How to Crate Train Your Dog

So, you’ve got a new puppy! That’s really great news. Crate-training your dog is a vital thing that you must do as soon as you can. Once your pet is happy to sit in a crate and relax, you can use it for all manner of reasons. You may want your dog to go to the crate on command or just sit happily in it when you travel. Whatever your reason, teaching your pet to use the crate is easier than you imagine. Here’s everything you need to know:

Feed your dog in the crate

Never underestimate the importance of food. You can use treats and the like as a form of positive reinforcement. As soon as your pet associates the crate with something they like (such as food), they will stop fearing it. Once that happens, you have won your first battle. Start feeding your dog inside the crate right away.

Shut the door

Once you’ve fed your pup in the crate for the first few times, it’s time to introduce something else to the routine. Now, you need to start shutting the door of the container at mealtimes. Don’t alarm your pet when you do this. This is not a punishment; it has to be a normal part of the process. When your dog is in the crate, you should close the door for just a few minutes. After the food is done, let them out.

Keep things casual

This next point is extremely important. You need to make sure that this entire process is casual and normal. If your pet begins to panic, you will end up having something of a fight on your hands. Of course, that’s the very last thing that you want or need!

Related: How Old is your Dog in Human Years?

Look for signs of stress

You should also know when you need to stop the routine. If your dog appears to be stressed out in any way, you need to let them out of the crate. The very last thing you need is for your puppy to see the crate as the enemy. At the point, going into the container should be their option.

Reward your dog

When your dog has successfully stayed in the crate for a few minutes, it’s time to reward them. As you let them out of it, you should make sure that you give them a whole load of fuss. Cuddle them, pet them, and show them how much you really do care.

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Try a short period in the crate

Finally, you need to see how your dog reacts when they are left in the crate. Feed them in the crate but, this time, don’t let them out immediately. Instead, you should leave them in there a little longer. You may well find that they can now sit comfortably in position.

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