The first instinct people have is to put some nice soft fluffy bedding in the crate to keep a puppy warm and comfortable.
What to put in dog crate while training.
Crate training puppies has several purposes but most commonly it s for potty training and keeping dogs out of trouble when pet owners use dog crates effectively this can become an invaluable.
On the first night home this might mean stuffing a few kongs with peanut butter and putting one in the crate.
The number one rule of crate training is to make the crate a nice place to be.
If the bottle it comes with isn t big enough for your dog the valve also attaches to a variety of other sized pet bottles like empty soda bottles.
This crate water bottle is great because it s bpa free and attaches to the outside of the crate making it far less likely that your dog will chew and destroy it.
Sit near the crate while your puppy chews on the kong.
Crate training a dog is a scary and emotional step for many dog owners but it is one that is necessary for letting a puppy adapt to being in his crate alone.
This should be between 5 and 20 minutes before you head out.
It s important to keep two things in mind while crate training.
Maybe your dog is a rescue or was never housetrained perhaps you re about to make a long move and need to put him in a crate for the trip or maybe your dog has been acting up when you re away from home.
But this is a bad idea until your dog has truly proven they will not chew their bedding.
While these may be fine for an adult dog who can be trusted not to pull them into the crate and chew on them it is best that you get a proper cove r for your puppy s crate.
When done correctly you ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your dog and your belongings are both safe.
Whatever the reason crate training a dog is slightly different than crate training a puppy.
Your dog will feel as though they have a protected space to call their own.
The crate should always be associated with something pleasant and training should take place in a series of small steps.
How to crate train a dog.
Crate training has multiple benefits for both you and your dog.
It gets the dog used to being in the crate for a longer period of time while also associating it with an enjoyable activity.
Crate training can take days or weeks depending on your dog s age temperament and past experiences.
Keep an eye on the time your dog needs time outside the crate.