Rules of crate training - 5 things you need to know
1. Your dog should associate the crate with safety and comfort, so never use it for punishment because this will make your dog want to avoid the crate instead of making him want to go in it.
2. Gradually introducing your dog to his crate is the best course of action. Don't push him to go in there too much at first. You might try just putting the crate out and seeing how he reacts. When your dog does go in the crate, be sure to reward him for his good behavior.
3. A crate is the dog's den. The dog will naturally not want to soil it's den. If it is forced to do it's business in the crate, it will be a negative experience. Always make sure the dog has had a chance to go outside and take care of the biological necessities before going into the crate.
4. As soon as you let your dog out of the crate, be sure you take him outside to do his "business". This will establish a good routine and can help immensely with potty training.
5. Never put your dog in the crate if he is stressed, anxious or scared. In fact, going into the crate should be your dogs idea. You want him to feel like it is a safe haven from him to go to, otherwise he won't want to be in there.
Stick to these rules of crate training and you may be surprised at how quickly and easily your dog takes to his crate!
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