Have you ever asked yourself what “crate training dogs” meant? It seemed like an inhumane form of torture for correcting canine disobedience. However if you research on it, it may surprise you to learn that it’s actually a “nesting” technique for canines based on their primal need for safety.
People say dogs come from wolves. Whether or not that’s true, certainly before they were house broken they were animals who lived in the wild. Animals in an outdoor environment would use dark, safe shelters as their dens. It provided them a refuge from all the disturbances and danger lurking out in the open spaces. This principle is the foundation of training dogs to go to their crates or “dens” when they are distressed or tense.
Crate training has proven extremely effective in relieving dogs of the stress in a busy household. They also aid in house training dogs, containing them in an area where they would do least destruction.Dog owners would benefit from having the crate to protect dogs from harming themselves. Should you decide on traveling long distances or taking a trip to the animal clinic, crate trained dogs will significantly reduce stress on the family and the dog itself.
Not all animals should be crate trained. There are some that may have had serious trauma in the past and cannot be put near a cramped container without becoming extremely upset. Other bigger dogs that have difficulty in being trained will just destroy the crate. They will hurt themselves as they panic at the door closing in. Sometimes, people are just not comfortable with the thought of living, breathing pets being shut in a crate.
Crate training dogs is really up to the owner. If you hate the thought of your dog in such a confined space then it’s best to forgo this. But, if you believe you and your dog can benefit from a little discipline and space crate training will afford you, then read on to find out how to achieve this the best possible way.
Find a good place, a room in your house people will most often be in. Ensure that the crate is big enough and start putting his toys and other interesting things in. When the canine is inside, don’t shut the enclosure yet. Pet and talk to the pet reassuringly for several days. Feed him in the crate. After you can start closing the crate for brief periods while you’re still inside the room. If the dog whimpers or whines, wait for him to be quiet. You can allow him out the crate after he settles down. More than anything, do not hurry the process of establishing this practice to him. It can naturally be a little scary at first so a bit of patience is required.
This should be a calming and de-stressing spot for your dog so do not ever send him to his crate to punish bad behavior. When the dog is finally relaxed and not becoming upset in being closed in the crate alone, you can try leaving the house in short intervals to see how favorably he responds. If all is fine, you have effectively crate trained your canine. Not only will you liberate yourself from always worrying about your pet’s needs and whereabouts; he will have his own haven of peace and safety from the world.
