Thursday, February 5, 2015

Some Crate Training Guidelines For Dogs

By Sara Reighard


When you bring home that new rescue dog or your sweet little puppy, dog obedience training should be one of the first things on your mind. Proper training ensures that your dog is safe and follows the rules of your house. Untrained dogs can be difficult to live with and if you wish to get all you can out of this relationship, training can make life much easier. Part of training might include crate training, and here is some information about that.

Crate training not only helps with housebreaking, it also provides a great place to keep your dog when you leave the house or perhaps when you need him or her to be kept safe. For instance, if you are having furniture delivered and the door is wide open, your dog will be safe inside the crate. If you have a guest over who is allergic or afraid of dogs, the crate can be a secure, temporary location. Generally, it is unwise to leave a dog in a crate longer than three or four hours without a bathroom break and puppies will need a break after an hour or two at the most.

A proper crate purchased is needed and this should be first. The crate should not be too big or too small and you need this for your crate. Your dog should be able to turn around and also lie down comfortably, and you need this in the crate. You need not have one bigger than this, and this is what is needed. Buy a soft crate pad for your dog to be comfortable, and this is a good idea. Crates that are handy are great, and many crates can also break down flat easily for ease in storage.

The crate should never be a punishment; rather this should be a cozy spot where your dog feels comfortable. Begin by setting up the crate and allowing your dog to sniff and investigate the crate. Then place a treat inside and encourage the dog to go in and look around and enjoy the crate. Be sure to provide lots of praise. After a few trips inside the crate, close the door and stay nearby for a few minutes and then leave for a few minutes and take your dog out of the crate providing more praise. Eventually, you can work up to leaving the dog in the crate for an extended period of time, but you don't want the dog to associate the crate with abandonment or punishment.

For potty training, get your dog familiar with the crate first and then lock the dog in the crate for about 45 minutes to one hour. Then take him on a walk in the area where he is supposed to go to the bathroom. When he is successful, provide lots of praise and then allow him some time out of the crate. Then repeat the process until the dog understands that this is where he is supposed to go to the bathroom. Don't forget to provide plenty of love and praise. Dogs want to please and if they have a happy owner, they are happy too.

When it comes to dog obedience training, it wise to contact an expert and get a little bit of help. Every dog is different, and a Seattle dog trainer can help you better understand your dog's personality and find the best way to teach your dog to behave. If you are searching for dog training in Seattle, consider talking to the experts at Seattle Family Dog Training. Seattle residents can use this service to teach their pet all of the basics, from walking on a loose leash to obey many commands. With just a few weeks of training, your dog will be a well-behaved, happy companion.




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