Crate Training Your Dog:
Creating a “Home Sweet Home” atmosphere

Working with families that have recently adopted adult dogs, the subject of crate training often arises. The primary use for a crate is house-training, because dogs don't like to soil their dens. The crate can limit access to the rest of the house while they learn other rules, like not to chew on furniture. Crates are also a safe way to transport your dog in the car. 

A crate may become your dog’s den, but just as you would not spend your entire life in one room of your home, your dog should not spend most of their time in their crate.

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training: The crate should always be associated with something pleasant and training should take place in a series of small steps. 


How to make the crate the best place to be: The “Do’s”

• Take the time to teach your puppy or newly adopted adult dog that their crate is a fun, safe, relaxing place to be. Make it comfortable with bedding the individual dog finds comfortable (not what we humans think is)
• Make sure the crate is large enough for your pup to be able to stand up turn around, and get comfortable. 
• Teach your pup to associate their crate with all good things. 
• Start slow and easy – treats for looking at the crate, going into the crate, then staying in the crate – for only a few seconds at a time - while you’re still there with them. 
  
• Keep the door open until your pup is going in their on his own.  Once your pup is going in on their own, you can begin closing the door, feed treats through the door.  Let your pup out, then all treats stop.  He’ll soon learn that being in the crate is much more fun than being outside of it. 
  
• Feed him his meals in the crate 
• Chew bones in the crate 
• Food toys in the crate
• Crate’s can still be used for a “Time Out” since the punishment is more about losing out on something the dog wanted, like freedom or playing with a family member or friend.  A Time Out for a dog should only be for about 20 seconds.  And, if they already have a positive association with their crate, and 99% of the time good things happen in their crate, then they shouldn’t end up hating their crate.  Just like when children are sent to their room, its not the room they hate but the fact that they lost out on participating in some other activity
  

How to teach your puppy or newly adopted dog to hate their crate:   “The Do NOT’s” 

• Refrain from shoving your pup into the crate and slamming the door, and walking away. 
• Refrain from pushing your dog into the crate and leaving them there on their own, after never being left alone before. 
• Refrain from leaving them in the crate for so long that they soil their crate. 
• Refrain from using the crate for punishment only. 
• Refrain from using the crate as a “Time Out” because of house soiling or some sort of house destruction.  The crate can and should be used for confinement when house-training.  But, if a dog soils the carpet, it’s the humans fault, not the dogs.  You don’t want to inadvertently punish your dog for greeting you when you get home. 
  

With time, patience, and consistency you too can get your dog to love their crate.  You might create such a wonderful environment you’ll want to crawl in there too! 

Credits to http://inquisitivecanine.com/