Crate Train Your Therapy Dog

Crate training your therapy dog is not as difficult as you may think. Canids – dogs, foxes, coyotes, wolves- like to den for sleeping and caring for young. Your therapy dog is no different. The crate quickly becomes a place of security if it is introduced properly. It become a place to go for peace and quiet and should be respected as such. If you have children it offers a sanctuary for the dog so he can get away from noise and stress. Teach your children to leave the dog alone when he is in his crate.

What is a crate? It is a container made of wire, plastic or mesh and comes in all sizes from the very small to large enough for the giant breeds!

Which is the right size for your dog? Your dog should be able to stand in the crate and have enough room so that his back doesn’t touch the top of the crate and when he lies down he can stretch out.

Crates can be found at pet stores, online pet catalogs, department stores… just about any place that caters to animals.

Why should you use a crate? There are a number of reasons to crate your dog. It is a good way to keep him safe when you aren’t around. It provides peace of mind knowing your dog isn’t getting into trouble or wreaking things in the home. It makes house training much easier. It is a familiar place for him if he has to go to an unfamiliar place or travels with you. In case of an accident on the road, a crated dog is less likely to get loose or be flung from one part of the car to another.

How do you crate train your dog? If you are slow, careful and kind you can quickly and easily crate train your dog. The first thing to do is make sure the crate door will not shut. Remove it or tie it back in such a way that the crate remains open. You can feed your dog in the crate but dogs are messy when they drink so don’t leave a water bowl in the crate. Pad the bottom with soft bedding or, for housetraining purposes, paper. Be sure to take your dog, especially a puppy, outside for elimination as soon as he has finished eating and as soon as he wakes up since puppies will eliminate soon after eating and waking.

Begin crate training as soon as you get your dog. Introduce him to the crate by tossing a tasty treat inside and when he goes in to get the treat, calmly praise him. Do this several times until the dog doesn’t hesitate entering the crate. Once he enters calmly, you can close the door. Leave it closed for a minute or two and, as long as he isn’t whining or scratching at the door, open it and allow him to leave. Praise him. Repeat the entering, door closing and opening gradually keeping the door closed for longer and longer periods of time.

Don’t abuse the use of the crate. It is for your dog’s security and comfort, not a prison.

Learn more about Crate Training Your Therapy Dog. Stop by www.therapydogtrainingtips.com where you can find out all about crate training tips and what it can do for you.