Teaching your dog to love their crate should be a top priority for any new pet parent. Dogs are den animals, and enjoy small spaces where they can hide when they feel unsafe, or rest at nap time. It\u2019s a safe space in your home that your dog considers his own. Crate training is easy to do and shouldn\u2019t be something that makes you feel guilty or as if you\u2019re subjecting your dog to \u201cdoggy jail\u201d.<\/p>\n
Understandably, some owners are firmly anti-crate, and that\u2019s fine. You should never use the kennel as a \u201ctime out\u201d space. And it is most definitely not a \u201ccage\u201d where your dog is confined for long periods of time. If your\u00a0rescue dog\u2019s past owner\u00a0used the crate in a negative way, he may have an aversion to it. Perhaps a crate isn\u2019t for him, but most dogs appreciate having their own space where they can relax.<\/p>\n
Getting your dog to love their crate is going to take time. But with patience, your dog will see it as a home of their own.<\/p>\n
You might prefer a spacious room, but your dog only needs so much to love their crate. He should have enough room to lie down and stand comfortably. It should also be wide enough for him to turn around in a circle. Too much room gives your dog space to \u201cgo\u201d in one spot and distance himself from it. You definitely don\u2019t want to train him to use it as a bathroom. If you\u2019re crate training, you may want to choose a crate with a tray that slides out, because accidents happen. You can give a housebroken dog more space, but it\u2019s not necessary. A comfortable \u201cden\u201d doesn\u2019t require much room.<\/p>\n
You wouldn\u2019t want to sleep on the floor in the kitchen no matter how comfortable it is, right? The crate is a place for rest, so pick a spot away from the hustle-and-bustle in your home. The laundry room might seem like a good idea, but noisy appliances can\u00a0interrupt sleep\u00a0or worse,\u00a0trigger anxiety.<\/p>\n
Consider sharing a bedroom with your dog. Not only will you provide a quiet, calm space for his crate, but he gets the added feeling of security of being close to his favorite person. It\u2019ll give your dog another reason to love their crate!<\/p>\n
No dog is going to love their crate when they feel cold plastic on their paws or worse, metal wire. Dogs prefer soft, firm spaces to rest. You may see your dog laying on your hardwood or kitchen tile, but it\u2019s more likely for the coolness than the comfort. Providing a soft resting area can also help relieve pain in joints and keep elbow calluses from forming.\u00a0Consider PACK&DEN beds for the best in support and comfort for dogs.<\/p>\n
Some people provide a soft pillow or cushion, others will put a bed in. Eventually your dogs may carry in things on their own as they learn to love their crate. They\u2019ll leave favorite toys and blankets in their \u201cden.\u201d Some dogs may even \u201cbury\u201d their treats in their bedding! You can help him love it more by putting some of his favorite things in for him. But don\u2019t be surprised if they carry them right back out before they love their crate.<\/p>\n
Now that you know you have the right size crate and it\u2019s cozy in a nice, quiet spot, it\u2019s time to get your dog in.<\/p>\n
Remember that the crate is a nice, calm place. So if your dog isn\u2019t ready to get in, absolutely do not force him. Set a few treats inside. Let him walk past. Sniff. Be positive about any interaction he has with it. If you\u2019re happy about it, your dog will love their crate in no time. If he only goes in far enough to reach the treats, start putting them back further so he has to go in a bit more. Eventually, he should become comfortable putting all four paws inside.When he does go all the way in, reward him \u2013 use treats, praise, or both.<\/p>\n
Now that the crate is a happy place he feels comfortable in, begin feeding your dog there. While he\u2019s eating, close the door and latch it. After he\u2019s done eating, leave the door closed for just a few seconds before opening it \u2013 but never open it while your dog is whining. The idea is to help your dog love their crate, not teach him that whining opens the door.<\/p>\n
After meals, or any time you see your dog in his crate and you\u2019re able to close the door, leave it closed for a bit longer, adding a few seconds until you work up to a minute. Gradually begin putting some distance between yourself and the crate while he\u2019s there. If walking away makes your dog upset, placing a toy he loves in before shutting the door may help distract him.<\/p>\n
The goal is to be able to leave the room for ten to fifteen minutes at a time without your dog going nuts. Teaching a \u201ccrate\u201d or \u201ckennel\u201d cue will help get him in a few times a day to practice staying in several minutes at a time, until you can leave him calmly in his crate for 30 minutes. When he reaches the 30 minute mark without you in the room, you can feel confident leaving him is his kennel while you leave the house for a short period of time.<\/p>\n
The process takes time, but it\u2019s absolutely worth it. A crate may be convenient for you, but you\u2019re really giving your dog a room of his own where he can go when stressed or scared. When used and introduced correctly, your dog will love their crate and consider it a haven.<\/p>\n
NEVER use your dog\u2019s crate as a punishment and do not keep him there for long periods of time. Your dog will not love their crate if you make them spend all their time there. Dogs were not meant to live in cages.<\/p>\n
Provide water and entertainment, like toys, television or radio while you\u2019re out. We do not recommend giving your dog chews or any toys he would put into his mouth while left unattended.\u00a0This puzzle toy from Amazon has no removable parts and will exercise your pup\u2019s mind while he\u2019s in his kennel.\u00a0He\u2019ll earn treats throughout the day as he figures it out! Teach him how to work the puzzle while you\u2019re home so he enjoys it more on his own.<\/p>\n
Be sure to start with small periods of time \u2013 a dog who does not want to be in their crate can injure themselves trying to get out of it. Working up the amount of time will keep them from causing themselves harm and help them love their crate gradually.<\/p>\n
Remember that young puppies and older dogs will need to \u201cgo\u201d more often than adult dogs. A dog should not be asked to \u201chold it\u201d for longer than an hour for each month they are old, and past that, no dog should wait longer than 8 hours to pee.<\/p>\n
If possible, do not crate your dog if you know you\u2019ll be out of the house longer than 5 hours. Consider a dog sitter or daycare.<\/p>\n
If your dog deserves a swanky crate, check out\u00a0@rusticchickennels<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0@bbkustomkennels<\/a>\u00a0on Instagram! If you\u2019re more DIY, see\u00a0DIY Dog House Ideas For Crafty (And Not-So-Crafty) Dog Lovers.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Teaching your dog to love their crate should be a top priority for any new pet parent. Dogs are den animals, and enjoy small spaces where they can hide when they feel unsafe, or rest at nap time. It\u2019s a safe space in your home that your dog considers his own. Crate training is easy…<\/p>\n