Crate Training a Puppy.
kennel training a puppy makes all following steps in dog’s training go so much smoother, much like a solid foundation makes for a superior wall.
Making yourself the the Alpha member of his “pack” is one very good reason for starting your puppy in a crate when he is very young.
Another reason for crate training is that dogs love predictability.
To know what is going to happen in any given situation makes him/her happy, and more apt to be the best-behaved dog s/he can possibly be.
A firm crate is the very basis of good puppy training. The best kind are wire crates with a safety lock. Make sure it is large enough for him/her to stand up and turn around. But it shouldn’t be so large that it may enable he/she to roam and wander around. A too-large kennel will inhibit house breaking.
A crate that is just the right size will be considered as its “nest”, where puppies never “go potty”. They will learn to hold it if you do not turn it into a prison.
Do not leave a puppy under 8 weeks old, longer than one hour in his/her crate. He/She will make it itws own, after struggling and moaning as long as he can.
Place a nice pad in there with a bone. Start by leaving a tasty treat in there, they will go in and get it. Do this more than once without closing the door, let it come in and out freely for an hour or so. Praise it highly each time s/he goes in; make it all very pleasant.
Close the door only when its attention is on its treat. Praise it quietly, “What a good boy/girl, it’s ok, such a good boy/girl!” In 10 or 20 seconds, no longer, let it out without praising, just a pat. Do this for increasingly longer intervals, without giving it a chance to get upset. You can do this a number of times the first day.
Make sure every training session ends on a happy note, this is extremely important.
Once he/she sees the crate is his/her own private territory, he/she will get in there on his/her own, expecting treats and your attention. When it does, say, “Wanna crate?” with a happy face while getting its treats. Start leaving the room while he/she is in there for 2 minutes and onward, gradually. When you return, avoid making a fuss, simply walk over and open the crate. In 3 days he/she will be officially crate-trained, ready to be left alone for an hour, no longer at first. Leave him/her gradually for longer intervals, slowly and cautiously.
Why should I get a crate for my puppy? The best reason is because they love it.
They feel very safe and secure in there.
When you leave a puppy alone, |it[he/she] always suffer from separation anxiety to a certain extent.This may lead ithim to any behavior that brings him/her comfort, which is chewing, digging, or when it is severe, voiding its bowels.
When placed in a crate, it feels safe because nothing can get to it, nothing can harm him/her. He/She will sleep and chew and wait for you to return. When leaving it overnight at the vet, if your dog is not crate trained he/she will cry the whole time, feeling lost and abandoned.
With crate training, it is sure you will return, you always do. Of course the vet’s office is strange and will cause him some anxiety, but nothing like the pure terror it will feel without having experienced being locked in.
When you crate train a puppy, do not make a prison of its crate. Never use it as punishment. Do not leave it there for more than 2 hours, just time for a long puppy nap and some chew time. After that he/she will cry. Don’t remove him/her while he is crying. This will make it think that crying will get it out . No matter what, make sure he/she is being good when you open the door. It will learn it has to be quiet to get out. Do not make a fuss when you are letting it out, simply open the door and take him/her out to potty. When it potties, praise him/her to high heaven! Dogs naturally do not go where they nest, but sometimes it happens. Don’t scold, just clean it out naturally. It will learn the lesson. If possible, try cleaning it while he/she is outside so it returns to a clean crate.
crate training a puppyis critical for a dog’s well-being.
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