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No matter if you have an older dog or a pup, crate training is a great training method for your pet. Properly introducing your pet to the crate is the foundation for success. You must not force it. You must be patient and take your time. Always go at a pace at which your dog is comfortable. If you rush it, you can get off to a bad start. If that happens, your canine may not ever want to go inside the crate.

One of the best things to do is to make it comfortable for your pet from the start. Try keeping it in its permanent location from the beginning. If at all possible, keeping it in a location that gives your pet a feeling of being a family member is ideal. Personally, I like putting them in the bedroom, family room, or living room.

Another great idea is to place your pet’s favorite blanket, bed, and toys to inside the crate. After setting it up, go about life as you normally would, paying little attention to the new addition to your home. If you do this, your dog is more prone to explore and go inside the crate on his or her own, without you having to do much at all..

It is really up to your canine to check out the crate on his or her own. Whatever you do, don’t force your pet inside the crate, no matter what. It will only lead to a disaster in your efforts. It is very critical that your pet explore it on his or her own. Putting a treat inside definitely makes my dogs curious. Being patient is another key factor. Watch your pets behavior around the crate for several days. Once your pet gets used to it just being part of the home, he or she will eventually enter it, especially if his or her nose is following the scent of something good inside. If this is still not working, take another treat, and see if you can get him or her to enter, being positive the entire time. Again, never force your dog inside. It will create a negative association to the crate.

At first leave the dog crate open. Do not lock your pet inside yet. This helps make it a comfortable place to be. Let your pet come and go as he or she pleases at first. You will be off to a great start. Many people find that they rarely have to lock it if they start out this way. Their pets just come and go as they please. Some of us leave for a long time during the day. If you have a puppy, or a pet that needs more training, you will want to lock the crate during these times. Don’t rush to do so. Work with it for a few weeks and make it comfortable before locking your pet inside.

The crate should never be used as a place of punishment. Don’t send your canine to the crate for doing something you don’t like. Dogs don’t give each other time outs. Your pet will begin to associate it with a negative emotion from you. If this happens, getting them to enter becomes much more difficult. Do it right the first time and save yourself the headache of correcting improperly learned behaviors.

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