A Crate Can Be Your Dog’s Safe Haven

There are many reasons for crate training your dog - and using a crate as a form of punishment is not one of them.

When trained correctly a new puppy will come to view the crate as his own safe space.  Crates are excellent for transporting your dog in the car or on aircraft, and are very useful when housetraining your pet, limiting his access to all rooms in the house until he has learned your house pet rules.

On the first day of crate training a dog, place a soft blanket inside the crate, then put the puppy’s empty food bowl immediately in front of the open door.  Let the puppy walk around and sniff the crate, and once it is used to its presence, pop the food bowl containing a little food just inside the open door.  After a little while move the bowl to the back of the crate.  Once the dog is inside the crate and eating happily, close the door and praise him.

Once the dog has finished eating, let him out, without praise.  He should learn that the praise is associated with being IN the crate.  Should the puppy start to cry or whine while in the crate, do not let him out until he has stopped or he will associate his release with crying.

Crates should only be used for short-term confinement, and never more than a few hours during the day.  If left for longer, it is likely he will soil his special safe place and become unhappy in the crate.

Crates are excellent aids when toilet training your pet.  When the puppy is in its cage and you hear it cry, you know its time to take it outside to its special toilet area.  Open the crate door and say “outside”.  The puppy will usually urinate first then use his bowels.  When he does, go to him and lavish praise on him and give him a treat.  Don’t call him to you to receive the praise as he will think he is being praised for coming when called.  Try not to confuse him.

Follow up on the praise with some play time as further reward.

When crate trained well, a dog will view the crate as their safe haven and even take sanctuary there during storms and fireworks or when noisy visitors arrive.