Dogs are well and truly man’s best friend. The numbers alone clinch it, with the PDSA reporting that there are around 11 million pet dogs getting belly rubs and walkies across the UK. This is an impressive 20% more than the cat population of the UK – showing once and for all that we prefer something of a challenge to our pet experiences than to have a walking, meowing independent cushion…
This is a glib approach to the cats vs dogs debate, but it is nonetheless true that dogs take a little more training and attention than cats sometimes. Thankfully, dogs are inclined to listen! Something you would hope to be the case when it comes time to crate train them. For the uninitiated, crate training is the act of teaching your dog to sleep in a crate – and to take themselves to it on command.
Why Crate Train?
If you’re new to dog ownership, you might have some questions about crate training in general. For one: why do we do it? For another: isn’t this a form of punishment? To answer the former, we’ll answer the latter first. Dog crates are not, and should never be, used for punishment purposes; they are not a prison, but rather a bedroom of sorts!
Crates are, quite simply, a secure alternative to a conventional dog bed. They can be especially useful for getting dogs used to new places, as their ‘bedroom’ doesn’t change from place to place. Also, with regard to households with multiple pets: multi-pet insurance can cover any spats between them, but dog crates can ensure all get their own space, circumventing any potentially injurious violence between them.
Choosing The Right Crate
To crate train properly, you’re going to need the right crate. If you’ve got a (friendly, yet) slightly gnaw-y dog, you might want something with metal bars as opposed to plastic ones… Either way, your crate needs be big enough that your dog has room to pad around a bit. They need to be able to stand up fully, and do at least a pirouette without too much difficulty.
Training
The key to starting your crate training, as with any dog training exercise, is to introduce the crate gradually. Don’t throw everything they own into it straight away, but do introduce the occasional toy; let them associate their own smells with the crate in their own time. It is vital that they see the crate as a friendly place, so no impatience here! Use treats to reward entrance into the crate, and introduce your word – be it ‘bed’ or ‘crate’.
Soon enough, your dog will be familiar with their crate, and happy enough in it. This is the point at which you start training using the door. If they seem at all distressed when you close the door, open it back up. Baby steps, push and pull – until your dog is comfortable, happy, and taking themselves off to the crate in their own spare time!