How to Crate Train a Dog

When it comes to learning how to train a dog, one very important lesson you need to learn is how to crate train a dog. Every year thousands of dogs that had the potential of becoming great pets are given up by their owners who weren’t able to properly learn how to train a dog.

Given the right tools and dog training techniques any dog can become an excellent family pet. Whether you have a Poodle, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Boston Terrier or Mastiff (I think you get the point), they can all be crate trained. Today’s lesson is about crate training a dog. A crate, if used correctly can be an excellent dog training tool which will give your dog an excellent opportunity to become an awesome family companion, especially in the area of house training / potty training.

How long does is take to crate train a dog?

Before I actually get into some of the techniques you can use to crate train a dog, I want to discuss the length of time is will take to crate train a dog. I wish I had a concrete answer for you but to be honest, it really depends on the dog and its upbringing. It is important to understand that while some dogs may take a few weeks to get used to the crate, others may take a few months and some dogs may never accept the crate. Although your chances of success increases tremendously if you have a puppy. So the answer to your question “how long does it take to crate train a dog” I can only say it depends! The only way for you to know is to try crate training your dog.

How to Crate Train a Dog - Introduction

I first want to discuss how to crate train a puppy. A younger dog will usually adjust to the crate and see it as her own place where she can escape the busy life and get some rest. In order to crate train a dog you need to first start by picking an ideal location. Keep the crate in an area where your dog can still see the family but make sure to keep it away from cold or hot drafts. The bedding for the crate is also very important and you can use something washable like a towel or a small blanket. This way if a potty accident occurs you can easily wash the bedding.

When learning how to crate train a dog, it is also advisable that you throw in something with your scent on it such as an old t-shirt. By doing so, your new puppy or dog can get used to your scent. If you had your dog for a while and she is already used to your scent then you clothing will comfort your dog and may increase the “crate train a dog” success. Many dog trainers also prefer to place a toy and some water in the crate. Do not put any food in the crate. Remember when you are crate training a dog, the crate is a get some rest place and a place to sleep, not to eat. If your dogs wears a collar indoors I suggest you remove it as it can get stuck on the bars of the crate. When I’m crate training my Boxer dog, I always remove the collar

You should teach everyone in the house how to crate train a dog. If you have any children in the house you should make it clear that when your dog is being crated, they should leave the dog alone. The crate isn’t a play area but a place of rest. When you’re crate training a dog, everyone in the house should respect the rules and boundaries or else you’re gonna have a hard time in the dog training process. What you want to do however, is learn how to train a dog to accept the fact that people can reach into the crate. By doing so, your puppy or dog will not become overly protective of his personal area.

How to Crate Train a Dog – the difference between using and abusing the crate

I really want to stress on this part because I know that the crate is probably one of the most abused dog training tools. A crate is not a jail for your dog and if used properly your dog won’t see it as such. I know that as humans we value our freedom and may see the crate as a place of confinement. To put the dog crate into perspective think about what you would do if your young child didn’t have a playpen or a baby crib to sleep in.

Professional dog trainers who know how to train a dog all use crates to effectively and humanely train their dogs. Even dogs see the crate as a place they can call their own. All dogs have a natural den instinct and the dog crate will satisfy this innate instinct while also serving its purpose as an effective potty training tool.

How to Crate Train a Dog – Crate Location

When you are beginning to crate train a dog, the location is very important. Placing the crate in the family room is a good idea. It should be in a corner away from drafts with only one end not being covered. This will give your dog a sense of security just like they would have in a den with their mother. You can cover the sides with some towels and if it’s not by the wall you should also cover the back. Keep the front area visible so your dog can see.

Crate Training a Dog

You should establish a dog crate routine as soon as possible. You can begin by placing your puppy or dog in the crate for short intervals, preferably 10 – 15 minutes. The best way to begin to crate train a dog is by letting her nap times guide you in establishing a routine. By doing this, you will get your dog accustomed much faster to the crate than if you were to place your puppy in the crate when she is hyper and wants to play.

How to Crate Train a Dog – Success

A puppy or dog may not be comfortable the first few times you put them in the crate but if you remain consistent you should start to see some good results. Again remember that different dogs may react differently and some may take longer that others and some may never accept the crate. When it comes to learning how to crate train a dog slow and steady usually wins. I must add that if you see that your dog is completely rejecting the crate than you should never force them.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson and stay tuned for some more detailed posts on how to crate train a dog.

Berto