Dogs can create quite a mess when left alone in a house, especially when there are things they like to chew on, tear apart, or do their business on. Puppy crate training is a popular method of keeping dogs from wrecking your house while you’re gone, and crates have other uses as well. They can be used on long drives, to transport dogs on airplanes, or to take dogs to places where they may need to be confined for periods of time. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to get your dog used to a crate, and how it can be to your advantage.
The first thing you’ll want to do in puppy crate training is introduce your dog to the crate itself. Place the crate in a part of your house that frequently has people in it, so that it does not represent social isolation to the dog. Call your puppy over to you and show him the crate, and place a treat inside. If your puppy enters the crate to eat the treat and appears comfortable, then your job will be a little easier. If your puppy refuses to enter, try taking a day or two of occasionally placing treats inside to get him accustomed to the idea of being inside a crate.
Once you’ve got your puppy used to the idea of the crate, try placing his meals inside. If your puppy can eat meals inside a crate with the door closed without whining, then you’ll be able to use puppy crate training for sleeping, leaving the house, traveling, and much more. Once your puppy has finished eating, try leaving him in for a minute or two. Increase this time slightly each time you feed him, until your puppy can remain in the crate for ten minutes at a time.
If your puppy whines to be let out, wait until he is done whining, otherwise he will just whine every time he wants to come out of the crate. Do not yell at him or bang on the crate, as this will make the problem worse. He may be whining to be let out to pee, so once he stops try letting him into the yard. Puppy crate training requires a lot of patience, but once you’re able to keep your puppy safely inside the crate without him complaining, you’ll be able to use it whenever necessary.
