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Posts Tagged ‘crate training’

Have you ever wondered what “crate training dogs meant? It seemed like an inhumane form of torture for punishing canine disobedience. Reading up on it though, it might surprise you to find out that its actually a nesting method for dogs based on their primal need for security.

They say dogs and wolves are from the same family, sharing the same behavioral instinct for self-preservation. Dogs may very well have descended from the same line as wolves. This would mean that before they were pets,they lived in the wild. They would use safe dens and lairs to shelter them from all the dangers that abound in open spaces. This is the guiding principle of training dogs to utilize their own crates when they feel threatened or simply stressed out.

Many who use crate training can attest to its stress relieving effects for the canine. This also helps in house training the dogs by keeping them in check within a limited area. This will protect the animals from harming themselves, other people and things around the house. Going to the vet or travelling for long distances will not anymore be a problem with a crate trained dog safely tucked in his enclosed space.

Not all dogs can be crate trained. There are pets who have experienced severe trauma in the past with confined boxes. They will be difficult to calm down, thus making this method of training virtually useless. Some of the larger dogs panic when the door closes in and they break the crate altogether. And many owners are just uneasy with having living animals stuck in such an enclosed space.

Crate training dogs is really dependent on how the owner feels about it. If you hate thinking of your dog in such a confined space then its best to forgo this. However, if you think you and your dog can benefit from a little discipline and space crate training will afford you, then read on to see how to accomplish this the best possible way.

You need to put the crate in a room where there will be activities and people. Make sure the enclosure you’ve chosen is a good size and put some of his favorite treats and toys inside it. When you guide your dog in, do not close the door just yet. For a few days just pet him and talk to him reassuringly through the crate. Begin feeding him while he is inside. If you feel he is already quite accustomed to the space, close the door for a few minutes while you are in the room. If the dog reacts violently or cries, wait for him to stop before letting him out. It is a new and often frightening experience for the pet so be patient and do not rush him with this.

Never use this as a form of punishment for the dog. He should associate the crate as a calming and safe place for him to be in. If the animal is not getting upset being left alone in the crate, leave the house in short periods to gauge his reaction. If everything works out, you have accomplished the important task of crate training your dog. This will free you from worrying about your pet all the time. Moreover, you have given your dog his own special space of peace from the world.