How To Crate Train A Dog - Getting The Right Dog Crate

How to crate train a dog - the crate

The two most important points to remember when trying to crate train a dog are to use positive reinforcement and to be consistent. These components are universal with dog training in general, so try to keep them in mind. Punishing your dog in some way will only scare him and will cause him to associate negative experiences with your crate. So rule number one is, make your crate a happy positive place for your dog.

Next, you need to make sure you purchase a correctly sized dog crate. This is very important, especially if you are using crate training for housebreaking or potty training. Make sure you purchase an appropriately sized crate where your dog has just enough length to lay down in full sprawl, just enough width to stand up and turn around, and just enough clearance to stand up. The reason this is so important is because it's natural for a dog to avoid soiling it's bed or immediate living area. A dog crate should be a somewhat confined area for exactly this reason. You don't want enough room in the crate for your dog to eliminate in one corner and scoot over in another corner to lay down.

When you crate train a dog, make sure you buy the dog crate for your dog's current stage of life. If your dog is a puppy, you'll need a relative small crate. One common mistake that frustrates dog owners is purchasing a crate that their dog can "grow into." This will only cause problems so just remember to size the crate with your dog's current age and size, and purchase a new one when your dog grows bigger.

This article covered the first step in how to crate train a dog, how to pick an appropriately sized dog crate. If you'd like to learn the other important steps, visit How To Crate Train A Dog to learn how you can easily and quickly crate train your dog and avoid the three most common mistakes most dog owners make when trying crate training for the first time.