Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Crate Training for Miles: Part One Posted: 20 Apr 2009 11:04 AM PDT Claire went out last weekend and bought Miles a Vari-Kennel type crate, some toys and some large breed puppy food. Then she called me. "Ok Dad, I got all that stuff, including the crate. Do I just stick him in there and head of to School"? The short answer is no. Crating can be a good idea for a number of reasons. It can help with housebreaking young dogs because they are hesitant to eliminate in a small enclosed space. It can help keep them out of trouble while you are away. It can save those new running shoes from becoming chew toys and it can even help puppies feel more safe and secure when you are gone. But it must be done gradually in a stepwise manner in most cases.    There are three basic steps to crate training. First, you have to get them used to the crate and get them going in and out of the crate on their own.   The second step is to get them use to being in a closed crate while you are at home with them and the final step is to get them accustomed to being left for reasonable amounts of time in the crate while you are away at work or school or just out running errands.   If you don't go through these steps you will run into problems and the puppy may even develop aversions to the crate.  And that's not good. Oh, and one more thing. Make sure that you get the proper size crate for your dog. Make sure it's big enough for them when they are adults. They should be able to stand and turn around comfortably. Claire got a large dog crate for Miles. Getting them used to the crate: I like to take the top off the crate ifs it's the kind Claire bought. This can make it easier for the puppy to explore. You can encourage them to go in and out of the crate by playing games with their toys or with treats. If they like to play fetch, start by tossing the toy into the crate and getting them used to the word "kennel" when they run in to get the toy.   You can do the same thing with treats and getting them to associate entering the crate with a useful word will help later on.   Place the treat near the entrance to begin with and then start putting it inside the kennel. Put their stuff in the kennel, too. If you have bed or a towel for them to lay on, put it in the kennel. Put their toys inside, too.   You should also start feeding them in the crate at this stage. You can start by placing the food dish just inside the entrance and gradually start moving it back into the kennel. The idea is to get them to accustomed to going in and out of the crate by themselves. Profuse praise is always good when you catch them doing what you like. Crate is good. Crate is fun. Crate is safe and secure.   This stage should take at least a few days and it may take more time than that. Be patient and leave the door open all the time during phase one. You can even take the door off for this stage if you like.   Come on back tomorrow for Part Two.

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