When you first bring your puppy home, you just want to spoil it and play with it all the time. But there are times when your puppy’s enthusiasm and energy can sometimes be annoying or downright destructive. That is why puppy crate training can be a great way to getting your pup to grow up happy and healthy.
Before you even bring your dog home, choose a crate that will suit your pup’s size and how much they will grow. Make sure that the dog’s crate is large enough. That means that you need to ensure that your dog has the room to turn around and get comfortable in their crate. Always put a blanket or towel in, preferably something that has your scent which will calm the dog when they are feeling anxious.
Before you bring your puppy home for the first time, think through which rooms you would like to introduce your dog to first. Choose a room that has little that can be damaged, and a place where the dog can see you while it explores the area. Be sure to put the crate in that room, and let the pup explore while you watch and reassure them. Keep the crate door open, and put a blanket or towel in it that has your scent (sleep in it or rub it all over your body). This will make the dog associate the crate with you, warmth, happiness and comfort.
Crates are made of all kinds of materials. If your dog is a chewer, you will not want something made of a plastic or polymer. Choose wire frame crates for your chewer. If they are skilled escape artists, find a crate that has locking latches or latches that require two hands to open.
A benefit of crate training is that you have a safe place to put your pup while you are away. When you first start doing this, leave for no more than an hour or two at a time. This will reduce your puppy’s anxiety and help them feel happy. Once your dog has gotten used to you being away for an hour or two at a time, you can start to leave it’s crate door open and come and go without worry of returning to a disaster.
Your dog’s crate can be used as a way to discourage other bad behaviour. Is constant barking a problem? Put your dog into its crate for a short time out. Has the dog left you a nasty surprise in your shoes? If you have caught them in the act, rub their nose in it and then send them for a time out.
However, one of the greatest benefits of using a crate is simply this: when your dog has its “den”, it will always feel safe no matter where it is. You can even travel with a crate. And when the dog sleeps in its den at night, you can have a good nights’ sleep rather than fighting over the sheets. This will help your dog be a happy dog, secure in the knowledge that the big dog cares about it and that it has a safe place to go no matter when.
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