Owning a dog is a tremendous responsibility, and it’s in your best interest to equip your household with the best tools to promote their welfare. A dog crate can be incredibly useful in this sense, as it helps give the dog a relaxing and secure space to eat, play, and sleep.
On top of acting as a cosy retreat, a dog crate can also be useful in promoting training in dogs—in some cases, it can even be harnessed to correct a dog’s behavioural issues.
That said, pet owners can also tread the wrong path and unknowingly use dog crates for all the wrong reasons. From size concerns to time spent inside the crate, promoting the right balance is key to maximising the dog crate’s potential.
If you want to ensure that you’re using your dog crate effectively, you’re in the right place. We’ll give you a down on the dos and don’ts when you’re using a dog crate at home.
Let’s jump right into it.
Do #1: Acclimate Your Dog to the Crate
Refrain from putting your dog in their crate if they haven’t had prior contact with it yet. This can make them develop a negative view of the crate, which, as a result, can make it harder for you to get them in the crate when you need to contain your fur pal in the future.
Instead, slowly introduce the crate to your dog and get them to sense the enclosure gradually. Allow them to sniff, walk around, and feel the dog crate without your guidance. Leave the door open and let them go in and out when they wish.
You can also use this time to put some comfort items inside—like pet bowls, toys, and bedding. This helps them feel welcomed inside the environment and makes them associate the dog crate as a positive place of refuge and relaxation, not as a place of confinement and punishment.
Every time your dog goes inside the crate on their own, reward them with treats and positive words. This can make it easier for them to voluntarily enter the enclosure—and makes it less likely for them to resist entering the space in the future.
Don’t #1: Banish Your Pet to The Crate Life
A major no-no when conducting dog crate training is putting your pet in the crate for the majority of their lives.
While there may be times that you’ll have to crate them for a couple of hours, they should stay no longer than six to eight hours a day inside the crate. Any more, and they can develop signs of anxiety and stress. They would likely act out inappropriately whenever they do come out of their crate.
Instead, limit crate time for when you need to train your dog or prompt them to nap. Once these sessions are over, unlock the crate and allow them to roam around the house and bond with you and other members of the family.
Furthermore, it’s also important to consider your dog’s age and needs before assessing the ideal time to let them stay in the crate. While six to eight hours is standard, puppies may benefit from less time in the crate, while older dogs with health issues may prefer spending a longer time in the enclosure.
In any case, it’s important to use the crate as it’s intended—which isn’t to banish them to a prison-like sentence but to use it sparingly to help train them and keep them safe.
Do #2: Prop the Crate with Comfort Items
It’s crucial to let your dog associate the crate with positive experiences. One way of promoting that is by putting comfort items inside the crate to help them feel safe.
First, it’s essential to prop the space with essentials such as a water feeder and a pet bowl. This is to ensure that your dog’s food and drink needs are adequately met. Secondly, it’s crucial to add plush bedding to allow your pet to sleep more comfortably inside the crate.
Another set of items to include inside the crate are dog toys. Bring in your dog’s favourite toy, whether it’s a tug toy, a heartbeat toy, a plushie, or a puzzle feeder. You’re also more than free to put multiple toys inside the space—just be sure there’s enough space for your dog to move around.
That said, you must use the appropriate-sized crate for your dog. Choosing the right dog crate size is necessary because it can help prevent overcrowding and make it easier for them to feel at home in the space.
With the right set of items inside the crate, you can train your dog to feel at home within the crate. As a result, you can much more easily manage your dog’s presence around the house.
Don’t #2: Ignore Signs of Anxiety
Pet owners should be attuned to their dog’s non-verbal cues as this can be telling of their underlying feelings. Some dogs, for instance, can signal anxiety and distress—which is not uncommon for dogs who have been staying in a dog crate for an extended period.
In such cases, it’s important to address the stressor directly and help your dog navigate their fears. Some signs of dog anxiety include whining, biting, barking, excessive panting, scratching, or pacing around in their crate. If you suspect that your dog is anxious, then identify the specific source of the distress.
Is it because the crate is too small? Is there a lack of comfort items inside the crate? Find the answer and directly address it.
If your dog continues to show anxiety, shorten crate time and gradually reintroduce it with comforting items like toys or treats. This will help them gradually overcome their anxiety and fears when being crate trained. It’s all part of the process, but you just have to be patient with it.
Do #3: Use The Dog Crate to Potty Train
A dog crate is a valuable tool to help contain your dog’s bladder movements. Dogs instinctually avoid soiling the place where they sleep. They are also creatures of habit, consistently knowing the order to do specific events as guided by their owner.
These factors make it relatively simple to establish a consistent potty training routine at home. Regardless, it still requires a bit of work and effort on your part, so be sure to be consistent when implementing crate training schedules and rewarding them for going to the bathroom where you want them to.
That said, it’s important to be mindful of the timing of your dog’s potty training schedule. Dogs with a full bladder could leak if they’re contained for hours, causing great stress and discomfort for both you and them—so test the timing and stick with what works with your pet.
With the right approach and the right timing, crate training can help effectively establish a solid potty routine.
Don’t #3: Force Your Dog Inside the Crate
One major thing you must avoid is putting your dog in the crate forcefully. This is especially true if you’re handling a big and aggressive dog, as they can harm you and others if you attempt to force them into the dog crate.
“Forcing” a dog inside the crate essentially means pushing or shoving them inside it despite them showing resistance. Doing this can lead them to develop long-term behavioural issues—and it can even tarnish the bond you want to develop with your furry friend.
Instead of pushing them inside the crate, let them go inside through their own volition with a combination of treats and positive reinforcement. Leave the door open, then place these objects of interest inside the crate to let your dog go inside it willingly. This way, you can gradually let them feel accustomed to the crate without them having a negative attachment to it.
By patiently allowing your dog to enter the crate on their own terms, the habit will be reinforced more easily, and you can build a stronger and healthier bond with them. This, in turn, can strengthen your bond with your dog while reinforcing their sense of discipline and respect for you within the household.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to use a dog crate more effectively. Best of luck with your crate training journey!
