There is a right and a wrong way to crate train your dog.
If you have had a chance to read our last blog yet, then you already know that crate training can be very beneficial for your dog. Our veterinarian in North Bellmore also gave you a few tips for crate training your dog the right way. Unfortunately, many dog owners make mistakes when crate training their dog that not only make the training process more difficult but also put their dog in a potentially dangerous or uncomfortable situation. That is why we have come up with the following list of common crate training mistakes:
#1. Using the crate to punish your dog.
Your dog’s crate should be a place of comfort and refuge, and it should never be used a punishment. If you send your dog into their crate when you are punishing them, they will associate it with fear and negativity, and they aren’t likely to want to go in it willingly.
#2. Crating for too long.
While a crate-trained adult dog may be able to handle being in their crate for most of the day, puppies shouldn’t be put in a crate for more than a couple of hours. Puppies can’t hold it for that long, and they could end up going to the bathroom in their crate. It is also important to note that dogs are social animals. Crating your dog for too long can cause them to start feeling anxious, lonely and depressed, so it is important to provide them with plenty of love and attention.
#3. Not exercising your dog enough.
Dogs are athletic, energic animals that need plenty of exercise to be happy and healthy. A dog that stays in a crate for any length of time needs exercise even more. Make sure that you exercise your dog before and after you put them in their crate.