If you are a new dog owner, the first thing you want is to train your dog. Crate training and setting up a crate training schedule are essential for the dog to be happy, safe, and well-behaved. Crate training is a step-by-step process that teaches dogs to be comfortable in a crate. Knowing how to crate train a dog is crucial for owners for keeping him away from trouble. If your dog is not given crate training, it may destroy everything around him. So, a crate training schedule will help your dog to behave in the best way possible.
While many pet parents see crate training in a positive way, some think it is cruel to crate their dogs. If you do not crate train a puppy, you are likely making a mistake. It takes months to have a well-trained dog. Not controlling the dog’s environment sufficiently will cause problems for you and the dog as well. So, maintaining a crate training schedule is essential. You have to strictly control their environment, especially when you’re in the communication building phase with your dog (when your dog is a cute puppy).
Benefits of Crate Training Schedule
Following are some of the benefits of following a crate training schedule.
- Crates can be a fantastic way to help with overall training.
- Crate training will help you have an improved relationship with your dog.
- It can give your dog a secure place to rest.
- It will prevent him from engaging in destructive chewing.
- Crate training gives you some freedom when you’re busy with your work.
- It will help your dog with travel.
- Not all dogs love being in a crate in the beginning. If you go out of your way, you can make it a fantastic place. Then there’s a great chance your puppy will chill out in the crate even with the door wide open.
- The quicker your pup gets used to the crate, the more comfortable it will be for him and you in the long run.
Choosing a Crate
When it comes to crate training, every puppy is different. Choosing the right crate for your puppy is the first important step. The right crate will make your puppy feel at home. A crate can be made of plastic, wires, or wooden. Choose crate style depending upon the age and nature of your pup. The size of the crate should not be too big or too small.
If the size of the crate is small, your puppy will be uncomfortable and may get cramps in it. If the size is too big, your puppy will have the freedom to do potty in there. Choose the size of the crate at which your puppy can turn around and lie down in it easily. Measure the inches from the nose tip of your puppy to the end of the tail. Then add 2 inches more. This is the right size of crate you need for your dog.
Voluntary Crate Training
You cannot put your puppy in the crate by force. It would be best if you teach your puppy to go in the crate voluntarily.
Step 1
Making your dog familiar with the crate should be the first step. For this, you will have to teach your puppy by following the method.
- Stand in front of the crate with the door open
- Hold a treat in your hand
- When your puppy comes closer
- Toss the treat in the crate
- Then say “go in.”
- Your puppy will enter the crate and eat the treat.
- Appreciate your puppy when he follows your command.
Step 2
Toss another treat outside the crate. Then say, “come out.” Let him enjoy the treat. Repeat these 2 steps 3 times a day with the door open.
Step 3
When your puppy masters step 1 and 2, repeat these steps without the treats. Use commands of come in and go out.
If your puppy obeys that, you are good to go to step 4. If not, repeat 1 and 2 steps for 3-5 more days. You can put your pup’s toys in the crate to encourage him.
Step 4
Now start closing the door once your puppy gets in. Do not close the door for too long on the first tries.
Start from 5 minutes and increase minutes every time your puppy is in the crate. That’s how your puppy will get used to the crate even with the door closed.
Never use the crate as punishment.
Best Crate Training Schedule
You can follow this crate training schedule.
Morning
Below is the crate training schedule for your dog in the morning.
7:00 am- wake your puppy up
7:15 am- take him to potty
7:30 am- play with your puppy a bit
8:00 am- give him the breakfast
8:20 am- take your puppy again to relieve him
8:30 am- put him back in the crate.
Afternoon
Below is the crate training schedule for your dog in the afternoon.
12:00 pm- lunchtime
12:30 pm- playtime
1:45 pm – potty time
2:00 pm- back to the crate
Evening
You can follow the crate training schedule for your dog in the evening given below.
5:00- walk your puppy out evening walk
6:00 pm- dinner time
6:30 pm – play with your puppy a bit
Night
Follow this crate training schedule in the night for your lovely dog.
7:00 pm -let your puppy hang around in the house
8:30 pm give them a small treat.
9:45 pm potty break
10:00 pm_ back in the crate for a goodnight sleep
At a certain age, you can start leaving your puppy out of the crate at night or for short periods while you are away.
Crate Training for Old Dogs
It may be a little hard for you to give crate training to older dogs. If the dog has never been in a crate, then he will make a fuss about it. You will need more patience with older dogs. You should not feel bad for putting them in the crate. Dogs sense the bad energy, and they will feel bad about the crate if you feel bad about it.
Try to make the crate a comfortable place for your dog with the door open. Let him hang out in the crate for some days as you attempt to make him familiar with it. Then you can start the training.
Start with a short time with the door closed in the crate. Try to be there with them when you close the door. Then you can start disappearing from a short time to long enough. Then your dog will not whine about it. You can use the rest of the crate training schedule as it is described above.
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