Crates are often controversial but are actually one of the best things you can offer your dog if done the right way. If your dog is taught to love and be comfortable in their crates, you will find they go inside on their own without any problems. Crates are like dens for our dogs inside our own homes. They offer a place for your dog to feel safe and secure especially if you have to leave them alone. Dogs, especially youngsters are very inquisitive and tend to explore with their mouths just like young children and will chew and possibly ingest random things they find lying around. If your dog does this it is entirely your own fault for leaving him unsupervised. Crating them is a safe way to keep them confined to protect them and protect your possessions or furniture. However, except for overnight, dogs should not be expected to spend long periods of time in a crate. Two to three hours maximum and the crate should be big enough for him to fully stand up and easily turn around.
The people who tell you they don’t believe in using crates probably don't tell you about the ripped carpets, chewed furniture, or upturned rubbish bins they had to deal with when their dogs were left unsupervised.
How to crate train your dog.
(First of all we train him to a mat)
We want to make that crate a great place to be for your dog. That means loads of rewards when your dog chooses to go into the crate. If your dog is reluctant definitely do not force him to go in. We can encourage him by shaping a behaviour. Get a mat or a towel and stand over it.
As you dog gets closer to the towel say “ yes”( you can also use a clicker for this) and reward. The dog’s instincts tell him to try to repeat whatever it was that resulted in him getting that reward.
Throw a small piece of food away from the mat and tell him to “get it.” As he comes back again say “yes” and reward. Repeat this a number of times and the dog will begin return to the mat, as he returns , again say yes and reward as he gets nearer each time. The throwing the food away from the mat encourages him to always orientate back to the mat.
He should eventually stand and hopefully sit on the mat. When he does this reward, reward, reward and make a great fuss of him.
He will soon get the idea that you want him to be on the mat.
From now on when he goes onto his mat place the rewards on the mat!
Once he has mastered this you can move the mat anywhere you want your dog to settle. On his bed, on a mat in the kitchen etc. My dogs actively seek out a mat to settle on as they are hopeful they will get a reward. I also reward them for just lying on the mat, which promotes calmness and encourages to dog to relax.
Take the mat to the crate.
When he understands what we want we then take that mat to the crate and when your dog goes onto the mat inside the crate reward, reward, reward.
Again throw a little piece of food out of the crate and tell him to “get it” and as he comes back and jumps into the crate reward, reward, reward. Make a game of it , play it for a few minutes two or three times a day. Feed him in his crate, give him something nice to chew on when he is in there, filled kongs, favourite toys, favourite chews and make sure he has a nice comfortable bed in there. This will put real value into that crate for him.
If done correctly and by allowing the dog to choose your dog will be happy and never stressed in a crate, which is great for travelling, visiting friends or if he needs any veterinary surgery.
The video below shows just how easy it is. With a little bit of time and patience.
Crate training with Zelda.
https://youtu.be/L8HNO79bZMY
Written by "Games based dog trainer"
The people who tell you they don’t believe in using crates probably don't tell you about the ripped carpets, chewed furniture, or upturned rubbish bins they had to deal with when their dogs were left unsupervised.
How to crate train your dog.
(First of all we train him to a mat)
We want to make that crate a great place to be for your dog. That means loads of rewards when your dog chooses to go into the crate. If your dog is reluctant definitely do not force him to go in. We can encourage him by shaping a behaviour. Get a mat or a towel and stand over it.
As you dog gets closer to the towel say “ yes”( you can also use a clicker for this) and reward. The dog’s instincts tell him to try to repeat whatever it was that resulted in him getting that reward.
Throw a small piece of food away from the mat and tell him to “get it.” As he comes back again say “yes” and reward. Repeat this a number of times and the dog will begin return to the mat, as he returns , again say yes and reward as he gets nearer each time. The throwing the food away from the mat encourages him to always orientate back to the mat.
He should eventually stand and hopefully sit on the mat. When he does this reward, reward, reward and make a great fuss of him.
He will soon get the idea that you want him to be on the mat.
From now on when he goes onto his mat place the rewards on the mat!
Once he has mastered this you can move the mat anywhere you want your dog to settle. On his bed, on a mat in the kitchen etc. My dogs actively seek out a mat to settle on as they are hopeful they will get a reward. I also reward them for just lying on the mat, which promotes calmness and encourages to dog to relax.
Take the mat to the crate.
When he understands what we want we then take that mat to the crate and when your dog goes onto the mat inside the crate reward, reward, reward.
Again throw a little piece of food out of the crate and tell him to “get it” and as he comes back and jumps into the crate reward, reward, reward. Make a game of it , play it for a few minutes two or three times a day. Feed him in his crate, give him something nice to chew on when he is in there, filled kongs, favourite toys, favourite chews and make sure he has a nice comfortable bed in there. This will put real value into that crate for him.
If done correctly and by allowing the dog to choose your dog will be happy and never stressed in a crate, which is great for travelling, visiting friends or if he needs any veterinary surgery.
The video below shows just how easy it is. With a little bit of time and patience.
Crate training with Zelda.
https://youtu.be/L8HNO79bZMY
Written by "Games based dog trainer"