subject: A Dog Crate Will Be Your Dog's Den In The Home [print this page] A dog crate is one of the most useful training tools for canines. By natural instinct, dogs are den animals. It has been alive in their gene pool to want to go to their dens as a location of safety. It is also bred in their genes to keep their dens tidy which is the reason crates are such fantastic housebreaking tools. When humans bring canines in to our world, we often forget that dogs are not humans at all. They are dogs. We put off the natural instincts that dogs have been born with and end up treating them like our children. This is very unproductive to the human - dog relationship. One of the main things that humans forget is that natural instinct of dogs to look for a safe haven like their den. One of the best tools we can use when we bring dogs into our homes is the dog crate.
A dog crate if implemented properly can be your dog's den in the your home. We should be willing to accept proper training techniques to enhance our relationship with man's best friend. Using positive training methods, like giving your canine treats for entering her crate, can be overwhelmingly successful in the crate training process. Dogs remember associations, and associating going to his or her kennel with a positive experience, will plant a positive image of her crate in your companion's brain. Remember that this can be changed as easily as it is implemented. Don't make your pet go to his or her cage as a place of punishment. That will only leave a bad association of that place for your pet. If your dog's kennel is always associated with a happy place, that crate will soon become a safe place for him, a human version of the den. She will want to go there to sleep and relax.
With all of this said, believe me that there will be difficult times. The first couple of nights with a dog can be a pain. Do your best to not let the whining and howling fold you. It is hard. I know from many personal trials and errors, so whatever you do, don't give up. It will only make matters worse. Not only will it make it difficult to associate the dog crate with a positive experience, but you will show a sense of weakness to your pet. Canines are looking to you to lead them, teach them, and be their boss just like your children do. You don't cave in to every temper tantrum and crying fit your children throw, do you? Stay firm, be positive, and your canine will not only respond to crating well, but will also be willing to obey and learn anything you want her to. Dogs are intelligent creatures, and the sky is the limit when it comes to training them. Implement a dog crate early on, and you will simplify all training that follows.
