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.