When you begin the training for a dog, you are going to need to remember a few things. One is to have the patience needed to do so. Another is learning all you can about the basic instincts your dog was born with. One other thing is also to use dog crate training. Some owners feel that using a crate is being cruel to a dog when in fact it is the very opposite.
Puppies and adult dogs can benefit from crate training. This is especially true if you have a puppy. Introducing his crate to him in a positive way is important. The same goes for the adult dog. Never allow situations to occur that will cause a dog to regard his crate as a bad place.
Keep up with the amount of time you leave your pup or adult dog in a crate, puppies should never spend longer than a couple of hours at a time inside it. Older dogs crate time may vary, but never leave them for longer than they would spend taking a nap. Being locked up too long inside a crate will create anxiety issues about you and being inside the crate. If you are using a crate to house train, make sure to take him out as soon as he wakes up.This is true for adults and puppies.
Adult dogs will need less time in a crate, especially those that are being house trained with one. Adult dogs have better control over their bladders than pups do, so outdoor trips will be fewer. Stress to adult dogs that the crate is for rest and pleasure time with food and treat reinforcements. You want him to look forward to his crate and eventually want to go in it on his own.
While training an adult dog or a puppy to be house broken, you should always remember to never use the crate as punishment for accidents. If you scold your dog and place him inside the crate, he will begin to associate the crate with negative feelings. If he does have an accident, gently scold him and take him outside right then.
Getting a dog to realize that his crate is his own personal space can be a challenge. This can be an easy challenge when you use food and treats to help you. Always feed your dog near to his crate. Put treats inside it as well. Keep this up at all time until the dog will enter the crate on his own.
You can use the food in his bowl to get him used to a crate as well. Place it inside the crate and each time you feed him. Move it back a little until you are playing it all the way in the back. Close the door behind him each time and let him remain in it for a few minutes after the meal and then let him out. This will help in showing him it is his place.
Dog crate training is a great way to also lessen the incidents of chewed up valuable items in your house. If you must run errands or leave your home for a few hours, placing a dog in a crate is acceptable to keep him from chewing up things to satisfy separation anxiety over you not being there. If your dog shows signs of severe anxiety and violently tries to escape the crate, an animal behavioral professional may be the best medicine. If you are going to be gone longer than a few hours from your home, find other means of containing a dog. Hiring a pet sitter would be a good idea.
Polly Browder is a professional dog trainer and groomer. For more information about dog crate training visit PetsPavilion.com.
