CRATE TRAINING YOUR PUPPY/DOG
CRATING: LINKING THE CRATE TO THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE LEADS TO SUCCESS
Many people believe that their dogs view crates as cages and, as
a result, will not consider crating their beloved buddy. Yet, a crate to a dog
is far from a prison; it’s often a safe and secure sanctuary. If introduced
properly, many dogs come to love their crates.
Dogs are den animals that naturally crave dark, snug spaces. To love a crate, though, a dog has to get used to it gradually and associate it with treats, praise from his human companions, long safe naps, and protection from prying toddlers and pesky pups. What’s not to love?
Which crate is best?
Crates are available in molded plastic or collapsible metal.
Plastic ones are permitted by airlines and provide a darker, more den-like
cabin. The crate should be only large enough for your dog to stand, turn
around, and lie down in without being cramped, but not much bigger than that.
If the crate’s too large, he may choose to eliminate in a corner, and it may
not provide a cozy, protective atmosphere. Use either a smaller crate when your
dog is small or fill part of a larger crate with a cardboard box or barrier
secured in the back. A soft, washable towel or blanket can add a sense of
comfort and security, particularly if it holds your scent.
Why use a crate?
1. A crate is a safe, secure area for your puppy to be, when you
can't give him your full attention
2. It can help speed up house training
3. Its somewhere for your puppy to go when he needs time out
4. It's a secure den for your puppy to retreat to, safe in the
knowledge that he can relax and won't be disturbed. (You should ensure children
and other pets leave puppy alone when he is in it.)
5. It's the perfect way to protect your house from damage, due
to inappropriate chewing!
6. A safe secure way to transport your puppy and keep your car
clean!
7. Acclimatises your puppy to a crate for visits to vets or
groomers.
8. Ideal to use for those breaks away, its familiar to puppy and
the holiday home is safe from your puppy!
How big should the crate be and where should it be?
1. The crate should be big enough for your puppy to fit in
comfortably when he is fully grown, room to stretch out and have a water bowl
and interactive toys in.
2. You need to place it in a convenient, but quieter part of the
house, so puppy can still see and hear what's going on, but is able to relax as
well.
3. Also a good idea to have it reasonably near an exit to the
garden, for quick access, or carry him out to the garden in the early stages to
save any accidents.
Introducing the crate
1. The crate needs to be as comfortable and inviting as possible
for your puppy to build up positive associations with it. Put a soft towel or
vet bed in the base, both easily cleaned. Always have fresh water available;
place a couple of safe toys in the crate; a stuffed Kong is useful.
2. Put some newspaper in the base, separate from the vet bed
(half and half if possible). If your puppy does need to toilet and cannot
attract your attention, he will not want to go on the vet bed, but will
probably have used newspaper for this purpose before he joined your family.
Change this paper each time it is soiled (wait until your puppy is away from
the crate, do not comment or criticise the puppy for using the paper. He has to
go somewhere if you are not available to let him out).
3. Initially leave the crate door open so the puppy is free to
come and go, use tasty food treats to encourage him - start with them near the
door and gradually move them further back once he is happy entering. You can
introduce a word such as kennel or bed a t this stage, so that he can begin to
associate the word with the action!
4. Do not rush this stage – if your puppy is not happy to go
into the crate, do not force him as that will set up bad associations. Take
your time in 'explaining' to him that it is a safe and fun place. Most young
puppies are very happy to go in the crate, especially if they have been used to
spending time in a whelping box whilst with their littermates.
5. Do this several times during the day. Feed him his meals in
the crate. Stuff a Kong with tasty treats and put that towards the back of the
crate, if he is comfortable at this stage, you can push the door too. Stay
around at this stage and try to ignore what he is doing, so he doesn't think it
is a big deal.
6. Depending on how comfortable your puppy is at the above stage
you can begin to close the door for short periods at a time, always ensure
puppy has been toileted before, so you know he won't need to go out for a
little while, also a good idea to have a little game with him first, so he is
tired. Again use a Kong or put his meal in with him.
7. Begin to go about your day as normal with puppy confined, if
he begins to whine or bark, remember to ignore him. Only go back to him when he
is quiet, if you go back to him when he is being noisy, he will learn to keep
barking for longer and longer periods until you return!
8. As long as you are careful to ensure good positive
associations with the crate, your puppy should quickly become happy to relax as
soon as he enters the crate. Puppies quickly learn to sleep through the night
in the crate and are usually clean very quickly.
9. On returning to the crate to let puppy out, try to be calm
and not make it a really exciting time, this may lead to unwanted
vocalising/whining as he anticipates his release!
10. Take puppy straight to his toileting area to help speed up
his house training.
Your puppy should not be left for long hours at a time in his
crate, 3 - 4 hours during the day is a maximum. Initially he will need to come
out of his crate frequently during the day (every half hour/hour or so) to
toilet, but as he gets older he should be able to go for 2 – 3 hours before he
is going to need to relieve himself. Once he is used to the crate, he should
happily go through the night. If he does whine and fidget during the night, get
up and take him to his toileting area, keeping it as calm and low key as
possible and as soon as he has performed return him to bed.
The crate is not for use as a punishment, but can certainly be
used for time out if puppy has become unruly or is over tired. It is also a
good idea to use the crate at (human) meal times to avoid over excitement at
these times; use a stuffed Kong with part or all of his meal to keep him
occupied.
Older dogs and crates
Crating an older juvenile or adult dog that’s not accustomed to
crates can be a greater challenge, especially if the dog is from a shelter
where it was confined. Go very slowly, following the same strategies as with
puppies. If the dog still seems distressed by the crate, Reisner suggests
videotaping the crated dog when you’re not home to help determine whether the
distress continues through the day. If so, the crate may not be a humane
option.
Not all dogs are amenable to being crated, and some get so upset
they can hurt themselves by rolling the crate or bending its bars. Dogs with
unknown histories sometimes develop severe barrier-related anxieties, Reisner says.
If the dog needs to be confined because of chewing or house-training but is
just too anxious when crated, consider an alternative. however, elimination of accidents
inside do not always indicate house-training lapses but can be caused by the
extreme distress of separation anxiety or even thunderstorm phobia. Confining a
dog whose accidents are the result of distress can make things worse and a
temporary course of anti-anxiety medication and/or a training program to reduce
the anxiety may be best.
“For dogs that simply don’t like crates, try an exercise pen,
also called an ex-pen, which resembles a small, indoor fenced area,” Reisner
says. Put the crate into the pen but without its top and door; put paper on the
floor in the pen, if necessary. That may encourage the dog to sleep in the crate
but eliminate on the paper.
Some dogs may or may not learn to accept the crate, therefore dog
proof a room and use baby gates on top of each other to close it off. But never close the door to confine a dog who
suffers from a barrier anxiety.
The trick is to take as much time as the dogs needs and keep
linking the crate to the good things in life: snacks, snoozes, and security.