Crate training your dog, as in any aspect of the learning process, can sometimes prove to be a difficult task, especially as work and responsibilities limit your time at home. However, the combination of tender love and care and nurturing your dog’s natural inclination as a den animal can speed up the process, creating a pleasurable experience and a positive outcome.
Gunner Kennels’ G1 Intermediate is the ideal crate with which to start your puppy. Even though its dimensions makes the G1 perfect for intermediate-sized dogs up to 75 pounds, it’s also fit for a puppy. And the quicker he gets used to the crate, the more comfortable it will be for dog and master in the long run. Use the following helpful hints and schedule on how and when to crate train your dog. Sometimes he only needs a gentle hand to help him find his transportable sanctuary.
Don’t be afraid to start your dog’s crate-training process at eight to ten weeks at home, if not sooner, rather than the often-prescribed thirteen weeks for simple obedience because in this case crate is synonymous with comfort. If you’re not home regularly during the week, take advantage of a Friday evening when you have the whole weekend ahead. Open the door, encourage him in with a tug on the leash, then reward him with praise. Later, when he falls asleep, place him in the crate, leaving the door open.
You might find the following daily schedule useful, assuming you don’t work from home and the Friday-evening introduction was successful. Before, it’ll be a routine for both.
7:00 a.m. – Try to get up before your puppy and softly call his name to get him out of the crate before taking him outside to relieve himself.
7:10 – Whenever he’s done, play around a little bit.
7:20 – Feed and water him inside, generally in the kitchen, giving him some fifteen to twenty minutes to eat before taking the bowl away.
7:45 – Take him outside to relieve himself once more.
8:00 – Go about your normal routine. If you crate your pup while at work, continue doing so.
12:00 – If you left him in the crate, someone needs to take him out again. Though grown dogs don’t like to make a mess in the areas they sleep and eat, a puppy has limited control over his bowels and bladder.
12:15 – From here, it’s merely repeating the morning’s routine. Play. Food. Water. Re-relief. When you’re home in the evening, it’s still important to find intervals to crate him, if for only thirty minutes at a time. Again, the faster he get’s used to his Gunner Kennel, the faster he’ll treat it as a source of comfort.
As he grows older and starts traveling more, you’ll be able to leave your dog in the crate for longer periods of time. And in the spacious G1 Intermediate, he’ll have ample room and comfort wherever the roads takes him. Watch the video below to further understand the importance of crate training.
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