Dog Crate Training 101

What Size Grate Do I Need? Crate Training 101 brought to you by the experts at That Fish Place - That Pet Place For extra small dogs like Yorkshire Terriers, Malese, Papillons and other toy breeds. 18 - 22 in. Extra Small Why Crate Train? Pets are prepared for travel * Creates a safe haven during stressful times For small dogs like Pugs, Shih Tzus, Miniature Dachshunds and other small or miniature breeds. Pets are more at home at vet, groomer & during boarding 24 in. Small Potty train in less time For medium-sized dogs like French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Scottish Terriers and other medium breeds. A NEVER bladder control. Puppies don't have A use the crate Do not leave a as a punishment puppy for more for bad behavior. Do Not Always make leave a pet in a crate for a long inviting place. period of time Include toys A A without exercise. the crate a warm 30 in. than 4 hours. Medium and chews. For intermediate dogs like Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Beagles, Cattle dogs and How to Crate Train Your Dog similar breeds. 36 in. Step 1: Introduce The Crate Step 2: Stepping Inside Intermediate Gradually work up to asking them to step inside the crate. Eventually ask them to walk entirely inside, using Place the crate in For large dogs like Boxers, Border Collies, Dalmations, Poodles, Retrievers and similar breeds. a quiet corner of a regularly used room, like your living room, and put a soft blanket or bed and a few toys inside. small treats as rewards. Add a command, like "Crate" or "Go to bed". Keep it simple and consistent each time you're working with the crate. 42 in. Large Give praise if they explore it on their own For extra large breeds like Akitas, Rottweilers, Huskies, Collies, Malamutes, and other extra large breeds. Sit near the crate and call to them in a happy tone. Offer treats and praise when they come near the crate. 48+ in. Extra Large Step 4: Meals & Nap time Types of Dog Crates Your dog is now comfortable going inside the crate with the door closed. Begin to feed all of their meals inside the crate with the door closed. This will help make the crate a desirable place! The traditional wire crate is a good choice for most You may notice your puppy retreating to their crate for naps. If they don't do this on their own, you can put them in their crate when they are sleepy. Step 3: Closing the Door dogs. Most models now come with a removable pan for easy cleaning and are fully collapsible for easy transport and storage. Once they are comfortable going in and out of the crate, ask them to go in and close the door. Only close it for a second or two, then open it. Give lots of praise for quiet, good behavior. ZZz.ZZZ.ZZ Wire Crate Slowly work up to having the door closed for a few minutes, up to 30 minutes while you are sitting nearby. Travel crates atandA make great choices for frequent travelers. Hard Step 6: Leaving the House plastic crates are generally accepted for pet air travel when checked Begin getting ready to leave the house. Calmly, and without any long good- byes, direct your dog to their crate. as cargo. Leave the house. The first few Travel Crates times only leave for a few minutes working up to longer absences. Step 5: Leaving the Room Soft-sided travel crates are good for small breeds who When you return, wait for your dog's excitement to die down. Ignore any whining and let your dog out to greet you once they are travelling as a carry-on item. Most are small enough to stow under your It is time to advance the training. Ask them to go in the crate and close the door. Leave the room for a few seconds and come back. seat so your pet can ride safely in the cabin with you. Act calmly, ignore any excitement and whining. Once they are calm, let them out and praise them for good behavior with praise and treats. are calm. Congratulations! Your dog should now view their crate Work up to leaving the room for one hour or more at a time. as a calm, fun safe haven and they'll stay safely out of trouble while you are away! F.A.Q.s How long does crate training take? It depends. Some dogs get used to their crates right away. Others are frightened and take much longer to acclimate to being alone. Go only as fast as your dog is comfortable. If you rush the process, you'll do more harm than good. Decorative crates make it easy to blend your dog's new home into your home's decor. What do I do if my dog whines? Does your puppy need to go to the bathroom? Once you've determined that they are whining because they want out of the crate, you'll need to ignore the behavior. Wait until the whining stops to let them out. Otherwise, you are teaching them that if they whine, they can get what they want. This can be frustrating! Never yell or shake the crate, just ignore the behavior. Decorative Crates THAT Fish PLACE THAT pet PLACE Can crating my dog cure separation anxiety? No, crating does not cure separation anxiety. It can keep some dogs safe while their parents must go away, but others get so agitated that they injure themselves trying to escape. Consult with your veterinarian and a professional trainer to get help with separation anxiety. It is usually treated with very slow desensitization and sometimes along with anxiety medication. thatpetplace.com Find more answers to your questions from our experts on thatpetplace.com or thatpetblog.com