5 Easy Tips To Crate Training Your Dog

Dog crate training techniques can be an excellent way to raise your dog. More and more people are using crates to help the dog and the family get used to each other and to get the ground rules for behavior established inside the house.

However, the crate is not just for potty training. Many people have the wrong ideas about how to use a dog crate. They can often see it as a cage instead of the dog's own special den. You can crate train your dog or puppy very successfully by following these 5 easy tips.

1. Crate training your dog is for learning, not punishment

Some people think that putting your dog in a crate is some kind of punishment. It is not, and the crate should not be used this way. Instead, you should see it as a place for your dog to have some time of his own, a place to relax. Do not send the dog to the crate with angry words or impatient gestures. Lead him to it in an encouraging way and then spend some time with him, staying close to the crate while he is inside it at first.

2. The crate is like the dog's own room

Be sure to make the crate nice and homey for your dog. Put blankets, pillows and toys in there. But don't feed the dog in the crate or even just outside it. The crate should be associated with rest, not with mealtimes.

3. Be consistent

If you have decided to crate train your dog by giving him crate time when he becomes over excited and starts jumping on people,make sure you do it every time that he jumps. Do not let him jump on some people but not others. Many people will let their dog greet family members by jumping up at them when they come home, and then expect the dog to behave completely differently with guests. These different rules are much too complicated for a dog, and are in fact your fault for not being consistent.

4. Do not lock the dog in the crate when he is alone in the house

This is another mistake that many people make - they put the dog in the crate when they go to work,or to the shops, or whatever. Dogs are social animals and do not like being left alone so they are likely to be unhappy when you go out and leave them. If you put them in a crate at that time, they will begin to link being in the crate with being unhappy. They will not want to go into the crate because they know it means you might be about to leave. Remember, to successfully crate train your dog you will need to keep the crate a happy place.

5.Plan your dog's crate time

Another way to avoid making the crate a place of punishment is to have planned crate time during the day. You can think of this as like giving a child nap time. Your dog may not necessarily sleep but he should be quiet and resting. You should make this the same time every day, perhaps after a walk.

If the crate is used in the best way, you will find it is a great way to handle your dog. Crate training your dog will only mean maximum happiness for both the dog and the rest of the family.

Crate Training For Your Puppy.

Cheap, But Quality, Dog Crates.

More and more people are beginning to see the plus side of crate training their dogs. What many used to consider to be cruel and unfair on the dog, they now come to see it can provide many benefits. For both the owner and the dog. And if you can get cheap dog cages, that are also quality dog cages, then that is even better.
You will also be amazed at how quickly your dog will adapt to it's own space. If you can suffer your dog crying and whining for a few nights then you will probably be over the worst. A week or two at the most, and you will wonder what all the fuss was about. And your dog will be grateful you persevered as well. You'll be really happy at how quickly he will treat it as his own piece of real estate.

Ways To Get Him To Use His Cage:

There are various ways to get your dog to enter his cage. You can place some of his toys inside. Or even leave an item of your clothing inside, which has a familiar and comforting smell. You can reward him for entering and staying in the cage, or even incorporate the cage as part of playtime. All of this has the intention of letting him explore and use the cage whilst making it all less intimidating. And try and make it lighthearted, not at all serious.

Some Plus Points Of A Good Cheap Dog Cage For The Home:

• A divider panel ensures your dog has plenty of living room right from the start
• Your cage should set up and fold down easily, with no tools required
• A double door is a good option and helps with placement in the home
• Safe and secure slide-bolt latches
• An integrated and easy to clean plastic pan

Over the past few years, owners have begun to use dog cages, or crates as they are also known, more and more as a house training aid. Reputable breeders and trainers recommend them. And plenty of stores are selling them, with sizes and prices to suit all. But remember, there is no reason why cheap dog cages cannot be quality dog cages. You just need to know where to look.

Video: How To Crate Train Your Puppy.

Take a look at the following short video as a start to crate training your puppy.

Some Easy Puppy Training Tips

Puppies are so full of vim and vigor! You might just wonder if you will ever be able bring your puppy under control. But don't worry, puppy training isn't that difficult if you know what to do.

The first time you bring your new puppy home, he will be frightened and excited all at once by his new surroundings. And you'll want to pamper him and play so you can get to know each other. But please remember not to let your new friend chew or bite on your fingers, because if you let him do it now, it will only be harder to stop him doing it when he is older.

Here are some puppy training tips that might help you.

Many people like to start their puppy training with a dog crate. The reasoning here is that puppies will not willingly soil their immediate area. Bear in mind though that this method of house training is only really effective when the puppy is old enough to have control of it's bodily functions.

Another technique is to show your pup the door whenever he starts to sniff around. If you keep at this, you'll be surprised at how quick the penny will drop.

All puppies love a good chew so it's advisable to buy a few toys for chewing on while teething. Remember that dogs will respond better to rewards than they will to being punished. So if he starts to chew on your slippers, or ripping up cushions, stop him with a stern no. Take him to his designated area and give him one of his chewing toys. Praise him well when he starts to chew on this. This helps him to know what is his and what is off limits.

You should introduce your puppy to other dogs as soon as you can in order to prevent dog fights in the future. Training your puppy to socialize now will save a lot of frustration later on. Just remember to make sure that no one dog is allowed to be dominant. That is reserved for humans.

Some dogs are prone to barking and whining, and these habits can be hard to control. It would be really unfair to expect a dog never to bark, but it is possible to train him to bark only when it is appropriate.

So, when is it ok for a dog to bark?

1. When he is scared. People will scream or cry when scared so it is only natural a dog will bark.

2. He may bark a little when he is happy to see you.

3. When someone knocks on your door or enters your property. Praise and reward him for doing his job of guarding the home and family but don't allow the barking to continue. You may need to put him in another room or in his crate.

4. If there are other dogs in the neighborhood it is only natural they will want to communicate with each other. But that doesn't mean your puppy should be barking all through the night. If you are training your puppy to be an outside dog it may be necessary to put him in the garage at night.

Puppy training will be challenging but it will also be fun. You will find there will be times when your puppy will try your patience, and also test his limits. But as long as you remain calm and positive, your dog will pick up on your attitude towards training, and he too will start to look forward to having this time with you.