Crate training

Dogs like to have their own special place to curl up in and sleep.

A crate can be used for a sleeping area and for traveling. It also comes in handy when your dog needs to spend time at the vet or kennel.

Teaching your dog to like being in a crate shouldn't be forced.

Start of by putting some tasty treats and toy's in the crate. Then leave the door open and lure your puppy in with the treats.

Do this a few times.

Put the crate where your dog will be part of the family.

As you go along start by feeding his dinner in his crate still with the door open. When he is feeling safe with this close the gate for a couple of minutes.

As time passes you can gradually extend the time to 20 minutes with hour breaks in between until he reaches an hour of being in the crate.

If your puppy cries try to ignore it for a while so that you don’t reward the behavior by teaching him that when he cries you open the gate. Only open the gate when he is quiet.

It will be worse before it gets better.

Never leave your puppy in the crate for hours at a time. Do not use a crate for punishment. Only use it for safety when traveling or when you need to leave the puppy alone at home.

Also use it as his safe den for sleeping and eating.

Buy a bigger crate then you need for your puppy so that he can use it as an adult dog too. Your dog should be able to stand up and turn around effortlessly in his crate.

You can put a blanket and some safe chewing toys in his crate.

But be careful that he does not ingest any of the blankets thread as it will cut the inside of his body...

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