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 Crate training is not putting your dog/puppy in a cage or jail, and you
are not being cruel if you follow these tips. Dogs feel secure in small,
enclosed spaces, like a den. Dog crates make excellent dens. It is a
safe place for him to stay when you're away or when you cannot watch
him.
Watch your own dog around home. Where do you find him napping in his
deepest sleep? Under the table, desk, chair? Yes, somewhere out of the
traffic pattern where he has a roof overhead and a little privacy. A
crate offers security, a den with a roof, and a place to call his very
own where he can go to get away from it all.
There are basically just a few steps in crate training and they are as
follows:
Choose a crate the same size as your puppy/dog. He should only have
enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down. His crate is for
sleeping or for a safe place to be when you cannot be with him. If you
get a huge crate for a small dog, he may eliminate in one end and sleep
in the other and you will have defeated the whole purpose of using the
crate (dogs do not like to eliminate anywhere where they sleep or eat).
If you have a puppy who will grow into a 60-70 lb. dog, you may have to
buy two different crate sizes or purchase a crate with a divider you can
move as he grows.
Use a single-word command for your dog to enter his crate, for example,
"Kennel" -- throw in a treat or piece of kibble; when the dog/puppy
enters, praise him and close the crate door. Increase the time he spends
in the crate before you let him back out. Remember, your dog still needs
time to play and eliminate. Maintain a regular schedule of trips
outdoors so as not to confine him too long.
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