Can You Teach Me About Crate Training a Dog?

Crate Training a Dog

Crate training a dog is essential even if you plan to give your dog free rein of your home. When guests who fear dogs visit, you’ll have to temporarily lock your dog away and you can’t do that if it’s not properly trained. It may initially feel tyrannical or even inhumane when you require your dog to stay inside its crate but dogs have a different perception of this. Given the right training, dogs will view crates as a second home and a security blanket against the unknown.

Choose the Best Crate

Crate training a dog will be easier if you’ve chosen the best crate for your dog. Crates may be made of molded plastic or wire. Either way, they should provide your dog a safe and comfortable place of confinement.

At times, your dog may even head for its crate on its own volition. When it sees its crate as a home rather than a cage, it will feel more secure inside its crate when something unexpected occurs or it finds itself in unfamiliar territory. This reaction can be attributed to your dog’s “den instinct”, which it inherits from its wild, den-dwelling relatives and ancestors.

Ideally speaking, the best crates must be cushioned and adequately sized to have space to move.

Why Crate Training a Dog is Essential

Earlier on, you learned how crate training a dog can help in accommodating guests with a dog phobia. There are, however, many other situations where you’ll be faced by the same dilemma until you give your dog proper crate training.

“Home Alone” Safety

Leave your crate-trained dog alone at home without a worry – you’ll know it will be safe inside its crate while making sure your home is also safe from your dog at the same time.

Housebreaking

Teach your puppy to stay inside its crate from Day 1 and it will learn that good behavior will be rewarded with free time outside. Also, since it expects to return to its crate after play time, it will prefer not to soil its own crate and thus relieve itself elsewhere.

Travel Safety

Crate training a dog is critical if you plan to have your pet as your travelling companion. The first time is always the hardest and staying inside its crate while you’re on the road will give it a much needed sense of familiarity and comfort. Crate-secured dogs are also less liable to interfere with your driving.