Crate training your dog can be beneficial for you and your pet. Your dog is safe when you are away from the house, and he stays out of trouble at night. It is also easier for some dogs to be house trained if they stay in a crate when you are at work or asleep. If you want your dog to sleep in his cage, otherwise known as a kennel or crate, then you will crate train him using the following steps. You will also work with him to stay in his cage at night when he sleeps. Most dogs really do feel safer and more comfortable in their "den."
Things You'll Need
- Crate (also known as kennel or cage) Towel or blanket for inside the crate Treats Dog's favorite toy Dog food Dog bowl
Instructions
Introduce your dog to her crate, or cage, gradually before you expect him to sleep in it overnight. Dogs can be trained, but it can take several weeks or longer. And different breeds or even dogs of the same breed may take different amounts of time. When you first introduce the crate to your dog, put it in a room where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room or a game room.
Encourage your dog to like his crate. Call your dog to you while you are sitting near the crate. Pet him and talk to him in a happy voice. Put treats in the cage near the entrance. If he only sticks his head in and grabs his treats, that is fine. Continue to get him used to the crate by making it a happy place. Put the treats farther and farther back in the cage each time you practice with him. You can also use a toy if your dog seems to prefer his toys over treats.
Feed your dog in his crate before you have him sleep there overnight. You want your dog to get used to the crate and being all the way in with the door closed before you expect him to sleep in there. When you are feeding your dog in his crate, you can start with the food near the door, and then move it toward the back of the cage the more comfortable he gets. This may take several different feedings. Once your dog is in his crate, eating his food, you can close the door. Leave the door closed only for the amount of time it takes your dog to eat. Then the next day, add a couple minutes to his stay after he finishes his food. You will want to leave the room, so that your dog gets used to being in his closed crate without you present. Try to work up to 10 minutes of crate time after he finishes eating.
Give your dog a command word, such as "house" or "kennel" that means you want him to enter his crate. You can introduce this once your dog can eat his meals in the crate with the door closed and no distress shown. When your dog enters his crate on command, reward him with a treat. Then close the door and sit quietly by the crate for a few minutes before you get up and go into another room. When you come back, sit by the crate again for a few minutes, and then let your dog out once he is calm. Once your dog can stay in his crate for thirty minutes without you in the room, he is ready to learn to sleep in a cage at night.
Put the crate in your bedroom when you are first crate training your dog to sleep in it overnight. Once the crate is in your bedroom, use the command and a treat to get your dog into the crate. Shut the door, and go to bed. Your dog should calm down and go to sleep, too. Remember puppies will need to be let out of their crates in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. When your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night in his cage, then you can start to move the cage out of your bedroom and where you want to keep it during the night.