Crate Training?

Question

will someone tell me exagly how to crate train my dog

Answer 1

First thing you have to do with a dog is us the same dry food. Dry food is the best because it cleans there teeth and it is not full of water. Until house broke, the dog should only be feed once a day at the same time every day. Walk the dog after you feed it. And I mean walk do not just stand there. Then walk him again a half hour after that. You should walk him as many times a day as you can until house broke. Walking helps it pass the food. Walk it in the same place every day. When they smell there own potty it makes them have to go. When the dog goes in the house, clean it up with vinegar. This does 2 things kills the smell+vinegar has a urine bass smell and the dog thinks you r marking this as your turf. When the dog goes in the house put the potty outside where you want it to go. Remember smelling his potty makes him want to go. So no potty smell in the house but lots of potty smell outside. You should have a pin or create just big enough for him to lie down. Most dog will not potty where they lay. Do not put anything in the pin that will soak up pee. When you are not watching your dog, he should be in the pin. If he goes in the house, you should catch him in the act and grab him and yell no then take him outside. Clean it up and take the potty outside. So to rap this up. Walk him as much as you can tell him good boy when he goes outside. When your not watching him keep him it the pin. When he goes inside tell him bad boy and take him outside..

Answer 2

Here's what I've done (when my 3 yr old lab was a pup, and now with my 3 month old Plott Hound) and it's worked for me:

Buy a crate that will be big enough for the dog (not just a travel pet carrier). Ones with a bottom tray that slides out are nice and easy to clean.

Line it with newspapers and add a blanket or bed. Also have water in it whenever the dog will be locked in.

Use a treat to get the dog into the crate, and eventually he'll be eager to run in when you tell him to. (Use the same word commands each time so he'll recognize it).

Immediately in the morning get the dog outside. Don't punish him for going in the crate, he had no choice if he was in it all night.

(Assuming you're using the crate-training to aid in house-training):

Always let the dog outside within 30 min of eating or drinking.

Praise the dog when it is doing its business outside.

Look for signs that it needs to go, like sniffing near the door or acting like it's looking for a place.

Use the crate as it's sleeping space, it will get used to the night-time routine.

Most of all, don't use the crate as a punishment. The dog will start giving you a hard time and not want to go in.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

It distresses me to see the widespread use of crate training of dogs whether for house training, chewing problems or any other problem.

So many self proclaimed experts will tell you how a dog is a denning animal but fail to realize or mention that above all a dog is a pack animal. A social animal. It would much rather be with it's pack than banished from the pack.

There are even people who say their dogs LOVE the crate. Consider this--it's because it's where they feel safest now that they have been forced to live in there. If your dog feels safest in the crate, consider that he isnt feeling as secure in the rest of the house, which is, I expect, meant to be his home.

If you really dont care about that just remember what a dog might do in a situation where he isnt feeling confident.

The "experts" that tell you that crate training is the most humane way of house training your dogs just havent got a clue.

It may even be argued that crate training is easier on the humans but considering the behavioral problems caused by repeatedly banishing the doggie equivalent of a little kid from the people that it most wants to be with, and all that wasted training opportunity, it just isnt worth it for anyone concerned.

You cant train a dog when it's in the crate. Yes, babies are placed in playpens but they arent left alone there for hours at a time. At night in their crib they know they just have to cry and they will get what they need.

With a dog, or a child, accidents are bound to happen. Things are bound to get damaged. It goes along with the learning process. Every accident is an opportunity for learning.

Watch a small puppy being let out of the crate. He is so happy to be welcomed back into the pack and he is waggling all over himself cuz he wants to love you all over. But he is torn between that and the fact that he has to go pee NOW. How can people think that is humane?

Sadly it is far easier to teach a puppy to go potty outside than it is to teach people to discover the needs of their pets before they get them.


It takes only about 2 weeks to potty train a dog WITHOUT a crate.

A dog can only be a happy socialized animal if he is given full opportunity to socialize. Every moment the he spends locked away in a cage is wasted teaching time for you and is emotionally stressful for the puppy.

People would understand that they were doing emotional damage if it was a child involved and while a dog is not a human, they are similar in that puppies are small dog children.

Answer 4

Let the dog enjoy the crate. Feed him there, give him toys in there. Don't lock him up when it isn't necessary. To start, put him in there for only a short time (a minute or so) and then build up.

Unless you mean house training. . . .

Answer 5

This is what I did and it was a success. Bedtime my puppy slept in his crate. Before I put him in I made sure he had exercise, food and water two hours before bed. Yes, dog or puppy will cry/wine. Just put the crate in another room and walkout or sleep next to it. Every two-three hours during the night I let him go to the bathroom. When you do this take your doggie out the SAME DOOR each time you let him go outside to release himself. In about 3 or 4 weeks you will see your dog going to the same door wanting to go outside. Put him or her back in crate until morning. Morning comes he or she can be free to roam, give food and water. DON'T forget to take your puppy or dog out 2-3 hours out the SAME DOOR to relive them while they are in outside the crate. During the day you get tired of watching your pup put them back in the crate with a treat. I put a nice soft blanket inside for mine to lie on so he can be comfortable. Now my German Shorthaired Pointer Cliff is so crate trained when he is tired he willing goes into his crate. The average time length you can keep your dog inside the crate is 4 hours max. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Crate training as in houstraining?
or
Crate Training as in the dog being able to stay in the crate w/o freaking out?

Answer 7

Crate training your dog may take some time and effort, but can be useful in a variety of situations. If you have a new dog or puppy, you can use the crate to limit his access to the house until he learns all the house rules -- like what he can and can't chew on and where he can and can't eliminate. A crate is also a safe way of transporting your dog in the car, as well as a way of taking him places where he may not be welcome to run freely. If you properly train your dog to use the crate, he'll think of it as his safe place and will be happy to spend time there when needed.

Selecting A Crate
Crates may be plastic (often called "flight kennels") or collapsible, metal pens. They come in different sizes and can be purchased at most pet supply stores. Your dog's crate should be just large enough for him to stand up and turn around in.

The Crate Training Process
Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training. The crate should always be associated with something pleasant, and training should take place in a series of small steps - don't go too fast.

Step 1: Introducing Your Dog To The Crate
Put the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room. Put a soft blanket or towel in the crate. Bring your dog over to the crate and talk to him in a happy tone of voice. Make sure the crate door is securely fastened opened so it won't hit your dog and frighten him.
To encourage your dog to enter the crate, drop some small food treats near it, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate. If he refuses to go all the way in at first, that's okay -- don't force him to enter. Continue tossing treats into the crate until your dog will walk calmly all the way into the crate to get the food. If he isn't interested in treats, try tossing a favorite toy in the crate. This step may take a few minutes or as long as several days.
Step 2: Feeding Your Dog His Meals In The Crate
After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding him his regular meals near the crate. This will create a pleasant association with the crate. If your dog is readily entering the crate when you begin Step 2, put the food dish all the way at the back of the crate. If your dog is still reluctant to enter the crate, put the dish only as far inside as he will readily go without becoming fearful or anxious. Each time you feed him, place the dish a little further back in the crate.
Once your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat his meal, you can close the door while he's eating. At first, open the door as soon as he finishes his meal. With each successive feeding, leave the door closed a few minutes longer, until he's staying in the crate for ten minutes or so after eating. If he begins to whine to be let out, you may have increased the length of time too quickly. Next time, try leaving him in the crate for a shorter time period. If he does whine or cry in the crate, it's imperative that you not let him out until he stops. Otherwise, he'll learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine, so he'll keep doing it.
Step 3: Conditioning Your Dog To The Crate For Longer Time Periods
After your dog is eating his regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine him there for short time periods while you're home. Call him over to the crate and give him a treat. Give him a command to enter such as, "kennel up." Encourage him by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand. After your dog enters the crate, praise him, give him the treat and close the door. Sit quietly near the crate for five to ten minutes and then go into another room for a few minutes. Return, sit quietly again for a short time, then let him out of the crate. Repeat this process several times a day. With each repetition, gradually increase the length of time you leave him in the crate and the length of time you're out of his sight. Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you out of sight the majority of the time, you can begin leaving him crated when you're gone for short time periods and/or letting him sleep there at night. This may take several days or several weeks.
Step 4: Part A/Crating Your Dog When Left Alone
After your dog is spending about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving him crated for short periods when you leave the house. Put him in the crate using your regular command and a treat. You might also want to leave him with a few safe toys in the crate (see our handout: "Dog Toys and How to Use Them"). You'll want to vary at what point in your "getting ready to leave" routine you put your dog in the crate. Although he shouldn't be crated for a long time before you leave, you can crate him anywhere from five to 20 minutes prior to leaving. Don't make your departures emotional and prolonged, but matter-of-fact. Praise your dog briefly, give him a treat for entering the crate and then leave quietly. When you return home, don't reward your dog for excited behavior by responding to him in an excited, enthusiastic way. Keep arrivals low key. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you're home so he doesn't associate crating with being left alone.

Crating Your Dog At Night
Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat. Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night, and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when he whines to be let outside. Older dogs, too, should initially be kept nearby so that crating doesn't become associated with social isolation. Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with his crate near you, you can begin to gradually move it to the location you prefer.