Crate training can prove valuable for dogs – The Mercury News

Dear Critter Corner: We have been having a hard time with crate training our new puppy. Are there any tips or tricks you can give us to help with the process?

Crates can be a valuable tool when it comes to house training and your puppy! Here are a few tips on making the crate a fun and safe place. Start by making sure you have a crate that is the right size for your puppy, as a general rule they should be able to stand up and turn around easily.

You will want to make sure the crate is a comfortable place for them, so a nice bed or blanket is ideal. You will want to have the crate in a place that is out of the way and that your pup will feel comfortable with at night. My preference is in the bedroom so that you are able to keep an ear out for them if they need to get up in the middle of the night for a potty break.

Don’t use the crate for timeouts, you want this to be a safe, fun place. Find another area to use for timeouts. If your pup is avoiding going in, don’t force it! Turn going into the crate into a game. Cue ‘crate’ and toss a treat in for the pup to get and release out with an ‘okay’. Repeat several times and try saying ‘crate’ to see if the pup will go in on their own. If not, you can hold a treat at the end of the crate and encourage them to get it. After they are comfortable getting in on cue, you can then start to ask for a sit or down.

You can build to shutting the door for a moment and then releasing them out. Over time with the above suggestions, you should start to see a pup that enjoys their crate.

If you are still having problems, please reach out to our behavior department to schedule a 1:1 consultation at training@phs-spca.org or 650-340-7022 ext. 667.

Tasha Suda is the Lead Dog Trainer for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Behavior Department. For more information, please visit www.phs-spca.org, call 650-340-7022 or email tsuda@phs-spca.org.