Have you ever wondered what “crate training dogs” means? It seemed like an inhumane form of torture to punish canine disobedience. However, upon reading it, you may be surprised to discover that it is actually a “nesting” method for dogs based on their primary need for security.
They say that dogs are descended from wolves. Whether true or not, they were definitely animals that lived in the wild before they were pets. These animals would use dark, safe shelters as their dens. It served as their nesting ground for all the disturbances and dangers that lurked in the open spaces. This principle is the basis of training dogs to go to their crates or “dens” when they feel distressed or tense.
Crate training has proven to be extremely helpful in relieving dogs of the stress of a busy household. They also aid in house training dogs by containing them in an area where they would do less damage. Pet owners would benefit from having the crate to protect puppies from harmonizing. If you decide to travel long distances or go to the vet, having crate-trained dogs will significantly reduce stress on the family and on the dog.
Not all animals are suitable for crate training. There are some dogs that may have sustained severe trauma in the past and cannot be placed near a confined box without becoming exceptionally upset. Other large dogs that have a hard time being trained will simply break the crate. They will get hurt when they panic when the door closes. Sometimes people just aren’t comfortable with the idea of living, breathing animals being locked up in a cage.
Dog crate training really depends on how the owner feels about it. If you hate the thought of your dog in such a confined space, you better forget about it. However, if you think you and your dog could benefit from a little discipline and space crate training will allow it, read on to see how best to achieve this.
Find a good location, a room in your house that is close to people. Make sure that the box is large enough, and start placing toys and interesting things in it. When the dog is inside, don’t close the door yet. Pet and talk to the dog in a soothing way for a few days. Feed him in the cage. Then start to close the cage for short periods of time while you are still in the room. If the dog whimpers or whines, he waits for it to shut up. You can let him out after he calms down. The most important thing is that you do not rush the process of introducing this concept to your pet. Understandably, it can be a bit scary at first, so some patience is required.
This should be a calming and de-stressing place for your dog, so never send him to his crate as a punishment. When the dog finally feels comfortable being crated alone, he can try leaving the house at short intervals to see how well he responds. If all is well, he has successfully trained his dog. Not only will you free yourself from constant worry about your pet’s needs and whereabouts; your dog will have his own haven of peace and security from the rest of the world.