Simple Yet Effective Tips to Crate Train Your Dog Fast and Easily

Many people see dogs being locked in crates as inhumane and cruel. They just don't understand why dogs should be kept under lock. But to an experienced dog owner, crate training is essential for every dog out there. Done the right way, it keeps the dog secure, safe and at ease. It is also one of the smartest way to potty train your dog.

Getting the Right Crate Size - An ideal dog training crate should be large enough to allow your dog to stretch out without hitting his head and allow him to be able to turn around easily. The size of the crate is consider too large if you find your dog relieving himself in one corner and playing and sleeping in another. You can block off and make the crate smaller by blocking off certain section with wooden cardboards if your pup is still young.

Critical Crate Training Rules - You must introduce the crate slowly to your dog when you begin crate training. Crate him in short intervals, about 10 minutes, and gradually increase the duration over time. Your dog needs time to get used to being crated. Never crate him for more than 30 minutes or longer the first time you put him into the crate.

It is not advisable to crate a young puppy for long periods of time. Your puppy should have the chance to exercise and urinate before being crated. Dogs are fastidious creatures and have no desire to soil the surroundings of their private spaces. However, he might be forced to relieve himself if you cruelly lock him in for longer than he can hold it in.

A rule of thumb to gauge how long your puppy should be in his crate is to add an hour to his age in months. For example, a 2 month old puppy should not be crated for more than 3 hours without any bathroom breaks.

It's common for pups to bark and moan to attract your attention while in the crate. If these things happen during crate training, do not give him any attention! Yes! Do not even look in his direction.

Dogs are intelligent animals. Do not let on that he will be able to get your attention and change your mind when he is upset. Simply ignore him. Praise your dog or let him out only when he settles down.

If it's a young puppy whom you've just introduce the crate to, maybe you can offer him a treat in the crate to calm him down. No matter what you do, you must not let your pup out of the crate, this is a very critical moment where you must not give in.

If you notice that your dog displays hyper active behavior as compared to before, you might be crating him for too long. If your dog starts to chew on himself, let him out immediately and consult a trainer or behaviorist.

Below are some suggestions and tips to aid you in crate training your puppy:

1. To make his experience pleasurable, play with him there or spend time watching TV there or reading as he gets busy with chewing a toy. If he is there all by himself, he begins to associate the area with isolation and may resist being there at all.

2. Begin crate training at dinnertime. Give him his food, one piece at a time, by throwing bits of kibble in to the crate and making him search for it. This is one of the many ways that you can do to make crate training fun for him.

3. You can place his favorite toy, or even surprise him with treats hidden in the crate for him. To surprise him, you can even hide a biscuit in the crate – that's fun!

4. Don't crate him for longer than he can hold the urge to eliminate or defecate. If you are gone for long periods each day, you should consider a larger confinement area such as an exercise pen or a small room.

5. The best place to place the crate would be where your puppy can see the environment and family members, hear and smell you, the owner.

6. Do not punish your dog in his crate, it will backfire. Your pup will tend to enjoy his stay in the crate more readily if you can make him associate crate stay with a time for fun. The crate is suppose to be your dog's natural den where he feels safe and comfortable, not where he'll be punish and associate it with "bad things".

7. Crate training cannot be used as a permanent solution to ensuring your dog is kept safe without supervision. Pups must not be left in crates alone for long period of time. Your training duration will be affected greatly if you crate him for too long and he urinate in the crate.

In sum, crate training is a necessary training tool when instilling obedience. Its main purpose is to provide security, safety, reduce potentially destructive behaviors, add to the ease of traveling and protection for short term confinement, whenever the owner needs it. It is a vital lesson that all pups should pick up since young.

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