Making Life Easy: The Five Key Steps You Need to Know to Crate-Train Your Pet
There are a lot of reasons to crate train your pet. On average, pets feel more secure and safe in enclosed, small areas as it gives them a sense of security. In the early stages of pet training, consistency will help build routine. So work your crate time around specific dog food feeding times and exercise regimes.
Here are five key steps you need to know to crate-train your pet.
- Finding the Right Crate
The ideal crate should be just large enough for your pet to go inside, turn around and sleep. However, the crate cannot too big for the pet to move too much. The crate should take into account your pet’s full-grown size with solid hard plastic or wire mesh in its build. Soft pet crates are prone to be chewed by pets and can pose a potential threat. Solid creates, especially the ones made of plastic, are perfect for air travel and transport. They are easy to clean, can be folded and are perfect to save space. Try finding one that allows partition, this will allow you to invest in a crate that can be used from your pet’s infant stage all the way to adulthood. Find quality crates at specialized pet crate stores likePetCratesDirect.com, that offer a wide selection of crates for pets of all shapes and sizes.
- Set up the Crate
Before you crate train your pet, make sure the crate is set up properly. Create a home for your pet by placing blankets and creating a soft space for your pet inside. The crate needs to be an atmosphere where your pet will have a positive experience. The experience will determine whether the pet chooses to return to the crate in the future.
- Teach your pet the ways of the crate
Let your pet experience the crate for themselves. Let them smell it and slowly move into the crate. A good method is to put a treat inside the crate so your pet can associate the treat as a welcoming piece of the crate. Some pets will enjoy being inside the crate and will stay. Others will want out. Teach your pet that there are good things in the crate so they will know that the crate is a welcoming place to be.
- Give your pet more time in the crate
Extend your pet’s time in the crate as the week progresses. By increasing the length of time, the pet will learn that the crate can be a home. In between the times you lock your pet in the crate, leave the door open. Once your pet accepts that the crate is part of their daily life, they will find the crate on their own.
- Making crate changes if needed
It is also important to be aware that your pet may not like the crate. They could be crate averse so it’s important to see which crate they’ll like by trying a different crate. Some prefer wire crates, others prefer plastic. It all differs. By testing out which one they like, it’ll help you train them in the long run.
A careful approach to choosing a crate and proper crate training can help pets be comfortable when in transit. So, start training your pet today.
