Dec 13, Crate Training a Puppy | Dog Crate Training | Crate Training Dogs

Crate training a puppy is the first education that your puppy will ever need to learn once your bring her home.

Some people view dog creates as cruel and inhumane as they look like jails to dog. This perception is NOT accurate. If you really understand the difference between human and dog, a crate actually reminds your puppy of a den which is a place of comfort, safety, and warmth to live. Crate training for dogs usually runs together with potty training a puppy.

There are many types of dog crates in the market. Crates are made of fabric, steel, plastic, wire mesh and heavy gauge wire. Each has its own functions.

Other than the size, quality and price of the dog crate, some other characteristics of the dog crates that you should be looking at are:-

Is it intended for untrained or aggressive dogs?
Do you want a crate that meets domestic and international air travel requirements?
Do you want a crate that has a better circulation of air?
Is the crate is for training purpose or you are looking for make it cozier and secure like a dog's den?
Are you looking for dog crate that is able to fold for the convenience of travel?
Do you want a crate that is easy to wash?

These questions should be able to help you to understand your need before choosing the right dog crate to crate training a puppy.

House training will be running more smoother and quicker.
A way to make sure that your puppy will not have any accident at home, while you are busy at home.
Your puppy will feel that it is her den and sleep in her den all the time and not under table or any other places in your house.
For young puppy, you want to put her in the crate at night to prevent any accident elimination at other part of the house.
When your dog is comfortable with her crate, she will get use with it when you put and carry her on crate during vacation or short distance travel.

There are a few steps in crate-training dogs that you need to follow. But first of all, using food treat is the best motivator to get your dog to liking her crate. You will need to learn to associate dog crate as a positive thing and NOT punishment.

Put the dog crate that you bought in a location that you selected. You may put a blanket inside if you want.
You need to choose a dog training command to associate with the crate. Example: "Bed time" or "Go inside".
When she is near the opening of the crate, let her smell a treat and then throw the treat into the crate near the opening.
When she slowly walks inside, throw another treat to the further inside of the crate.
When she is inside, close the door and praise her with another command such as "Good Girl".
After a while, let her out from the crate and repeat the process.

When a dog is reluctant to go inside the crate during the puppy crate training even through you throw a dog treat, you have to put her inside the crate then give her a treat.

To make sure that your puppy gets use with the dog crate, you have to repeat the crate-training process. In addition to that, you may slowly increase the duration you lock your puppy inside the crate. From 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes. When the dog grows older, she can stay in the crate the longer time.

Here is the general guidance on suggested maximum duration that you can keep your puppy in the crate compare with her age:

8 weeks to 2 months: 1 hour.
2 months: 2 hours.
4 months: 3 hours.
6 months: 4 hours.
1 year (Adult): 8 hours.

Remember that different breeds of dog mature at different rate. The adolescent stage of your dog's life is taking place anywhere from 4 months to 2 years. When your dog becomes adult, the maximum period she can be inside the crate is 8 hours. Repetition of the crate training a puppy with consistency is the key for your dog to be house trained.