How to Kennel Train Your Dog
September 28th, 2009 by KittyKitty
Dog kennel training, also known as Crate training, is definitely the best way to get started with house training your new puppy or even for potty training an older dog. Dog kennel training also has various other uses besides potty training. For instance, when your puppy is in his kennel, you can avoid your puppy’s chewing on any shoes you might have forgotten to put away before you left the house. By doing the kennel training properly, your dog will think of his kennel as his den, and he will go there voluntarily for a nap for to hang out when you are gone.
By making sure your dog is comfortable in his kennel, just like a dog in his den, you will have good success kennel training your pet. Never place your pet inside the kennel when you are angry about his behavior. Doing that will create a negative impression within your dog about being put in the kennel. Now he will see the kennel as a “jail” rather than a secure den. You should avoid confusing your dog in that way. Just like with the other types of obedience training, always be consistent with your kennel training.
You should go to your local pet store and select a kennel for your puppy before you bring him home. Pick out a kennel based on your dog’s size at maturity.The kennel will need to be the appropriate size for your dog to fit in when he is fully grown, allowing him room to stand, turn around and lay down in. Large breed dogs need much larger kennels than do the smaller size dogs. When using the kennel for house training purposes during the puppy stage, you should partition a larger size kennel so that the puppy only has enough room to lay down, stand up and turn around. By keeping the space restricted, you are helping to deter the puppy from soiling his crate. If too much room remains in the kennel, the puppy make just pick a corner as the toilet. Dog kennel training works because dogs hate soiling in their dens, so you use this natural trait to house train your pet. You definitely don’t want him to get used to soiling in his kennel.
When just getting started for the first time with the dog kennel training, let your puppy walk into the kennel by himself. A couple of treats placed just inside will entice your pup to enter on his own for the first time. You should already have some chew toys and a puppy blanket in the kennel so it seems like the kind of place he might enjoy hanging out. When your puppy enters give him another treat and plenty of praise.
Let him enter and exit his crate a few times before you close the door with him inside. When first starting, just keep the door shut a little while, to avoid making him anxious about the kennel. It helps to put his kennel somewhere close to where you usually are, so he doesn’t get lonely and start whining. Since he is close to the action, he feels more comfortable and secure, and will be less likely to whine.
You will need to give your young pup a lot of potty breaks outside. For puppies under 2 months or so, you might even take your puppy out every hour or so just to be safe. A rule of thumb often used is to allow about an hour per month of age between breaks seems to work, but be sensitive to your own puppy’s particular needs-puppy bladders are tiny at that age. Naturally, when your puppy gets a little older he can be left for longer periods of time in the kennel.
Puppies may whine at times while inside their kennels, but you need to ignore it and not make the mistake of letting him out or giving him your sympathy. If you do, it will only reinforce him, and teach him to whine some more the next time he is in the kennel. Your pup may whine to announce a potty break is needed, but otherwise don’t give him attention until it is his scheduled time for a break. Soon you will know whether your dog is whining for a potty break or just because he wants out to play with you.
You will really benefit if you do kennel training with your puppy. Saving your shoes from your puppy’s teeth and saving your carpet from accidents are just 2 of the dog kennel’s advantages.
To find the best guide for house training your puppy easily and quickly, click here.
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