How to Crate Train a Dog or Puppy

For a dog owner, cage training requires a lot of patience. It helps in training him with all the house rules. You can train your pet not to have an 'accident' anywhere in the house. A crate becomes a den for him and it's his own safe haven. It is also a secure way to transport your dog and you can use the cage to take him to places where animals are not allowed to run freely. Enough water should be provided when he is confined to the cage.

Choosing a Crate
When selecting a crate, you should opt for plastic or metal kennels. Collapsible kennels are also available. Before starting cage training, you should keep in mind that the kennel has to be placed in an area where the dog constantly feels the presence of your family members near him. This training has to be linked to good things like treats and lots of praises. Moreover, it is a slow process, so go step by step when crate training him.

Crate Training your Dog or Puppy
The dog should be introduced to the kennel. Talk to him in happy tones and encourage him to enter the kennel. Keep a soft blanket or towel inside the kennel which would act like a bed. Now, to make him enter the crate, drop in some of his favorite treats near the door, then slowly drop some further in, right till the end. If he refuses to get the treats, then throw in his favorite toy. If he does not enter the first time, do not force him. Keep trying, this may either take a few minutes or even several days.

Once he is introduced to the kennel, provide his meals near the cage. If he happily enters inside, then keep the dish right at the end of the crate. If he seems reluctant to enter further, then place the dish near the entrance, slowly pushing the dish further in, each time you feed him. Do not place the dish inside the crate if your dog/puppy seems anxious to enter inside.

When he happily reaches inside the kennel for food, close the door behind him. Open the door immediately once he finishes his meal. With time, leave the door closed for few more minutes, slowly increasing the duration to 10 minutes. If your pet starts whining, it means you have increased the time span too soon. Once the 10 minute barrier is crossed, keep him inside for a shorter period of time. Even if he whines, do not let him out. This will form a notion in his mind that every time he whines, he will not be let out.

Once the dog is comfortably settled inside his crate, call out to him with a treat in your hand. Ask him to enter the kennel and once he does, give him a treat. Close the kennel's door and sit quietly next to it for 5 minutes or so. Leave the room and come back after some time to release him. The time period should gradually be increased over several weeks. Give a specific command, which will make him understand that he is supposed to enter the kennel. Once he stays quietly in his crate for 30 minutes, keep him there for longer durations. You can let him sleep there during the night. Remember, training is a slow process, so the canine may take several weeks to be accustomed to the new routine.

You can leave the house by keeping him in the crate. About 20 minutes prior to leaving the house, call your dog and encourage him to enter the kennel. Give him his treats and drop in his favorite toys. Talk to him for a few minutes and leave the room without much fuss. When you return from your trip, do not greet him as excitedly as he will greet you. Talk to him calmly and then release him. You should continue caging him even when you are at home. This will prohibit him to associate caging with being left alone.

While the training process, the cage should be kept in your bedroom at night. This will be helpful as the dog won't think of it as social isolation. Puppies may want a potty trip and you will hear them whimpering in the night when kept away from you. While kennel training a puppy, one should remember not to confine him for more than 3 to 4 hours at a stretch. Do not leave the puppy alone or unsupervised for long durations.

Your initial problem may be his whining. He may keep whining to grab your attention. But make sure it is not a call for visit to the potty. Call out the phrase that you use when taking him out, if he is excited, then release him. If you are convinced it is not regarding nature's call, ignore his whining. After whining for some time, he will gradually calm down. There won't be a problem if you have carried out the steps of crate training properly. If the whining is nonstop and unbearable, you may have to start this training process all over again.

During the training period, one should keep in mind that the canine is not confined for long hours. This may make him feel trapped. Do not leave him in the crate when you leave for work and again during the nights. The dog should be given ample physical and emotional freedom. Crate training is a way to discipline him for his bladder and bowel movements, and keeping him comfortable in a confined area during outdoor visits. Thus, you should allow him to move freely, according to his physical needs. Train your canine friend with utmost patience and love, and you'll have an obedient, faithful and trustworthy friend for life.