The Scoop on Crate Training Dogs

by Geraldine Dimarco

Have you ever read about crate training dogs? It sounds like an inhumane act to dogs who don’t do as they’re told. Surprisingly, it’s actually the contrary. Crate training is a good method of training based on the dogs’ natural need for security.

They say dogs and wolves are from the same family, sharing the same behavioral instinct for self-preservation. Dogs may very well have descended from the same line as wolves. This would mean that before they were pets,they lived in the wild. They would use safe dens and lairs to shelter them from all the dangers that abound in open spaces. This is the guiding principle of training dogs to utilize their own crates when they feel threatened or simply stressed out.Many who use crate training can attest to its stress relieving effects for the canine. This also helps in house training the dogs by keeping them in check within a limited area. This will protect the animals from harming themselves, other people and things around the house. Going to the vet or travelling for long distances will not anymore be a problem with a crate trained dog safely tucked in his enclosed space.Not all animals are suitable to be crate trained. There are some dogs that may have had serious trauma in the past and cannot be put near a confined box without becoming exceptionally upset. Other large dogs that have difficulty in being trained will just break the crate. They will hurt themselves when they panic at the door closing in. Sometimes, people are just not comfortable with the thought of living, breathing animals being shut in a crate.Crate training dogs hinges on how the dog owner essentially views the matter. If thinking of your dog in a box makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to push through with this method of training. However, if you believe that this will be advantageous to you and your dog’s personal space, you will find some helpful tips on how to go about doing this in the next paragraph.You need to put the crate in a room where there will be activities and people. Make sure the enclosure you’ve chosen is a good size and put some of his favorite treats and toys inside it. When you guide your dog in, do not close the door just yet. For a few days just pet him and talk to him reassuringly through the crate. Begin feeding him while he is inside. If you feel he is already quite accustomed to the space, close the door for a few minutes while you are in the room. If the dog reacts violently or cries, wait for him to stop before letting him out. It is a new and often frightening experience for the pet so be patient and do not rush him with this.Never use this as a form of punishment for the dog. He should associate the crate as a calming and safe place for him to be in. If the animal is not getting upset being left alone in the crate, leave the house in short periods to gauge his reaction. If everything works out, you have accomplished the important task of crate training your dog. This will free you from worrying about your pet all the time. Moreover, you have given your dog his own special space of peace from the world.

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