Crate Training

Crates are very useful in a variety of situations, for instance 

• when you are not in a position to supervise your puppy
• when you want to give him some quiet time
• when you have visitors who don’t like dogs
• when you want to keep him safe on car journeys

As per every novelty, crates should be introduced carefully so that puppy associates his crate with something positive - crates should never be used as punishment or as a confinement for long periods of time.

How to make the crate a happy place?

• Put puppy’s bed in the crate with a few toys
• Start feeding him all his meals in the crate
• Give him chews and treats in the crate

Throughout this initial phase leave the door of the crate open, so that puppy can go in and out. Every time he goes in the crate, reward and praise him. Soon he’ll associate the crate with good things happening.

When he feels comfortable in the crate and takes himself off to sleep in there then you can start closing the door. Start with closing the door for a just short period of time. Open the door and praise puppy for being quiet.

Should puppy start whining or barking whilst the door is closed, try and ignore him. Otherwise he’ll learn that he gets your attention and that the crate door gets opened whenever he barks or whines. But, importantly, do open the door as soon as he’s settled down, he'll then learn that good things happen when he's settled. If he does whine maybe the period of time with the door closed was too long - especially, at the early stages of training - try closing for a shorter period and build up slowly.

For further advice on crate training please come and see us.