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A crate is an indoor doghouse with a door and a variety of crates are available. The type you purchase depends primarily on your dog's future lifestyle and your preference. Some people prefer the open wire or cage style crates, so the dog can see all around him. However, the airline style crates suit some people's preference just as well.
Common excuses not to crate train
Won't my dog will be cramped? - Before putting your dog in the crate each day, before you go to work or out for a couple of hours, make sure you give your dog time to eliminate and to exercise. Your dog will not spend every day of its life in a crate. It is just until the dog outgrows that destructive puppy stage, or until you are able to teach him your household rules and adjusts to living with you. Your dog will actually enjoy being in a crate after you have taught him that it is "his" room.
Why can't I just leave the dog in the yard? - Because dogs, by nature, are pack animals and are very social. They need to be in the house, even if you are not there or when you are sleeping and can't be interacting with them. They need to feel they are part of the family pack and that means being in the house (the pack's den). Problem behaviors such as digging, barking, chewing and escaping may develop in a backyard dog.
Won't the dog be bored being locked up? - The dog will learn to sleep while you're away. A dog will sleep eighteen hours a day if you let him. Remember, a dog's idea of recreation often involves destroying your house or your yard. This type of recreation can't take place if the dog is in his crate.
But crates are expensive! - Compare the initial cost of the crate with the cost of destructive behavior. It is much easier to spend money on a crate in comparison to replacing expensive furniture, flooring, clothing or other valuables, or re-landscaping your yard. A crate is something your dog will have for the rest of his life. It will be his bed, his room, his special place within your home. A good crate will last your dog's lifetime and longer.
Where should I put the crate?
Your dog's crate should be placed in the most often used room (living room, kitchen, family room) in the house, wherever your family spends the most time, and it should stay there. This allows the dog to feel like part of the family even while resting in the crate.
How to "crate train"
At first, most dogs will resent being confined because they will feel as if you have left them and are not coming back. However, given some time to adjust, your dog will soon learn to love his crate and the security and privacy that go along with it.
Step 1 - Wire the door to the crate open. Feed the dog, first at the door opening, then push the food further back into the crate. Continue to push the bowl of food further and further back until the dog is comfortable going all the way into the crate to eat. Offer lots of praise while the dog is inside. The dog can come out at any time. If the dog does not finish the whole meal, after 20 minutes, remove the bowl. As you progress, repeat the procedure above, but each time your dog goes into the crate, say a command such as "Go to bed", "Kennel", "Crate", etc. in a happy tone of voice. It doesn't matter which command you use; the important thing is to say the same word or words every time.
Step 2 - Give the command "Kennel". As soon as the dog goes in, feed him his meal. Quietly close the door while the dog is eating. Wait until the dog is done, then open the door. Do this for 3-5 days. As the dog's security builds, feed the dog and wait 10 minutes before letting the dog out. Do this for another 3-5 days. Add 5 minute increments, up to one hour. Then let the dog out of the crate. Because the dog is satiated and has a fully belly, he will probably lay down and rest until you let him out.
Be ready for a verbal protest from your dog. Stay in the room for a few minutes and when the dog is quiet, open the crate door and let him out. If your dog is being very vocal, give the command "No" and then "Quiet". Wait for the dog to be quiet for a minute or two and then let him out. If the "Quiet" command doesn't work, try a squirt bottle set on stream. Aim it at the dog's nose and squirt several times as you say "No", then the "Quiet" command. Wait for several minutes of silence before you let the dog out. This is where patience and persistence comes in. The more consistent you are in ignoring the dog's complaints, the faster your dog will crate train.
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