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Posts Tagged ‘Crate’

Well not literally with a whole lot of work but get him to follow you around. You have to ensure that he’s walked around enough and played around so that he is tried enough to sleep the whole night. This is first night away from the familiar kennel and in a brand new house. It could be traumatic and he might cry and miss everyone when he sleeps. So tire him out. Play with him and let him go in and out of his crate or chew at his rubber bone. Be careful to ensure that he does not end up chewing the wrong things. A simple and firm ‘No’ is enough the discourage him.
Do not let him sit on sofas on his own. You are the alpha,so you must sit first and put him on your lap. It would be better if you are in and around the area where his crate is and where he is fed. Hug and cuddle your dog and let the family members do so as well. Discourage growling. Your dog might growl at people other than you. If this happens you must say ‘no’ and put a hand over his muzzle and hold it down. Your dog has to respect all the family members and that’s something he has to learn from day one.

Once he has slept and done his job, you will find that your pet is much more relaxed. Bring him back to the area near the crate. Not only that, once he’s had a good rest inside the crate, he would be looking at it as his den. Your dog will be
a little more receptive and a little less wary of it. This is the best time to play. It’s also a good idea to play near the crate. Roll a ball or try a game of fetch. Always make sure that the ball is back in your possession. He shouldn’t claim
ownership of the ball because you are the alpha and you have the right to all his things.
Maintain the leadership stance at all times. Make sure that your authority is not undermined. This is because the once the puppy takes you over with his dominance and growling and posturing, the entire process of housetraining is undermined. Be it while serving him his meals or at playtimes, make sure that you are in control. In fact, it would make a dog feel reassured if you are the leader, because then he could depend on you for some structure in the new environment. You could make the play session a time to practice sit or come. You could roll the ball to him but get it back to you and use it as bait to tell him to come to you. If he sees you as his alpha, he will definitely come to you.

There is nothing evil about the crate. Using a crate to housetrain your dog is a safe and useful option. It can double as the dog’s own personal space as well as a carrier for transporting him from place to place if required. The crate can serve as a den for your dog and give him a sense of security and a place for you to put him in when you cannot supervise him.
Crates make it easier to train a puppy or a dog because of the fact that when they are in the crate and consider it their den, you can be sure that they will not eliminate inside it. Dogs are clean animals and will never mess up where they sleep. They would be more inclined to use the marked out elimination spot than the crate. Just ensure that the crate is not too big or the dog will begin using one part of it as a toilet! Block one end of the crate leaving just enough room for your dog to turn around. As your puppy grows, remove the barrier.

Now that your dog is fed and has done his job—you need to introduce him to the crate—but you have about 25 minutes to do that because 30 minutes after a meal, your dog is likely to have a bowel movement! So get started by:

• Hold your dog close and move toward the crate. Sit down near the crate with your dog in your lap and put a toy inside the crate. Pilot your dog towards the crate and see if he goes towards the toy.
• Alternatively, you can put in a doggie treat (but not right after a meal—as that would be overfeeding) and let your dog go inside to retrieve the treat.
• Make sure that the crate looks welcoming with a soft blanket and a towel. Also make sure that there is just enough room for the dog to sleep in and that the extra space is blocked off with a box or something. If the crate is too big, he might end up eliminating in the extra space.
• Do not force the dog to enter, but do try and encourage him. Have the family sit around and show him how wonderfully cozy his den and add a few toys that are safe enough for your dog to playwith. If he goes in—that’s great. If he doesn’t, do not push him in.