Mary Allen
Your home is your favorite place on earth, mainly because it is where you can feel comfortable and safe. And it’s time to help your pup have the same feelings about the crate by learning how to properly train a dog.
Box training allows you to showcase your dog’s private space in your home, which is all theirs. Raising them with patience and care will make your dogs a comfortable home.
In addition, a crate is useful when you need to secure your pup from potential dangers and teach him manners for special occasions such as travel, dining with guests, or staying in a hotel.
Crate Training A Puppy In 8 Measures Measure
Step 1: Put your pup in the crate
Place the crate in the corner of your house where your pup can easily access it. Take her close to the box as if you’re playing and allow her to explore if she’s interested. Make sure the door stays open!
To maximize your pup’s interest in the crate, place some of the following nearby:
- your favorite toy
- some treats she likes (like pea-sized pieces of chicken, cheese, or certain dog treats from the pet store);
- a chewing bone;
- a Kong toy filled with her favorite food.
Start by leaving these items outside of the crate, and when she sees the “cage goodies,” you can guide her inside. Start with the treats near the door and slowly move towards the center of the crate.
This first step in crate training can take a few days or weeks depending on your pup’s personality, and that means you have to be patient.
But remember: never force your pup into the crate.
A NOTICE
Keep treats nearby at all times, and praise and reward your pup immediately, even if you see them entering the crate.
Action 2: Feed your pup in the crate
You’ll know you’re prepared for this step when you visit your pup, who frequently searches his cage for treats. Many dogs don’t go in to get their meals to begin with. To encourage this, place her food bowl at the very front of the cage so she can eat when she keeps her body outside of the crate. Each day, bring the bowl a little further toward the crate and away from the entrance. When your puppy starts going in, you can put the bowl in the back of the crate.
Step 3: Close the crate door
You can start at this point after your puppies discover they ate their entire meal in the crate. When your puppy starts to eat, feel free to close the door. Open the door just before she finishes her meal.
A NOTICE
Around this stage, some dogs have already been used for their crates and take naps inside in the afternoon. If your puppy is sleeping in the crate, slowly close the door. Watch her and praise her when she wakes up, reward her for her good behavior and take her out immediately after opening the cage door to remove her.
Step 4: Insert a command
Opt for a clear verbal signal that tells your pup to join the crate, e.g. Choose a different command for the minute you want her to get out of her crate, e.g. B. “good” or “free”.
Sometime in the morning you choose a few treats and put two or three of them in the box. The moment your pup walks in to receive them, say the command, but only say it once. After the puppy comes in, praise them and reward them with another treat. Say your launch command to let her know she can come out. Repeat the exercise 10 times, then take a 5-minute break and start over.
Schedule a second training session later that same day, this time with no treats in the box. When your pet is nearby, say the command. When she comes into the house, praise her and reward her with a treat. Say the release command right away so she learns to associate that second verbal cue with exiting the box. Do the exercise 10 times, take a short break, and then repeat the exercise.
After a few hours, continue with the previous part of this step. Start with the previous exercise a few times to get her to remember the verbal cues, then command her to go into the cage. Praise and reward them and slowly close the door for about 8-10 minutes.
During this time, offer her some treats. After 8-10 moments, say the start command and open the door. If she barks or whines, ignore her until she’s silent for a few seconds, then give her a treat and let her out. Repeat this workout just like you did in the previous workouts. Don’t reward your puppy for leaving the crate. Very good things should happen when she’s inside!
Step 5: Extending The Time In The Crate
In this phase, the previous part of step 4 is repeated. You need to train your pet to stay in the crate longer by gradually increasing the time the door stays closed (10 seconds, 15 seconds, 35 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.). Give your pet a while to get used to this exercise. This can mean not doing everything in one workout but splitting it into 2-3 sessions throughout the day. If you feel this is too much for you, cover this measure in two or more days. Take as long as you and your pet want.
Step 6: Leave the Room
Your puppy will be ready when he has learned to remain calm in his crate with the door closed for 25-30 minutes. After closing the crate door, wait a few minutes and leave the room without a fuss. At the beginning of this exercise, you can enter and exit this room several times. Consistently behave normally when entering or leaving the room. Over time, you can leave your pup alone for half an hour or more. Remember to praise and reward them when you come back and also use the release command before opening the door.
Step 7: Get out of the house
Once your puppy has learned to be alone in his cage, you can start leaving the home. It’s the beginning, just stay outside for a few minutes. It is possible to increase the time spent outdoors over several training sessions.
Don’t lock your pup up right before going out. Give her some time to settle down by the box (between 2 and 10 minutes) before leaving her alone. Keep using the crate when you are at home to avoid the institution between the cage along with your absence.
A NOTICE
When you arrive, don’t get too excited. If you encourage your pup to be excited about your return, you will be spending his time in the cage waiting for you and this can lead to anxiety.
Measure 8: Box your dog night
This measure is one of the easiest steps to take if your pup is enjoying his crate and has learned to see it as a den.
Before leaving your pup indoors at night, make sure he has his favorite toys with him to keep him comfortable. When it’s time to go to bed, command your pup to go into the cage, praise him, reward him, and close the door.
Next, you can leave them until night. If your puppy is used to going away during the night, you will still need to wake him up and take him outside as usual. Then put her back in the box and go back to sleep.