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Dog crate training

Crate Train Dog

Crate training is performed to make your dog remain confined to a small space and become accustomed to it.



However, there are many who feel that crate training is cruel and should not be performed at all. There are also a large section of people who feel that if crate training is done in the right way, it can actually be very beneficial for your pet. Crate training dogs is not very difficult if performed the right way. If you intend your dog to use a crate, start crate training when it is still a puppy.
A crate can be a box, which is intended to make your dog have its own space.



Your dog can relax safely here and the crate itself also helps you to start your dog’s training. Training your dogs for using a crate can be very helpful, especially if you have to take your dog to the vet or if you are traveling with your dog. If you are patient with the dog and do not push it to use the crate, it will start to like the crate and may even get possessive about it.

How to crate train a dog


To start with, make sure that the crate appears comfortable to the dog.



To achieve this, line the crate with a soft blanket and keep it in close vicinity to where you spend most of your time. This way your dog will feel close to you. Open the door of the crate after placing it close to you and then allow your dog into your room. To lure the dog in for the first time, put in some treats in the crate. As soon as the dog begins to go into the crate, place some more treats deep inside, when your dog can see you. This way it will realize that it is going to please you by entering the crate. The treats too, are an incentive. Your dog may enter the crate but follow you back. To remedy this, keep repeating this process and giving the dog treats till it starts spending more time inside the crate. Sometimes you may experience dog crate training problems too. If your dog is not taking to the crate even after repeated attempts, lure it in by calling the word ‘kennel’ out to it and tossing in a treat as you do so. When your dog follows the treat and goes inside the crate to retrieve the treat, quickly close the door after it. The dog may show some aggression initially. Keep giving treats to it from outside.

Once your dog is relaxed and settled down in the crate, stop giving it treats and let it relax and lie down. Let the dog out of the crate only when it is completely calm.

 
  Submitted on March 30, 2010