Crate training a puppy is an important part of puppy training. Depending on your dog’s age, crate training may take a few weeks but consistency is key. In today’s post, Kika's Klee Kai goes over four simple steps to getting your puppy crate trained. Read on to learn more and subscribe to our Youtube channel for more tips and tricks!
4 Easy Steps to Crate Training Your Puppy
Introduce Your Dog to the Crate Slowly
You can’t expect your dog to immediately want to spend long hours in their kennel. Dogs like to get to know things at their own pace. So put your puppy’s crate in a space your dog spends a lot of time in, such as your living room. Put down a comfy bed or warm blanket and let your puppy sniff around. Some dogs will be naturally curious and go in to lie down right away. Others may need some encouragement with treats. Let your dog go in and out of the crate as they please in the beginning.
Feed Your Dog in The Crate
An effective method of crate training is to get your dog to associate the crate with something they like. One of the best ways to do this is to give your dog their meals while they are in the crate. Once your dog is happily eating in the crate, you can start to close the door while they enjoy their meal for a short amount of time.
Practice with Short Crating Periods
The next step in crate training is to get your puppy used to having the crate door closed. Make sure they have a toy to occupy themselves in the crate. Start by closing the door for short periods while you are home. Your puppy may whine a bit. Sit with them for a few minutes before going into another room for a short amount of time. Give them a treat if they stay quiet. Encourage your puppy to stay quiet and show them you will come back when you leave.
Crate Your Dog at Night
It’s a very good idea to crate your puppy while you are sleeping. You can start with the crate close to you, maybe in your bedroom. Once your dog is sleeping regularly through the night, you can start to move the crate gradually to your desired location.
Crate training is a great way to keep your puppy out of trouble while you are away or otherwise preoccupied. If you are in the market for a new Alaskan Klee Kai puppy in Southern California, you can get in touch with Kika's Klee Kai today! Subscribe to our youtube channel for more tips and tricks!