Dog Crate Training

9 Keys To Crate Training Your Dog
By D. Silva
Crate training is one of the most effective ways of housebreaking your puppy or dog. Why? Because your dog will naturally resist soiling the area where he eats and sleeps. When you place your dog in the crate and he becomes accustomed to it, he will quickly grow to view the crate as his den. His natural instinct will be to keep the den clean.

However, crate training has other benefits as well. It can reduce your dog's separation anxiety when you're away. It can prevent destructive behavior and keep him out of dangerous household items when you can't keep a close eye on him while you're home. And the crate itself can serve as an indoor dog house that you can move throughout the house as needed.

Okay, some important crate training ground rules ...

1. A crate should never be used for the purpose of punishment.

2. Never force your dog into the crate.

3. The use of a crate begins with its introduction. If possible, you'll want to have a week or so when your dog can become familiar with the crate. During this period, feed him in the crate with the door open. You'll want to have a bed inside the crate, and chew toys to make the environment as attractive as possible. If your dog enters the crate on his own, praise him and pet him, then close the door. The first few times may result in some whining, however this will pass. Your dog will settle down. Give him time.

4. When possible, keep the crate near you when you're home.

5. Never leave your dog in the crate for long periods of time. How long is too long? A puppy will need to be given the opportunity to stretch and do his business every 45 minutes or so. An adult dog, once he's accustomed to the crate, can be kept crated for as long as 4 hours, but no longer. The exception to this rule is that most dogs can sleep in a crate overnight without any difficulty.

6. When crate training, you'll want to make sure your dog has plenty of opportunities to do his business outside. If you're away from the house for a time, you'll need to let him out of the crate immediately upon returning. In the morning, when you first get up, you'll need to let him out to do his business. Give him every opportunity to do his business and the training process will go much faster.

7. When your dog does use the designated outside area, always be lavish with your praise.

8. When there's a mishap during the crate training process (for instance, your dog soils his crate or doesn't make it to the designated area), do not scold or punish him. Accidents are the result of not providing him with enough opportunity to do his business. Simply keep to the basics, and make sure in the future he has plenty of bathroom breaks throughout the day.

9. Want to make the process go even easier? Keep a daily diary of when your dog eats and when he does his business. Use the diary to note how often you're providing him the opportunity to eliminate and how often he takes advantage of the opportunity. You'll quickly be able to identify a regular routine which can benefit both of you in the house training process.

Once your dog has been crate trained, you'll be able to use the crate throughout his life, providing him with a warm, pleasant, den-like environment that will keep him feeling secure.

Crate training is only one challenge you're going to meet as a dog owner. If you want to be prepared for all your dog's challenges (such as biting, barking, tugging on the leash, and others), check out these top three dog training courses: Dog Training

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D._Silva

Free Dog Training Tip

A first step in dog training or getting rid of a dog's bad habits is coming to the realization that there is a problem or problems with only some of the dog's behavior.

When the statement some was mentioned above, I was trying to alert you to the fact that your dog is not bad all of the time. You must realize that there are also many positive qualities in your dog.

Therefore, your first step in dog training is to write down all the Good qualities of your dog. Is you dog happy to see you when you are away? Does your dog make you smile? Does your dog make you feel appreciated?

Once you have these positive qualities firmly fixed in your mind, you will have something to think about when your dog is behaving badly -- and you have a starting point to training your dog for good behavior.

Dog Training In Beginning

Many people wonder when they should begin training their new dog / puppy.

The answer to that question is -- as soon as you bring them into your home!

It is suggested that you and your family have a family meeting prior to bringing home your new dog so you can discuss and decide on consistent commands to be given to the new addition to your family.

The initial commands could be "sit" "stay" "go out?" "off the couch!". If all of the family is consistant, your new dog will learn the commands very quickly, even if they are only eight weeks old.

Also discussed is the consistency in potty training and what will be said when "accidents" happen (no spanking!). And what everyone will do when you catch him / her "going" in the house. Each person should do the exact same thing.

For instance, if any of you catch the pup "going", you could quickly pick them up, saying "not here" then while going out the door, say "we go out" and put them outside until they "go" again outside. Once done, you give the puppy high praise.

If everyone is exactly consistent, the potty training should not take long at all.
The younger the dog, (yet old enough to leave their mother), the easier it is for him / her to adapt to their new home and understand how the household runs. Older dogs may have a more difficult time adjusting, yet with consistent commands from all family members, all dogs should do well.

So have a dog training plan ready that includes the whole family. Begin training immediately after getting your new dog.

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