Is Crate Training Right for Your Dog?
A lot of veterinarians recommend crate training for dogs, especially puppies. Crates can be areas of great comfort and security to a pet, and are useful training tools for house training as well as behavior training in other areas. For dogs that suffer from separation anxiety, putting them in a crate can help relieve this, because they will come to feel like their crate is their safe place. It is best to start this type of home training with puppies, as older dogs may have been traumatized by being caged up in an animal shelter or by a cruel former owner. Puppies will take to crates far more readily.
If you want to use the crate to house train a puppy, start by having him sleep in the crate. The idea is that dogs will not relieve themselves in the place where they sleep, as long as other options are available. As soon as you get up in the morning, remove the puppy from the crate and take him to the place where you want him to relieve himself and keep him there until he does. Once he “goes”, then reward him with lots of praise and maybe a treat. He will associate this spot with where he is supposed to relieve himself and will do so consistently from then on. If you want your dog to go outside, then take him outside after removing him from the crate.
If you need to use the crate to relax the dog, fill it up with blankets that you have used, so that they have your smell on them. The dog will feel comfortable in the crate because it smells like you, so he will feel like you are near. This should make it a relaxing place for him to be when you’re not around. Eventually, you can get the dog his own blankets, because he will have come to associate being in the crate with feeling good, and will usually go in there quite willingly to sleep or to stay in for the day while you are at work. Crate training is an excellent tool for any puppy parent.
