Crate Training

Crate training is essential for any dog. I consider it to be one of the most basic trained behaviors a dog should have in order to function in a human society. Some of the benefits of crate training include: controling your dog at home, giving him/her a private place where they can relax , the ability to take them with you on vacation, leaving them for boarding, keeping them under control in environments that are not dog approved, being able to fly your dog in an airplane, and it is a fundamental part of potty training.

Many people that don't have the understanding of dog behavior think that putting your dog in crate is inhumane. Crate training is not only humane but it is extremely beneficial for your dog. Crate training is based on the natural instinct of the dog to live in a den.

The most important thing to understand when you are doing crate training is that the crate should be a positive place that is enjoyable for the dog. The way we achieve this is by showing the dog that every time he gets  into the crate something positive will happen. And he can actually better himself by being in the crate , for example, feeding your dog inside the crate, giving the dog a chewing toy inside the crate, after excersizing the dog goes into the crate to relax, before he enters the crate dog treats are thrown inside the crate to automatically reward for going inside.

Don'ts when you are crate training your dog:
- don't use crate as punishment
- don't use a crate that is not 100% clean
- don't use a crate that is too small or too large for your dog
- don't place your crate in a place that is too hot or under the sun
- don't use a crate that is damaged or defective
- don't leave anything on your dog when in crate(dog collars,dog clothing)
- don't leave anything close to your crate that your dog can pull inside the crate
- don't give your dog any toy that he can chew into pieces and swallow

How to determine what's the right size of crate for your dog?
I have seen people make the same mistake over and over again when selecting a crate, they think that the bigger the crate the more comfortable the dog will be.  When in actuality the bigger the crate the more difficult for your dog to get accustomed to it, and the more potty accidents you will have. As a general rule, the size of the crate is determined by the size of your dog and your dog should have enough space to stand up, lay down , and turn around both ways inside the crate.