know that my guest was Kelly Roper, our own resident expert at LoveToKnow Dogs. We talked about showing dogs and the importance of crate training.

Now before you get upset with me about how cruel it is to crate train a dog, please give me a chance to tell you why it can be a good thing and not cruel, as some people would have you believe.

Dogs are pack animals, and wild dogs naturally live in dens. Domesticated dogs still have the instinct to den, and a crate can be a great substitution for that space. When you first get your new puppy there are a few things he's going to need to learn. One of them is housebreaking, and another is not chewing your whole house to pieces. Believe me, this can happen! The third thing, but in no way any less important, is for your puppy to feel safe in his new environment. When used correctly, a crate can become your dog's safe haven.

Personally, I prefer to use a Vari-Kennel®. This is the standard airline crate made from molded high impact plastic, and it's the safest type of crate for your dog to travel in. You can also use an open metal cage in the house, but it's less useful for travel.

When to Crate

Now let's talk about when to crate your pet. First, it's a good idea to let your dog sleep in the crate overnight. This keeps him from chewing things he shouldn't, and also keeps him from having accidents around the house while you sleep.

This brings us to our second point; using the crate for house training. The first thing in the morning, take your puppy directly from his crate to your yard so he can relive himself. Give him time to really empty out, since most dogs will go several times during this first morning break. When you bring him back in, you need to confine his area because he will likely have more accidents if you let him roam without supervision. You can use the crate during this initial training period.

Third, you need to crate your new pet when you can't keep an eye on him. This includes trips to the store, work hours, etc. However, try to limit the amount of time you leave your pup in the crate, or he will grow to resent it.

Fourth, put the crate in your vehicle and let your dog ride in it every time you travel together. The crate can save your dog from injury if you're involved in an accident.

Crate Size

Make sure your crate is the right size for your dog. Your dog should be able to get in, turn around and stand up in the crate. He doesn't necessarily need to be able to hold his head up, but he should have enough room to stand erect, without bending his legs.

You also want to make sure the crate you purchase for your puppy is roomy enough to still fit him as an adult. You may not plan on using it in the future, but puppies grow fast. You could actually wind up purchasing several sizes of crates before you are finished training him, so it makes financial sense to purchase one crate that will last.

Crate Training Tips

Here are a few tips for successful crate training.

1. Make entering the crate a pleasant experience. You can feed your dog in his crate, you can keep a comfy bed in there for him and you can toss in a treat so he goes in willingly. Begin by doing all of these things while leaving the door open, and then progress to shutting the door behind him for short periods. Eventually you leave the door closed for as long as your reasonably need to.
2. Always provide a water source for your dog's crate. Hanging a pet water bottle on the crate door is better than putting a water dish inside that he can tip and flood the crate with.
3. Make sure you never put your dog in his crate as a punishment. This will make him resent the crate and not consider it his safe haven. You can use the crate to give your dog a time out when you need a break, but you still need to make it a positive experience for him by providing a treat or something else he can amuse himself with. Make sure that you are calm when you put him in it so he doesn't associate it with a punishment.
4. When using a crate during housebreaking, be sure to line the bottom of the crate with towels or newspapers to absorb accidents. Remember to always choose something washable. It will make your life that much easier.
5. Calmly praise your dog when he goes in the crate without fighting against it. This way he knows he has done something good, but you don't get him overly excited right as he's being confined.

Final Thoughts

I want to let you all know that I respect your opinions about crate training, but I wanted to give you my humble opinion why I believe crate training your dog can be a positive and useful thing to do. I encourage you to talk with your veterinarian and your breeder about the pros and cons of crate training and any other training you want to do with your pet. Keep in mind, you have just made a substantial investment in another living creature, and you should treat them with the same care you would give to any other creature living with you, human or not.

"Remember the animals in your life are not just your pets, they're your friends."~~ WNR