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Crate Training a New Puppy

172/365: Tired puppy
training a puppy
Image by riekhavoc
Orent concluded his big adventure today and returned home on the train to Philly. He was so sleepy from all the playing and learning that he slept basically the whole way home. What a good boy!

This time last year, the world was much more colorful!.

You want a crate that’s large enough for your dog to turn around, stand up, or lie down in comfortably when he reaches full maturity. There are all different types of crates. Some are made of wire mesh, some are cloth mesh, or there are plastic types that are most often times called airline crates. You really want to consider the ease of assembly, but also the durability. Although heavier, wire crates are usually easy to put up and take down and are very durable.

The best type of crate is one you can take with you when you travel with your dog. You might even want to get two different crates. One for the car and one for the house. Then you don’t have to be carrying it back and forth which can become a real hassle.

Now the next step is teaching your new puppy to use the crate.

Here are 7 tips to coaxing your new puppy into his crate:

1. Set up the crate and let your puppy check it out. Put a blanket or one of the special crate pads inside.

2. Come up with a command, such as “Go to Bed” or “Go to your crate.” If you’re new puppy won’t enter the crate on his own or when you call to him then physically place your puppy in the crate.

3. Close the door, praise him and give him a little treat, and then let him out.

4. Use a treat to lure him into the crate. If he doesn’t want the treat and won’t follow it in, then physically place him inside and then give him the treat.

5. Close the door, praise him while he is inside, and give him another little treat.

6. Let him out again. And just remember, the treat can be anything as long as it motivates him.

7. Continue using the command you had chosen and giving your new puppy a treat after he enters into the crate until he is going into the crate all on his own.

If your new puppy happens to be afraid of the crate, try feeding him his meal in front of the crate.

Then when you feed him his next meal place it just inside of the crate. Continue feeding him this way , each time pushing his food bowl further back into the crate until your new puppy is inside and isn’t afraid to go in on his own.

Darcy Austin is dedicated to helping dog owners learn proven techniques to help end their dog’s behavior problems for good.