You just adopted a dog and now you’re wondering how to train him. That’s a great question. Dog owners everywhere have figured out how to keep their dogs in a crate or separate room when they leave the house so they can help reduce the dog’s anxiety, destructive behavior and barking.

The Value of a Crate to a Dog

Most dogs love their crates. When dogs are in the wild, they will seek out a small space to burrow in that will keep them warm and safe. A crate gives them these options that are theirs alone.

How to Crate Train a Dog

It is usually best to crate train your dog as a puppy. A full grown dog may grow anxious if he has never been in a crate and may have a harder time adjusting. A puppy may be upset but will probably adapt much quicker.

The best place to crate your puppy is in a room that will be occupied by members of your family, such as living room or family room. At bedtime, you should put the crate in the same room as you to help alleviate anxiety. After several weeks you should be able to keep the puppy in one room but initially keep them close to you so he can remain calm and feel safe.

Make sure he has a comfortable place to sleep, clean water, and one or two of his favorite toys nearby. The crate only need be big enough for him to sleep in because if he has too much space to wander around he may make a mess. For purposes of crate training, he doesn’t need too much extra space.

When you are learning how to crate train your dog, make sure to leave him in there if he gets upset. Otherwise he will learn that if he cries and makes a fuss, you’ll give him attention. It is suggested not let him out until he has been quiet for at least 5 minutes. At that point, you can greet him with a lot of attention and even a treat to reinforce his good behavior.

When you first begin crate training, try to leave the puppy in the crate for an hour or two at a time. Once he is older, you should be able to increase that time for a full night of sleep.

As long as you learn how to crate train a dog properly, you can have peace of mind knowing your dog will never get too loud, destructive, or anxious when you have to be away from home. A puppy will adapt quicker too, which will make the process much easier for everyone in your family.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,