Ok, maybe that’s not news, but if you would have asked me that a few years ago, I would have told you that it was right up there with shock collars on the list of mean things people do to their dogs.
Granted, I had never researched the issue and I knew absolutely nothing about it, but I was passionately against it. I was against it based on the fact that I would not want to be put in a crate, therefore dogs would not like it either.
Crate Training Done Right
One of the most important things I have learned in my dog training journey is that, drumroll please, dogs are not the same as people. Dogs don’t think like people, and for the most part, don’t act like people.Turns out that most dogs enjoy having a crate if they were properly crate trained. If you are looking for how to get started crate training, check out the infographic attached to the end of this post.
7 Crate Training Mistakes
Here are 7 Mistakes even good pet parents make when crate training a dog:1. Using the Crate for Punishment.
This one should be obvious, but it happens to even the best dog owners. You may have no intention of using it as punishment, but something happens and your first instinct is to send your dog to the kennel.Although it does put your dog in a controlled space, the long term effects are that your dog will associate the kennel with punishment.
2. Crating Your Dog for Too Long
Crating a dog is not a long term option. By long term I mean that you shouldn’t crate your dog for 8 hours straight while you are at work.Your dog needs exercise and also needs to be out and about.
3. Not Making it Comfortable
You want your dog to have positive associations with the crate. Step 1 in that goal is to make sure that the crate is comfortable for your dog.Make sure the crate is large enough so that your dog can stand up and turn around. Make it homey with a comfy bed and whatever else your pooch digs.
4. Giving In and Letting Out
This can be critical. You know the drill. Your dog starts that pathetic little whimper and gives you that look. You know, that look.Anyway, you just can’t resist and you just give in and let your dog out of the crate. The problem is that your dog learns that whimpering and whining will eventually get her out. Stay strong!
By not feeding in the crate, you are missing out on the most powerful positive association.
6. Forcing Your Dog Into the Crate
Don’t force your dog into the crate. Use your brain to figure out a way to get your doggy in without force. Or just steal these ideas: use food or a toy.7. Bopping the Crate
I don’t even know if this is a thing, but the first dog trainer we ever had told us to take a rolled up bath towel and “bop” the crate whenever our dog barked or cried.I don’t know if this is a common practice, but I wanted to share to keep anyone else from doing it. It’s awful and it will scare your dog. Its also not constructive.
Conclusion
Crate training a dog is a great way to potty train your puppy and establish boundaries. These 7 tips will help you avoid common crate training mistakes.
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