Crate Training: Why Crate Train?
We’re sure you want to know, did we crate train our dogs? Yes! We are still in the process of crate training Cedar. Bear was when he was young, but he potty trained so quickly and well and he doesn’t destroy things in the house when we are away, or keep us up all night long, so we haven’t needed to crate him in over a year. Magnolia, on the other hand, was very hard to potty train and still has accidents in the house sometimes. She also loves to find things around the house to chew, too, so we regularly crate her. She has an XL dog crate and she knows it is a safe, good place.
The crate is NOT a punishment!
One of the most important things to know and practice while crate training is that the crate is NOT a punishment! The crate should be seen by your dog like we see our bedrooms; safe, comfortable, and relaxing. We keep Magnolia’s crate downstairs in our living room with the door open any time we are home. She is never in her crate for more than a few hours and before leaving, we always make sure to fill her water bowl. She does not potty in her crate or cry to get out!
Using the crate as a punishment for your dog will insure they will hate it, potty in it, bark, and cry to be let out.
If you use the crate as a punishment when your dog does something unacceptable or behaves poorly, your dog will never want to be in their crate. They will cry and bark and do everything they can to not have to stay there. If they don’t want to be there and don’t like it, they will also likely potty in their crate.
Crate training is different for each dog, some may take to it quickly, others may take a little longer to get them used to it and achieve the Crate Training Goals. Keep in mind, if you have used the crate as a punishment in the past, your dog has unpleasant memories of it, so the process will be a little tougher and longer, but so worth it!
Crate Training Goals
Your dog loves their crate, they feel safe and comfortable in it.
Your dog wants to use their crate regularly, they go in freely whenever they want.
Your dog does not potty in their crate.
Your dog does not bark or cry to be let out