One of the most common ways to train dogs is called crate training. "Crates" are usually made from plastic or steel wire and come in different sizes. Crate training is considered to be one of the best forms of dog training.
The main reason that crate training is so effective is that dogs hate to pee where they sleep. Abiding by this principal, they learn to hold their urges to urinate until they are outside. Little by little the dog learns that outside is the place to pee.
During crate training, a puppy will spend almost all its time inside its crate. The puppy will only be allowed out of the crate during feeding time and when it is being supervised. Whenever the puppy is let out of its den (crate) it should be taken to the designated toilet area immediately.
The crate you buy should be big enough for your dog to easily move around in. A rough guide is to buy a crate that is 1.5 times the dog's length and at least a couple of inches higher than the dogs head (in standing position). Crates that are too big allow for toilet room. If your crate is too big you should block off one end to make it smaller. Plastic crates that have wire doors are the most functional crates. They are lightweight and easy to clean.
When crate training your puppy; best results are achieved when toilet breaks are frequent and at consistent intervals. This will minimize the number of accidents. Little by little you can extend the time your puppy is inside the crate without a break as the puppy will slowly build up bladder control.
It is very important that you build up a positive association of the crate. You can do this by feeding your dog close to (eventually inside) the crate and by rewarding your puppy's good behaviour by giving it treats inside the crate. Make the crate more comfortable for your puppy by putting its favourite toys and a soft blanket inside the crate.
One of the worst things you can do is use the crate as a place of punishment, or a prison. Avoid leaving your dog inside the crate for too long periods of time as your dog may begin to fear the crate.
Crate training is in most cases beneficial for both the dog and its owner. Some experts argue however that crate training can lead to psychological problems because the dog becomes so attached to the crate after passing so much time alone inside it.
It is highly recommended that you use a professional house training guide when starting to train your puppy. These not only save you a lot of time and energy, but also stress and frustration. Click the link below for more information.
Related posts:
- Training Dog Tools
- Steps to Toilet Train Your Dog
- Does Your Dogs Diet Really Effect Its Outputs?
- Dog Training: Do You Know Cross Contextualization?
- The Difficulties of Training A Newborn Puppy
Posted under Dogs
This post was written by Craig Clemins on March 23, 2009
