I find that a lot of dog owners don’t really understand what crate training is all about. So lets demystify!
First of all, a crate needs to be properly sized for your dog to be affective. Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around and maybe play with a toy. But should not feel that he/she has enough room to go to the toilet. You should provide a dish of water whenever you crate your dog. If you have a puppy now, but know that it is going to grow. Buy a crate that is a bit bigger than you think is necessary. If new, they come with a divider so you can make the inside of the crate a little smaller as necessary. I have found some great deals on www.trademe.co.nz
Ok, so now you have a crate that fits your dog perfectly. Why do you need this? It is a bit intrusive to the aesthetics of your home and many dogs are fine without it so why bother?
A crate,when introduced correctly, your dog will have a same place he can go when he is tired, nervous, or just wants some quiet time! It is important for dogs to feel that they have a safe place of their own to get away form the kids or guests that may cause them stress, because if your dog feels he is trapped and can’t escape a scary situation he could become anxious and fearful. Make sure when you introduce the pup or dog to the crate you make it a fun happy experience and do not shut the door on him for a few days. But whenever he goes in the crate, give him lots of praise and treats and even start to feed his dinner in the crate.
A crate is a great way to help toilet train your new puppy. A puppy won’t soil his bed and will teach himself to “hold it” until he is let outside.
A crate is a safe place to put your dog when you go out for a couple hours so he doesn’t feel intimidated by being left to defend the entire house! Some dogs will develop separation anxiety (severe barking, chewing, soiling or self mutilation) if left alone at home, even for short periods because they think you have left them in charge of the entire house.
As a new pack member, your puppy will be looking for leadership and by leaving him alone in the house you are saying “take care of this for me”. That is a very stressful position to put a puppy in and even a lot of dogs have anxiety issues related to being left alone or “abandoned” by their pack. By setting up a crate as a happy, safe place for your dog to be, a place where he gets toys, treats and love. You are telling him that when he is in the crate, he is protected even when you are not physically present.
Dog training is beneficial and could be very hard sometimes, but with some patience and lotsa best friend love, your best friend will be healthy and extremely happy. These are great tips composed by the author that all dog owners should go over : thanks.