Should i crate train my puppy at night

When your new dog or puppy first comes home, acclimate him to the crate by tossing a treat in, leaving the door open so that the dog can enter and exit freely. When your dog is comfortable going in and out of the crate, toss a treat inside and close the door for a second or two before letting the dog out.

Place a bed or mat that your dog already likes into the crate. This will help reduce any startling noises when the dog enters the crate. The dog will also be familiar with the bed, which could make him more willing to go into the crate. When you are not training, leave the crate open and place your dog's toy basket or favorite toys inside. Feed your dog meals in the crate, starting by leaving the door open and, as training progresses, closing it.

If you give your dog any special treats, chewies, or bones, give them to him in the crate. A special bonus of having the mat in the crate is that the dog will begin to associate good things with the mat after being fed on it. Take the mat with you to the vet. Place it on the floor in the waiting room, on the scale, and in the exam room to help your dog become more comfortable and relaxed during vet visits.

When the dog is going into the crate willingly, add a cue for entering the crate. Try "crate" or "bed" or "go in. Soon your dog or puppy will be going into the crate on cue and eagerly. Next, give the crate cue and wait for the puppy to go in on its own.

Stop tossing the treat and wait for the puppy to enter. When the dog does go in, say "Yes! Start training a release cue at this time. The release cue tells your dog when he or she is free to leave the crate. This training step has the added benefit of encouraging and increasing self control. Your dog learns to remain calm and not rush out, even with the crate door wide open.

Cue the entrance, mark with yes or click, and treat. Almost immediately, say your release cue try "ok," "free," "break," or "get out" and toss a treat on the floor outside of the crate. Keep tossing treats until the dog can leave the crate without seeing the treat; the dog exits just hearing the release cue. At that point, you can phase out the treat. Leaving the crate has become the reward. If your dog is comfortable with the door closed for a few seconds, gradually increase the time the dog is in the crate.

Remember to keep using a release cue to tell the dog that he can leave. If your dog does not have a problem remaining in the crate calmly for several minutes, start closing the door and ducking out of sight for a second before returning.

Gradually build up the amount of time your dog is in the kennel. If the dog starts to whine, ignore him, letting the dog out once he is calm.

If you want to leave your dog in the crate for longer periods, try putting a stuffed Kong, a bully stick, or a safe chewie into the crate as well. All through this training process it is important to be patient and not to push your dog. Ask for what your dog is comfortable with rather than forcing your dog to do what you want. Crate training is best done in baby steps.

If you can get your dog or puppy comfortable with the crate before the first night in it, your odds of getting a good sleep that night will be much higher. Once your dog is crate trained and house trained fully, you can leave the dog in a crate for up to 8 hours.

The dog should have good exercise before and after, and should be left in the crate with something safe to occupy his attention. Your dog will likely spend most of the time sleeping! Younger puppies cannot be left in a crate for as long as 8 hours. Physically, puppies cannot hold their bladders long enough, and it isn't fair to ask for that. A good general rule to follow is one hour in the crate for each month of age. A three-month-old puppy should be fine in the crate for three hours.

Puppies should sleep in their crates at night, as this helps them learn to sleep through the night. Place the crate directly beside your bed in early first training so that your puppy will not feel lonely and frightened, and can wake you easily in the middle of the night for a bathroom break.

While some dogs take naturally to a crate, others are not as eager. Limit crate time based on how long they spend in their crate daily, their age, and level of house training. Understanding the need for crate training is just the first step, but the training itself is another matter entirely. Make sure to do extensive research on how to crate train your dog , and be sure to stick to your plan to ensure the greatest chance of success.

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Nov 19, 4 Minutes. Crate training is a vitally important part of bringing a dog of any age into your life and home. Puppies, adult dogs, and seniors can all benefit in one way or another from being properly crate trained. Crate training gives dogs a sense of security and safety and helps give owners greater peace of mind. Breeders and Vets Recommend Crate Training Your Dog Although many dog owners may feel guilty for crate training their canine companion, enclosed spaces create a shelter for your dog to rest and relax.

Crate Training Benefits All Types of Dogs For rescue dogs, a crate provides a safe space to adjust to their new surroundings as well as the luxury of not having to fight for their own space.

Tips for Successful Crate Training The first and most important step in crate training is making it a positive experience. How to Crate Train Your Dog Are you thinking about crate training your puppy but aren't sure how to get started?

Don't worry, we have you covered! Download the AKC create training e-book to get started. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining. Guest post by Natalie Lester, PetSafe…. Dublin recently had his nine month….

You arrive home and see that…. Your new puppy is so much…. Over 10 years ago we had…. So our pup never cries in his crate. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.

Learn how your comment data is processed. Skip to content This post may contain affiliate links. Do you want to know to stop your puppy from barking in his crate? Read on…. Dublin during one of his first puppy crate training sessions.