How to Make Your Dog Love the Crate

Whether or not you choose to use a crate as a long-term solution, your dog should be comfortable in a crate. If they're not, scary places like the groomer, the kennel, or the vet become that much scarier when your dog realizes being crated is part of the deal. 

That's why crate training should be an essential part of every dog's training regiment. Because even if you're not going to use a crate in your daily life, at some point down the road having that skill WILL make your dog more comfortable and reduce their anxiety. 
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Keys to successful crate training:

1. Never (ever!) use the crate as punishment - always calmly crate your dog. 
2. Make the crate a place that is cozy and inviting. Think of it as your dog’s bedroom! Put his or her favorite toys in there and a cozy crate pad or bed. Your dog a chewer? K9 Ballistics makes amazing chew resistant beds with a 90 day guarantee! 
3. Use treats to lure your dog into the crate - they will come to associate the crate with getting treats and go in there much more willingly! 
4. Don’t make the door the thing that keeps your dog from leaving the crate. Your dog should be able to remain in the crate with the door open! Our dogs love to use their crates for some “me-time” and will often retire in their crates on their own. 
5. Prevent anxiety in the crate by putting it in a familiar place where your family hangs out often. Ours are in the living room. Dogs are social and don’t like to be separated from the family!
6. Calm in. Calm out. Putting your dog in the crate in a calm state and taking them out the same way will help your dogs in life and not just with the crate. Take those few extra moments when you're letting them out of the crate to give them a few seconds to calm down. Coming out is reward for practicing self control. 

Having issues getting your dog comfortable in a crate? Give us call - we can help with that!