When you use a crate property, it’s a fantastic tool to manage and train your dog. If you can make your dog comfortable in a crate, you will provide a cozy and safe place that it can call take one and sleep at night. Getting your dog used to being in a closed crate is the first thing. Warming up, you should tell the dog to go to bed then point to the crate. If it does as instructed, you should give it a treat and say “Okay,” letting it know it can come out. Then you should try to close the crate for a couple of seconds. Tell it again to go to bed while pointing to the crate.
As soon as the dog enters the crate, immediately reward it with a treat and praise it. After that, close the crate door gently. (You shouldn’t latch it yet). Feed it 2-3 treats while you close the crate door and continue praising it while it’s in the crate. Repeat this about ten times and gradually increase the time you allow the dog to stay in its crate when the door is closed. You can start with two seconds, then five, eight, you can go back to three, then ten, fifteen, twenty, then back to five. After your second set of ten reps, take a break for thirty minutes. Repeat this exercise till your dog gets comfortable with staying in the crate closed.
Although people have different opinions on the value of crate training, the crate is a useful tool when training puppies or adult dogs. For dogs, a crate can be a refuge or a place away from busy family life. Some experts believe that proper crate training is as essential as adequate health care, timely sterilization, and obedience training.
Not all dogs respond the same to crates. Some dogs are thrilled to stay in the crate, while others are extremely disgusted with this thing and will accidentally injure themselves when trying to escape. Why is there such a difference? The answer involves the dog’s past domestication history. In extremely harsh environments, if dogs are confined in crates or other small confined spaces, they will have a “post-traumatic” association; that is, they will panic when facing similar imprisonment. On the other hand, a dog that was properly managed in a crate when it was young may use its crate as a safe and comfortable place.
For dogs, bad experiences in a crate include; long confinement, little attention during confinement, and no attachments (such as toys). For those dogs who have had an unpleasant experience in a crate, imprisonment may be seen as jail time, so this experience should be avoided.
The goal of scientific training should be to allow dogs to treat the crate as a place to retreat or rest and to get in and out freely (regularly leave the door of the crate open so you won’t restrict the dog’s movement).
For a dog that has adapted to the environment, a crate can be a haven, a comfortable place, or even a shelter away from the world. But many dog owners think that dogs should be kept in dens. But the real den has no door. Do you believe there is a door in the cave? This is why it is essential to encourage your dog to use his crate as a retreat or refuge.
Train your puppy
For dog owners, good crate training can help reduce some indoor accidents. Because most dogs respect the sanctity of the nest, their nature will make them reluctant to soil their nest. Therefore, a crate can be used to confine it to a safe area after an accident.
No matter the age you start training your dog, all methods should be scientific. Ideally, it is best to start training when the dog is young because this is the most plastic period, and the cub can deepen the impression of the crate every time it touches it. The specific training methods are as follows:
1. Allow puppies to enter and leave the crate freely, paying attention to the word “free.”
2. Put a blanket and some toys in to make the crate a comfortable place.
3. Praise the puppy every time it enters the crate.
4. Keep the puppy in the crate for some time, but make sure you have a companion by your side. This companion can be you or other close pet companions.
5. Never use crates as a place of punishment.
6. Make sure that no one disturbs the puppy when it is in the crate so that the crate becomes a refuge where the dog can be trusted.
If you follow the points listed above, there is no reason why the dog will not be attracted to the crate to rest and relax, and the dog will find that the crate is one of its favorite places in life. However, for some dogs, due to bad experiences, they have a strong aversion to crates as they grow up. For this reason, whenever they are locked up, they will be as bad as this or that.
Train your adult dog
The methods provided below allow your old dog to re-use the crate as a safe refuge. The purpose of these methods is to systematically reduce the dog’s sensitivity and make the crate look as friendly as possible.
1. Place the crate in an indoor “high traffic” area and keep the inside of the crate comfortable and safe.
2. Use food and toys to enrich the space in the crate. Remember, in the beginning, be sure to leave the crate door open.
3. Slowly feed it to a place near the entrance of the crate. When it is near the crate, reward it with praise.
4. Finally, move the food bowl over the threshold of the crate, and then move it inside the crate so that it has to stretch its head and shoulders in to eat.
5. Slowly move the food bowl to the back of the crate, so the dog has to go inside.
6. Whenever the dog enters the crate or approaches the crate, you need to give a reward.
7. Be careful not to lock the dog in the crate at first. When it can show a willingness to enter and exit, you start to close the door of the crate.
8. If everything goes well in the process of adapting to the environment, the next thing to do is: You have to stay near the crate and try to close the door of the crate briefly.
9. Gradually, the duration of confinement can be extended. Eventually, you can keep the dog in a crate for a long time, and it can remain quiet during the process.
10. Also, it is best not to leave the dog alone in the crate when you are away, but if it can feel very comfortable in the crate, then you can try to close it for a short time. To leave for a while.
The time needed to complete the above training method is uncertain, but we are positive it will work. Note: For any behavior modification program (e.g., crate training), the golden rule is if there is no progress within 3-5 days, then change the strategy. This is very important throughout the training process. Besides, the crate should not be a place where the dog has any negative experiences.
Dominant dog and crate
Generally speaking, dominant dogs will resist anything they don’t like and protect anything they like. If you try to put a dominant dog into its crate against its will, even if you succeed, the result is often accompanied by barking, biting, and even biting. Conversely, a dog that sees its crate as its own private space may adopt the opposite strategy. It will actively guard its own space, that is, growl at people approaching the crate or try to treat it.
Dogs suffering from separation anxiety
For some dogs who have this condition, the crate can be a refuge to avoid pain. When their owner is away, they may be happier in the crate than when they are free. For other dogs, crates are a burden, a pain, and even an obstacle that needs to be overcome. When they are forced to be locked in the crate, they may have their teeth broken and broken due to desperate struggle. The case of a broken paw. When dog owners return home, they will also find these dogs drooling frantically, and they may even find the crates full of urine, feces, and blood. For such dogs, using crates is not a good way.
Compulsive dog
For compulsive dogs, due to prolonged confinement, these dogs may already feel bored and insufficiently stimulated. These dogs can lick themselves, spin around, chase their tails, or pace aimlessly in various ways according to their respective preferences. And crates may contribute to this behavior. In this case, keeping dogs in crates is generally prohibited.
When to transition Your Dog from a Crate to a Bed
Either you have begun to transition your dog out of its crate in the day, or you have begun at night. The most important thing is where it will rest.
You’re not required to make use of a conventional dog bed as your dog may even just enjoy the couch. But things will be way easier if you have a dog bed of high quality.
When you choose a dog bed, ensure you consider the age, health, and size of your dog. Figure out your dog’s favorite sleeping position.
It’s obvious that toy and small breeders prefer smaller beds so they can snuggle up. For example, several rottweilers enjoy resting their head on a huge pillow while sleeping.
Irrespective of the bed you go for, ensure it’s big enough so your dog can lay entirely stretched out with no hanging away from the bed.
It needs to have the ability to keep him comfortable and warm with covers that are washable.
After you purchase the bed, you can introduce your dog to the bed so it can get used to it.
Ensure you make your dog sleep in its bed in the day for about a week before you transition it at night, so he’s got enough time to make it his favorite spot for napping.
While this is going on, your doh may sometimes get up then walk towards the couch or any other spot for sleeping for some nights.
Positioning the bed
Well, I feel the best thing to do is to make sure your dog sleeps right close to you in your bedroom. The foundation for an excellent training routine and relationship is bonding.
Troubleshooting
Irrespective of how you are going to do this and what you begin with, there’ll closely always be a kind of troubleshooting you will be required to do.
Luckily, several dogs transition very smoothly even though they might not like the crate at all in the day and sleep in it reluctantly at night.
Jumping on the bed
Since your dog has now got the freedom to do anything he wants to do at night, he’ll likely be tempted to just wake you up by simply jumping up and down its bed.
In a situation whereby this occurs, it’d be best to create a command for it to settle down in bed instead of walking all over the area.
You can teach the dogs this command by just luring your dog to the bed with its treatment, then offer him a cue you want, such as “go settle.” Irrespective of either he’s lying down or standing.
Repeat this several times, then ask the dog to lie down in the bed.
After you’ve tried it successfully for some time, you can wait some seconds before you give the dog a treat.
Increase the duration slowly to create a build-in stay so it’ll not be tempted to leave the bed instantly.
Expand the distance between your dog and yourself and attempt leaving your room without the dog getting up.
Since your dog is now aware of the command to settle, then you can make use of it at night in redirecting your dog straight to his place anytime.
If your dog is very annoying at night and continues to wake you up, I feel the best thing to do is consider putting him in any other room at night for your peace of mind.
In Conclusion
Sometimes, crates are good training tools for some dogs. However, even if crates are effective for dogs, it is not wise to keep the dog in a crate for more than 4 to 6 hours a day because it will cause the dog to associate negative experiences with it. Every dog should have an open crate so that they can go anywhere and be very free. Remember, the crate should be a place where dogs can seek peace. In this case, dogs like crates, just as teenagers like their own room. But remember that imprisonment is for the convenience of the dog owner, not for the convenience of the dog, so crates should be used sparingly.