Rules of Crate Training – Crate Training Dogs is Easy If You Know…

Training a dog can be frustrating, but if you know the "rules of crate training" this particular task can be made much easier.

One of the first things you need to consider, whether you have a new puppy or a full grown dog is crate training. This is because dogs need structure and they actually do best when they have set rules to follow. Crate training can offer both structure as well as give the dog a secure place he can call his own.

However, while it may seem simple in concept, crate Training Dogs can actually be rather difficult.

You see, there is a bit of psychology that goes on in your dogs head when you try to train him to use the crate. For that reason you need to know when (and when not) to try to persuade your dog to get into his crate.

The basics of crate training for dogs is actually the same as any other type of Dog Training. You need to be consistent and persistent but also let the dog know clearly what you want. Always use the same word or command to indicate that you want the dog to go to his crate and use a firm (but not "mean") voice. Never yell at the dog – rewards based training works best when crate training dogs.

Crate training for dogs has certain pitfalls that other types of training does not have due to the fact that you are using an object – the crate – as part of the training. Because of this, there are some rules of crate training that should be followed:

1. Never send your dog to his crate in order to punish him. If you do this, then your dog will associate the crate with being a "bad boy". Would you want to go somewhere that "bad boys" are supposed to go? Neither does your dog. You want him to associate his crate with safety and comfort so keep this in mind when training.

2. Don’t rush things. You need to make a gradual introduction between dog and crate. Always be sure to associate the crate with a positive experience and reward your dog when he goes into the crate on command.

3. Never lock your dog in the crate for extended periods or leave him in there when you know he will have to go to the bathroom. This will only make him want to avoid the crate in the future. And if you do make this mistake and then your dog "does his business" in the crate – don’t yell at him and tell him he is a bad boy – it’s not his fault, it’s yours!

4. When you let your dog out of the crate, take him outside right away to relieve himself. This can actually be very helpful in housebreaking.

5. Don’t ever force your dog into the crate if he doesn’t want to go, especially if he is stressed out, scared or anxious. It is a different thing if he chooses to go in there himself, however.

If you follow these rules of crate training, you will soon have a dog that runs into his crate at your command – and likes it! In fact, my little Pomeranian loved her crate so much that she ran in there on her own whenever she was scared or anxious.

With a bit of patience you will see that crate training dogs is not that hard and it will strengthen the bond between you and your best friend.

Author: Lee Dobbins

Lee Dobbins is an avid dog lover who has owned many different types of dogs from a 90 pound Shepherd mix to a pure bred Pomeranian. She shares her years of research and experience in an Ebook and newsletter which you can download for FREE at http://www.dogcareandtrainingtips.com

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