Dog Crate Training Guide

The ideal time to begin training your dog is when it is still a puppy.  An adult dog that has never been in a crate may have a harder time adjusting to the small space and may grow anxious.  A puppy will also be initially upset but will quickly adapt to the crate.  Also if your pet dog was never given the option to sleep in your bed, he will never be upset about not having such an option in the first place.

The best location for the crate is in a family room where many people will be in.  During the night, you may wish to put the crate in your bedroom when you are initially crate training your dog in order to give him a sense of safety nearby.  In about a month’s time, you should be able to leave the crate in one place but for now, focus on keeping him feeling calm and safe.

When placing your dog in his crate, ensure that the space is clean and comfortable enough for him to sleep on.  Also provide a source of water and a toy or two to play with.  The crate should only be big enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lay down.  If he can do all of those three things, the crate is comfortable enough for your pet dog and is not inhumane.  If the crate is big enough for him to walk around in, he will soil it.

With your pet dog crate training, never let him out of the crate when he is upset, unless you know it’s for another reason.  Doing this will only teach him that if he makes a fuss, he will get attention and will be allowed out of his crate.  Only take him out of his crate if he’s been quiet for at least 5 minutes.  You should then reward and praise him with a lot of attention and even a treat to reinforce the good behavior.

At first, only leave your dog in the crate for short periods of time the most an hour or two.  As your dog gets older, increase the time gradually but avoid confining him for so long that he is forced to soil his crate, as this can really set back house training.

Learning proper dog crate training will ensure that your pet dog never gets too loud, destructive or anxious while you’re away from home.  Puppies will adapt the quickest to a crate and are less stressful to crate train.  

Want More Tips? Here's a handy guide on training your dog and other tips which I came across which might be helpful.