Dog Cage Training

Crating a puppy

A young puppy should have no problem accepting the cage as his place. Crying at first is caused, not by the cage, but by adjusting to an unfamiliar household. Do not reward barking or whining with attention! If he doesn't need to eliminate, ignore him until he is quiet, then praise him or take him out of the cage. Do not leave meals in the cage or feed the puppy immediately prior to confining him. Most puppies will spill water left in the cage. Do leave a safe chew toy in the cage for the pet. Close the pet in the cage whenever he must be left alone or can't be closely supervised by a responsible person.

Never cage the pet longer than he can wait to eliminate, and definitely less than 4 hour intervals during the day. For pet owners who occasionally must be gone longer than this, place the cage with the door open in an enclosed area such as a bathroom or laundry room. Place newspapers on the floor of the room to facilitate clean-up. The puppy should soon stop eliminating overnight and then may be caged in his regular place.

Cage training dogs over 6 months old

Often problem behaviors in this age group result from the pet feeling insecure when left alone. A cage training can actually help alleviate a dog's anxiety, but it must be introduced gradually and in a positive manner. The dog's first association with the cage should be pleasant.

First secure the door open so that it can't suddenly shut and frighten the dog. Encourage the pet to enter voluntarily by tossing a treat into the far end, praising him enthusiastically once he enters, then letting him come right back out. Once he enters the cage confidently, coax him to lie down and relax, using food, if necessary. Shut the door briefly, while sitting beside the cage or when there are people in the room. Again, don't reward barking or whining, with attention.

When owners feel the dog will remain quietly in the cage, leave him alone for 15 - 30 minutes. If all goes well, they can be left for longer intervals. Eventually, owners may no longer need to shut him in the cage, but he will probably appreciate still having access to his special place.

Does the cage always work?

Unfortunately, no. There are some animals (usually adults) that can or will not tolerate this form of confinement. A few will show no desire to keep the cage clean.

Use - don't abuse!

Children should be taught that the cage is a special room for the pet and that they should not pester the dog or pup when it is in the cage or use the cage as a playhouse.

The use of a dog cage is NOT RECOMMENDED for a dog regularly left alone all day, although some individual animals can tolerate it. If it is attempted:

• The pet must be well exercised before and after crating.
• The cage must be equipped with a heavy, non-tip dish of water.
• Your pet should get lots of attention and complete freedom each night.

If things don't go smoothly
Call us for help. Remember, by cage training, owners do the pet a real favor by preventing him from getting into trouble when left unsupervised.