Perfect Pet: How To Train Your Puppy To Love His Crate
The Crate, what a wonderful thing for my dog.
Often people have a problem with the concept of putting their dog in a crate. When we look at the crate we see "Wow, how confining." However, it is important to realize that a dog doesn't see things the same way we do. When dogs look at the crate they don't think "how confining", they think, "How safe and secure." Dogs live in a den in the wild and the crate is just a replica of that. If getting your dog used to the crate is a pleasant and happy experience for your dog he will soon learn to, not only accept it, but think of it as his own safe secure place and enjoy being there.
The best thing to do is take it slowly, gradually, and in steps.
Step 1
Show him his crate then show him some treats. Toss some of the treats into the crate. If he doesn't go in after them put them just inside the door. When he does go inside be sure to praise him and make it a happy experience. Leave the door open.
Do this several times.
Step 2
Pick a cue. It can be anything you want it to be, just be sure to use the same cue each time and that everyone in the family knows it. It might be "go to bed," "crate time" or something else you find appropriate.
Pick up your puppy and say the cue and put her in the crate.
Immediately give her a treat and praise her.
Close the door but just for a few seconds.
Talk to her in a very cheerful, happy way
When she is calm let her out, if she is pawing at the door or whining ignore her.
Repeat this several times
Step 3
Now let her go in on her own. Get a treat and lure her in but do not pick her up and put her in. If she does not go in get a more tempting treat find something she likes well enough to go in after.
Step 4
Previously when you have closed the door and left her in her crate you
have stayed in the room where she could see you. Now it is time to put
her in there and leave the room and leave her sight.
Step 5
Follow the previous steps again but when you go back in the room do not let her out right away. Walk past her crate and give her a treat through the wires. Leave her there for about 10 minutes going in and out of the room and walking past her crate. Give her a treat through the wires each time you go into the room or walk past her crate. Giving her treats through the wires lets her know that when she is in her crate she gets good things and being in the crate is good.
Step 6
Once your puppy is going into her crate when you give the cue it is time to stop giving her treats. Give her the cue and the hand signal as you did when you had a treat in your hand but now without the treat. When you were giving her a treat you were also teaching her a hand signal. This hand motion and the cue is her signal to go in her crate. Dogs read hand signals better than they understand the words. Although they are both important, the tone of voice, the hand signal, and the cue, all work together to signal to your dog what it is you want her to do and they are all important. Let her stay in the crate progressively longer each time until she is in there for a reasonable amount of time, then let her out. At this point she should go into the crate on her own when she wants to without any prompting from you. If she doesn't just continue to work with her until she gets the idea and accepts it.
In Conclusion
Getting your dog to like her crate is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your dog. It keeps her safe when you need to be away for a couple of hours and protects your belongings. Puppies will be puppies and they will chew. Being in the crate keeps her from chewing your couch or your table legs, or any of your other belongings. Be sure to put chew toys in her crate with her, something that she will not choke on and some safe toys. Be sure to choose toys that do not have small parts that she can not pull off or swallow.
When you are training her do not put a toy in with her, leave them out and just use the treats. It is also best not to put bedding in the crate while training. Especially when using the crate for house breaking. Your dog might just dirty the bedding and push it aside. After she is trained you can make it nice and comfy for her.
Contact Us
714-312-6659
714-916-1904
perfectpetanimalservices@gmail.com
www.perfect-dog-training.yolasite.com
Serving Hemet, Ca.
