By Rick Dayle
Just what is Crate Training? A Crate is an enclosed container that is typically used when shipping an animal on an airplane. They are typically made of plastic, and have a vented "window" area on each side and a door hinged to the front. They are fairly lightweight and come in several sizes that can accommodate the smallest to a very large dog. Crate training involves making the crate a regular part of the dog's life. Every year, millions of dog owners choose to train their dogs to sleep in a crate, which makes a number of other training tasks easier.
Selecting the correct size of Crate
When you purchase a crate for your dog, think about how large it will be when full grown. It is important to have a crate that is large enough for the dog to stand up and easily turn around, not just lie down inside of. Unless you plan to buy several crates as the dog grows, start with one big enough for it when it is full grown. This also helps to start with a full size crate because the dog doesn't need to "move" from one crate to another.
The Value of a Crate to a Dog
Don't be concerned about crate training your dog, it is not only safe, but most dogs love their crates. In a wild setting, a dog will find a small safe space to burrow into that can keep them warm and safe. Part of the safety is being in an enclosed space with only one entrance that they can face and defend. In the domestic environment, they don't need to defend their crate, but it very much becomes their own safe space. In essence it becomes their "home" in the larger environment of your home, yard, property or the greater world. Many dogs have difficulties with large spaces and if they don't have some sort of enclosure, they may become nervous, as if they are trying to defend or protect the entire area, not just their home.
How to Crate Train a Dog
In the ideal situation, you start your dog in it's crate when you bring it home as a puppy. In fact, many breeders of purebred dogs have their puppies living in a crate from the time they are born. Of course, in this case, there are still several in the crate, but they are already used to the walls and single entrance before you bring them home. Moving them into their own crate provides a little better transition for these puppies than others that haven't started out in a crate. A puppy has enough to deal with when they are taken from their birth home without added stress.
If you have a dog that is no longer a puppy, and they haven't been crate trained or spent time in a small space like a dog house, they may grow anxious when adjusting to the relatively small space of the crate. This is another reason you should purchase a full-size crate for your dog when you start. A puppy that has not been introduced to a crate by the breeder may also be a bit upset, but will adapt to the crate more quickly than an older dog. When your dog is used to sleeping in a crate, they won't be upset about not sleeping on your bed.
When you first start to crate train your puppy or dog, it is best to keep the crate in a room where people will be. At night, perhaps you can move it to your bedroom for awhile. However, after a month or so when they are accustomed to the crate, you should be able to leave it in one place, even in a separate room or porch with much less people traffic. For now, they will feel more calm and safe being closer to you and your family.
Whenever the puppy is put in the crate, you should make sure there is a clean, comfortable place to sleep, available water and a toy to play with. If the crate seems large when the puppy is small, you can tape a cardboard or plywood partition in place to make it smaller inside. If it is too large, some dogs will make a mess in it. Generally, if the size is right, the dog will not poop or pee in the crate. As long as they can turn around easily, the crate is large enough for now, and certainly not inhumane.
When you first learn to crate train the dog, be firm but don't try to cram the dog inside. A firm but gentle push, followed by closing the door will do fine. As you put the dog into the crate, say "Crate", or "Go Crate" or what key words you want to associate with the crating process. If the dog makes a fuss, don't pull him back out or he may learn that you'll give him attention whenever he does. This makes him the alpha dog, not you, and you'll have more trouble with other training issues. Once the puppy has been inside a while, and quiet for at least 5 minutes, talk to him and praise him for being a quiet puppy. Open the door and let him out. Repeating this a few times will help reinforce the fact he will be getting back out, just not right away.
At first, short periods of time in the crate are better, up to an hour or two at a time. As he becomes more used to it, longer periods of time are more appropriate. Probably the hardest time for you will be if you have a new puppy that hasn't ever seen a crate. After even a short period of time, the dog will go into the crate whenever you tell him to. Because the dog sleeps in the crate it becomes "home" and it is useful not only for sleeping or when you want to contain your dog, it is the place to go whenever the dog wants away from you or your family members. Whenever the dog is not in the crate, leave the door open so they can get in whenever they want. Unless you are trying to contain your dog because of poor behaviour, always let them out whenever you are around. The dog will adapt to living in a crate much better if you do.
After an extended (forced) stay in the crate, like being at work all day or overnight, always let the dog out to go to the bathroom immediately when you let them out of the crate. This will help considerably to keep the crate clean and unsoiled. Normally, a dog will not soil where he sleeps, unless he just cannot control himself. Be fair to your dog and yourself, and build up to longer periods of time in the crate, and always let them out for potty any time you let them back out. You both will appreciate the results.
Crate Training your dog properly will help ensure you have a pet that is calm and never gets loud, destructive or anxious when you leave. A puppy will also adapt to your home much quicker too if crate trained, which will be less stressful for the puppy, you and your family.
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