Rules Of Crate Training - 5 Things You Need To Know
Just like kids, dogs need rules and guidelines to make them feel safe and secure. If they are left to their own devices, or to figure things out for them selves, then they will experience confusion and chaos instead of trust and calm. This actually applies to any dog who is coming into a new environment, regardless of age. Every dog needs to have parameters set, and knowing the rules of crate training can help you provide this structure for your pet.
Just like any other kind of training, crate training works best if you follow some basic rules. Many of these are the same as any basic training, but there are some things particular to crates that you want to be aware of. There are in fact five golden rules of crate training you should learn to help make it a more pleasant experience for both you and the dog. The rules of crate training are as follows:
1. Your dog should associate the crate with safety and comfort, so never use it for punishment because this will make your dog want to avoid the crate instead of making him want to go in it.
2. Crate training should be gradual instead of intensive, as the latter can might make your dog anxious. A gradual training will have a greater impression. You should also reward your dog for good behavior so the crate will be associated with a positive experience.
3. Do not put your dog in the crate until he or she has gone outside to do its business. It’s not fair to expect the dog to “hold it” for long periods of time in the crate and if your dog does have an accident in there it will be most unpleasant for him and may make him not want to go in the crate again.
4. As soon as you let your dog out of the crate, be sure you take him outside to do his “business”. This will establish a good routine and can help immensely with potty training.
5. Never put your dog in the crate if he is stressed, anxious or scared. In fact, going into the crate should be your dogs idea. You want him to feel like it is a safe haven from him to go to, otherwise he won’t want to be in there.
If you follow these 5 rules of crate training, your experience will be more successful as well as more pleasant for both you and your dog!
