![]() This will help them see being in the crate as a positive experience. Once your dog is happily spending time in the crate without any worries, you can start to feed them their meals in the crate. Once they are happy to go in and out of the crate freely, you’re ready to move to the next step. As they gain confidence, move the treat or toy to the door and finally inside the crate. Try putting treats or their favourite toy near the crate. This is absolutely fine, it just means you’ll need to keep rewarding them positively when they choose to go near the crate. Not all dogs will investigate straight away and some might even be a bit wary of the crate. Some do well with lots of praise, others with a food treat or two and some just want to play with you so tailor the reward to your dog but make sure they get it when they’re exploring the crate. Reward your dog if they choose to investigate – knowing your dog will help you understand what kind of reward they’ll love the most. Make sure you have the door secured open so it never swings shut on them. Once you’ve chosen and set up your dog’s crate, you may find they are naturally curious and investigate straight away. If you’re having any trouble training your dog, speak to an ADPT-accredited dog trainer or your vet for help. As long as you are using positive, reward-based methods, you should make progress and your dog will soon be crate-trained. This is just one way to do it – there’s many variations that could work just as well but vary the steps a bit. Our vets have put together some advice on how to crate-train your dog. You can put blankets over the top to make it feel cosier and make sure you put some comfy bedding inside for your dog. It’ll make the ideal space for your dog to go if they are feeling worried or overwhelmed. Once you’ve chosen your crate, we recommend putting it in a quiet area of the house, where your dog won’t be underfoot and can relax. We would recommend being cautious about using a fabric crate as there is always the risk that your dog could escape by tearing the fabric. ![]() A lot of people tend to prefer the metal crates as they are usually collapsible, however the choice is up to you. ![]() You can get plastic, metal or fabric crates from most pet shops. They should be able to lie down comfortably with enough space for them and any bedding and a water bowl. Your dog’s crate should be big enough that they can stand up and turn around easily in it.
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