How to Crate Train a Puppy

Crate training is very important for dogs. A crate can literally save your puppies life. Too much freedom when your pup is young and they can get into trouble. I have seen puppies that have chewed on electrical cords, chicken bones and old sponges.

It is much better to confine your puppy to a crate when they are unattended than to give them free range over your entire house. Also there is a good chance that sometime in your dog's life they will be required to travel, spend the night at the vet' s office or some time at the groomer. All of these situations require your pup to go into a crate.

It is much better to crate train your pup in a positive way in your own home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Crate
• Treats
• Kong toy
• Helper
• Food bowl
• Peanut butter

How to Crate Train A Puppy

1. The big thing to understand about crate training is that you do not want to force your pup or dog into the crate. You want your dog to willingly go in the crate on command.
   
   With a friend holding your pup's collar you are going to take the Kong toy and start stuffing it right in front your dog's nose.
   
   A Kong toy is a hollow toy that you can stuff over and over again. You can use any hollow toy but I am a big fan of the Kong toy because of it's durability.

2. 
   Food is one of the best ways to motivate your puppy

   You are going to stuff the Kong toy right in front of your dog's nose with a little peanut butter and some treats. You want to do it close enough to your dog's nose so that your pup can see what you are doing. Remember, your friend is holding your pup's collar so that your dog is close but can't get to the toy.

3. Once the Kong toy is stuffed, with your pup watching you, throw the toy into the crate and shut the crate door. Your friend who is still holding on to your pup should let go of the collar right as you say "In the crate".

4. The stuffed Kong toy is now inside the crate and the door is between your pup and the toy. Your pup will now start to paw at the door trying to figure out how to get at the Kong toy. You want to hold the crate door shut for a few minutes while your pup is trying to get in.

5. You are now building desire in your pup to go inside the crate. This is a crucial step to the whole crate training process. Instead of shoving your pup into the crate, we want to reverse the process and develop a desire in your pup to go inside the crate.

6. After a few seconds take your hand off the crate door and let your pup go inside the crate to get the toy.

7. Don't shut the door once your pup goes into the crate. Let your pup go in and take the Kong toy out if he wants to.

8. 
   Feeding your dog breakfast and dinner inside the crate is a great way to get your pup to enjoy going into the crate

   You can also start to feed breakfast and dinner in the crate. When it is meal time put your pup's food bowl in the back of the crate. Let your pup go into the crate and eat. Don't shut the door while your pup is in there. Once your pup is finished eating she should be able to walk out of the crate.

9. Now start to repeat the process. Stuff the Kong toy in front of your pup while a friend holds your pup's collar. Throw the Kong toy in the crate. Say to your pup: "In the crate". Your friend let's go the collar and you hold the crate door closed for a few seconds. Let your pup paw at the door and then allow your pup to go in and get the Kong.

10. By doing this exercise and feeding your pup in the crate your pup will start to enjoy going into the crate and she will do it on command. This is one of the best methods for teaching crate training.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time to crate train your puppy
• Use lots of positive reinforcement and praise
• Feed meals in the crate
• Don't slam the crate door shut when your pup goes into it
• Don't use force to get your pup into the crate
• Don't use the crate as punishment

Resources

• FREE Dog Training eBook

[insidestory]

on 6/23/2009 Thanks for this article. I needed it today.