Crate Training a Dog
Essential Training for Every Dog 
Every dog will benefit from crate training. Crate training a dog or a puppy will give your dog a safe haven that he will enjoy going to. Dogs are den animals. They like to have a small den that is their “home”. Many people will put the dog in the crate when they are at work and again at night when they are sleeping. When crate training a dog is done properly, your dog will enjoy spending time in his crate and you may find him taking a nap in his crate without ever asking him to.
The benefits of crate training a dog are numerous. Dogs will not go to the bathroom where they sleep. Crate training a dog is an essential part of potty training your dog . Crate training keeps your belongings safe from destruction while you are away from home. Crate training is also useful when you are having a social gathering or children’s party before your dog has learned all of his manners. Suggested Crates Crate training a dog begins the moment you bring your dog home. Once you have selected your dog, go ahead and purchase the crate so that you have it when you bring your dog home.There are numerous styles of crates available and the choices can be confusing. There are crates designed just for travel, crates that blend in with your furniture and crates made of metal, plastic and mesh fabric. I have found that the wire folding crates are the best crates as long as you have a quality crate. Some of the less quality crates can bend out of shape and may even have sharp edges that can injure your dog. The crate I have used for my dogs and the crate I recommend for most dogs is Tips for Crate Training a Dog 
Get the right size crate. The crate should not be much larger than the dog but the dog nees to be able to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably. If the crate is too large, it will not be effective for potty training. The dog will potty in a corner of the crate if left too long in a crate that is too large.
Adjust the dog slowly to the crate. When crate training a dog, always make the experience positive. You can do this by putting a special toy or few bits of kibble in the crate. Do not close the door too soon. Let the dog go in and out and explore the crate. Once the dog seems comfortable, close the door for a few minutes, then let him back out. Increase the duration slowly over a few days. Watch the Clock. Do not leave a puppy in a crate for more than 4 hours at a time. A good rule of thumb for a puppy is that he can only hold his bladder equal to 1 hour for each month of age. An 8 week old puppy could be put in a crate for 2 hours. A 4 month old puppy will need a break after 4 hours. No dog should be left in a crate for more than 8 hours at a time. Give yourself enough time to leave. Do not chase your dog throughout the house and quickly shove him in the crate, slam the door on him and leave. In the early stages of crate training, it is especially important that you give yourself plenty of time to calmly place your dog in the crate. Keep the experience positive for the dog and soon he will be going in the crate on his own when he senses you are about to leave. Dealing with separation Anxiety. Some dogs will show signs of separation anxiety when you begin crate training. If your dog is pawing at the crate door of if he is barking constantly or urinating in the crate, these may be signs of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety simply means that your dog is nervous or anxious when left alone. To help with the problem, try putting a hard rubber chew toy with a few treats to keep your dog occupied while you are gone. I have also found that putting some dirty laundry in the crate will help. The scent of you in the crate will help calm the dog. Go slow and keep the experience positive for your dog and he will soon be enjoying his time in the crate. Training for Life How long you crate train your dog is up to you. Some people will continue crate training for the life of the dog. Others will stop the crate training once the dog is fully potty trained and house trained. Whether you crate train for 6 months or 10 years, crate training your dog is valuable training.
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