You’ll think that you don’t need to crate train your dog, because you never plan to put him into one. However, even the newest dog owner will soon learn that there are times when it becomes mandatory to do just that. After all, your new puppy isn’t going to grasp the rules of your household, for example where he’s not supposed to gnaw or where not to go potty, and until you can teach him, you aren’t going to want his mis-steps at behaviour destroying your house. In addition, you will have times when you’ll need to take him to the vet for check-ups and shots, and it will be far easier to do so if he’s in a crate. As with all other appropriate dog behaviors, crate training is acrucial ability to teach your dog.

So how should you go about teaching your dog to remain in a crate when he obviously would rather be out with the rest of the family? Start by purchasing a crate that is enormous enough for your dog to both stand and turn around in. If he is going to get much larger, you may need to purchase a bigger dog house now to save having to get another one later on. Put it in an area of your home where family members spend plenty of time so that he will continue to be with the family even though penned up, and put a soft blanket or towel on the crate’s floor for him to lie on. Get a water dish that isn’t going to be spilled easily, and ensure he has water all the time he’s in the crate.

You naturally don’t need to teach your dog to hate the crate by making an attempt to cram him into it if he’s refusing to go. In order to get him to enter it willingly, place some dog treats inside near the door, and when he follows the trail inside, you can secure the door. Don’t get impatient with him if he continues to decline to go into the kennel on his very own for a few days. Eventually he will understand what it is that you’re wanting him to do, and he’ll obey.

Once your dog has become accustomed to spending short amounts of time in his crate you can begin feeding him balanced meals in there. At first you will desire to let him out immediately when he has finished eating, but then, to keep going with his crate training, you need to stretch out the amount of time you leave him in the kennel so that he gets used to extended times being shut up in case it becomes necessary to keep him there.