How to Crate Train a Dog

Want to know how to crate train a dog? You’re not alone. Every year, millions of dog owners around the country learn how to keep their dogs in a crate or separate room when they leave the house so they can reduce anxiety, destructive behaviour and barking. It is also a very valuable tool when trying to house break a new puppy and can make your life much easier if your dog insists on sleeping in your bed or on the couch.

The Value of a Crate to a Dog

Whether you’re learning how to crate train a dog or just determining if it is safe for your dog, know that most dogs love their crates. In the wild, a dog will seek out a small, safe space to burrow into that will keep them warm and safe. A crate performs that wonderfully, giving them a safe space that is theirs alone. Dogs that have wide open spaces often have trouble differentiating their “home” from it, and will grow anxious trying to control and patrol the entire space.

How to Crate Train a Dog

Ideally, you will crate train your dog as a puppy. A full grown dog that has never been in a crate will have a harder time adjusting to the small space and may grow anxious. A puppy will also be a bit upset but adapts much quicker, and if the puppy never has the option to sleep with you in your bed, it will likely not have anything to be upset about.

It is best to place the crate in the family room where a lot of people will be. At night, you should put the crate in your bedroom to give them a safe presence nearby. Eventually, after a month or so, you should be able to leave them in one place, but for now, be close to keep them calm and safe.

When you put your puppy in the crate, make sure he has a clean, comfortable place to sleep, a source of water, and a toy to play with. The crate should be only big enough for him to sleep in. If he can walk around in it, he may make a mess in it. As long as the dog can turn around in the crate, it is comfortable for them, and not inhumane.

When learning how to crate train a dog, make sure you don’t pull the dog out of the crate if he gets upset. This will only teach the puppy that if he makes a fuss, you’ll give him attention. Make sure you only take the puppy out of the crate when he has been quiet for at least 5 minutes. Then, greet him with a lot of attention and even a treat to reinforce that he did it right.

At first, try to leave your puppy in the crate for short periods of time – an hour or two at a time. As he grows older, increase that time to match a full night of sleep or a day at work.

If you learn how to crate train a dog properly, you’ll be able to ensure your dog never gets too loud, destructive, or anxious when you leave. A puppy adapts quicker too, which is much less stressful for everyone in the house.

Dog Training Tips

If you’re looking for some good dog training tips, it’s a good idea to first know where to start. Understand what your dog actually needs from you in a training situation and then learn how to give it to them. Many people make the false assumption that a dog is much smarter than it actually is. In reality, a dog simply reacts to you. It wants to be part of the pack and it wants to be accepted, but it’s still an animal with animal instincts.

So, if you want to adjust any negative behaviors, the best way to approach your dog is not to scold them or yell at them, but to focus on changing how they express those instincts.

Core Dog Training Tips

There are a few basic things that every dog owner should consider when training their furry friend. These tasks can make dog training much easier across the board.

Crate Training – Crate training provides your dog with a home that it can call its own. Never use a crate as a punishment and make sure to spend time at home with your dog in the crate so he can get used to it. As most dog training tips will tell you, a crate can make house breaking, bark reduction, and anxiety issues much better.

Leash Training – If you’re having issues with your dog on a leash, the most important thing you can do is teach them to reach a controlled, calm state. This controlled state will allow them to respond to your commands without getting too excited about the upcoming walk. The majority of dogs with leash issues are simply allowed to run around outside and pull. If your dog pulls on the leash, make them sit and wait by your side before walking again. In short order, they will associate that pulling sensation with the stop of their walk.

The Alpha Position – The most important dog training tips relate to the position you hold in the house. Despite what most people think, dog training is not the burden of your dog. He doesn’t know what you want and doesn’t generally understand what you’re saying. The burden is on you to teach your dog that you are the leader of the pack and have control of the situation. They can then relax, follow your commands and stop worrying about who will protect them. 

Obedience Training – The best dog training tips you’ll get can come from an obedience class. These classes teach new dog owners how to maintain the alpha leadership position in their household, display control over their new pup and give them specific, strong commands. If you have a new puppy or are simply having trouble controlling your older dog, consider an obedience class to supplement your home training.

The Importance of Consistency

The one thing that all dog training tips have in common is the need for consistency. A dog may seem smart, and in many ways they are, but much of what they learn is in response to a repeated, consistent environment. If you only make them sit before going out when you have time for it, they will get confused and excited and stop following your commands. If you set a rule, be consistent with it and ensure everyone in your home does the same. Good dog training can actually be harder for you than your dog, but it is almost always well worth it.

Dog Separation Anxiety

One of the most common problems that the average pet owner has is dog separation anxiety. At the low end, anxiety can be annoying, causing your dog to bark when you leave the house. However, if it is allowed to advance, your dog might start destroying your home, making messes, or barking incessantly for hours when you leave.

The Sources of Dog Separation Anxiety

Dogs are pack animals. They feel a direct attachment to their masters and when you leave the house, they will grow agitated. However, most of the anxiety they feel is due to the attachment of specific actions you take to your absence. While a dog does not like when you leave, there is no direct reason they should grow so agitated.

It happens because you give them attention before and after you leave or you go through the same routine every morning. Their behaviours are reinforced on a daily basis and the result is a dog that cannot control his anxious feelings when you leave the house.

Reducing Dog Separation Anxiety

There are many ways to reduce the anxiety your dog feels when you leave the house. Here are a few of the easiest methods.

Change Your Routine – Start by changing your morning routine. If your dog starts acting strange the second your alarm clock goes off, they have tagged that sound to the process of you leaving the house. Get up at different times, get dressed earlier, take your keys down before you leave and wait for a while. Little variations will reduce pre-leaving anxiety.

Don’t Reinforce It – When you pet your dog before you leave or lavish them with attention when you get home, you’re only reinforcing the behaviour. The easiest way to reduce dog separation anxiety is to remove the association between you’re comings and goings and their attention. Ignore your dog for 10-15 minutes when you get home, don’t pet them when you leave and stop giving in when they make sad noises. This can be practiced with crate training or putting them in a separate room in your house then leaving and coming back in intervals.

Building Up to Longer Times – If your dog grows anxious the second you walk out the door, start working on leaving the house for shorter periods of time. Leave for a few seconds and then come back. Dog separation anxiety can be treated by changing the dog’s expectations for how long you’ll be gone and when you’ll return. If they see you are coming back each time, you can stretch out how long you are able to leave each time.

You’re Not Being Mean

Many people feel that the solutions to anxiety are cruel to the dog. In reality, you are helping your dog to relax and know that you are not only coming home but that you are in charge of the domain and there is no reason for them to feel that anxiety. Reduced dog separation anxiety is good for their health – both physical and mental.

If your dog has prolonged, severe anxiety problems, it is important to address it right away. Even if your dog merely gets upset and doesn’t destroy anything when you leave, you can greatly reduce their feelings of abandonment if you teach them not to associate your comings and goings with the pack order and their survival.

Clicker Dog Training

Whatever kind of dog you have, clicker dog training is one of the most effective and impressive methods for controlling and dictating a dog’s behaviour when trying to teach them basic commands. It takes very little time to master clicker training and with a well operated clicker, you can teach your dog nearly anything.

How Clicker Training Works

The idea behind clicker training is that you’re teaching your dog to associate the sound of the clicker – a strong, sharp sound that they can hear from 20+ yards away - with a specific command you give. The goal of the training is to mark specific desirable behaviour and then reward it with the sound of the clicker.

Of course clicker dog training does not start with a clicker. You must first teach your dog that the clicker is a reward for good behaviour. This can be done with a bag of treats and a simple, two dollar clicker from your local pet store.

It is important that you use a clicker in this instance for a number of reasons. To start with, a dog will never hear that clicker for any reason other than to tell them they did a good job and that a treat is on the way. A word or verbal command might be given in different situations and the relationship in their head is not quite as strong because of it.

How Clicker Dog Training is Done

When you start training your dog to respond to a clicker, there are three very basic steps. First, you will get the behaviour – convincing your dog to do something that you want. It may be sitting, speaking, rolling over, or whatever other tricks you’re trying to teach. Once you’ve gotten them to perform their behaviour, mark it with the clicker and a reward.

It usually only takes two or three markings before a dog learns what the behaviour they did was and starts repeating it whenever you click use the clicker. Clicker dog training works well because they will immediately respond, allowing you to reward them and immediately instil it in their minds. A verbal command will take time to get through.

Once the dog has done the behaviour and received their reward, continue doing it to reinforce the behaviour as much as possible. You do not have to use treats every time. Praise and petting work just as well and can eventually replace the behaviour.

Transitioning to a Command

Once the dog has learned the behaviour well, clicker dog training will have you transition to a spoken command that can be used anywhere, even when you don’t have a clicker. Whenever you are about to use the clicker, say the command and then click, followed by the reward. The dog will quickly learn to associate all three.

Eventually, with good clicker dog training, a dog will respond to a verbal cue and praise for their action and then they will simply learn it. The need for treats or praise will be gone and the dog will simply know that the action pleases you.

As you might imagine, clicker dog training has a number of applications. It can make training your dog so much easier in many ways. With a simple, sharp command, you can mark and reinforce nearly any behaviour.

Poodle Biting

Poodle biting is a very common problem for owners of these cute and curly little dogs. The biggest problem is that most Poodle owners let the behaviour develop and continue when the dogs are puppies and they are still cute. A tiny little poodle with bows in its hair is very cute and yet it eventually grows into a larger dog with bigger teeth that will continue to bit indiscriminately.

What Causes Poodle Biting

There is a common belief that poodles bite more often than any other dog breed, with toy poodles biting even more often than standards. In truth, Poodles that are well trained will generally not bite at all with only a slightly higher occurrence rate than any other dogs.

The reason for that slightly higher rate is commonly related to their nature – a poodle is not bred to do much of anything other than be a pet. And yet, poodles are considered to be the smartest dog breed around. Combine intellect with a lack of any strong instincts, and poodles can grow stubborn and unresponsive to basic commands if they are not properly controlled.

How to Stop Poodle Biting

Luckily, because poodles are so smart, they can be highly trained and learn that biting is not acceptable behaviour. To start with, make sure your Poodle is properly socialized as a puppy. A puppy should never be taken from its mother before 8 weeks of age – ensuring it is given the time it needs to learn not to bite and to control of its urge to show dominance.

After 8 weeks, the dog should be socialized with your family and with other puppies. Go to bite aversion classes, puppy day cares, and make sure you are very calm and welcoming to the dog. Poodle puppies should never be scolded as they are not young enough to know better and early aggression on your part can create long term behaviour problems.

If you have a poodle biting problem with a puppy, don’t allow it. Provide a toy whenever the puppy bites and make soft whimpering sounds to show the puppy that the bite hurt you. This is how other puppies would show the same behaviour.

 
Poodle Biting in Older Dogs

If your Poodle is older and still likes to nip or even bite people, you need to make sure you have full control of your dog. To start with, make sure you are the alpha leader. Control feeding times, walking times, and teach your dog some basic commands. Do not back down from your dog and never waffle on your commands. Additionally, avoid any games like wrestling, tug of war, or chasing that can result in biting. This will make the behaviour into a game that grabs attention.

If your Poodle shows aggressive tendencies or fear and anxiety related tendencies, take them to an obedience class where they can socialize with other dogs and be forced, in a controlled environment to address their aggression issues.

If your Poodle Biting problem persists and grows more dangerous, consider hiring an expert or even visiting your vet to rule out any potential health related causes to their biting.

Whatever you do, know that biting from your Poodle is not acceptable. Even with a toy poodle, it is a sign of greater behaviour problems under the surface that need to be dealt with immediately.

Dog Health Problems

When it comes to dog health problems, there are many potential ailments that can catch you and your pup off guard. The results can be both emotionally devastating and expensive if they are not dealt with quickly and effectively. Instead of responding to potential health problems as they arrive, learn what you can do to avoid them in the first place and keep your dog happy and healthy.

Potential Dog Health Problems

Dogs can suffer from any number of health issues, the same as human beings. The difference is that dogs cannot tell you “I have a stomach ache”. They will often suffer in silence until there is a very real pain that needs to be treated. So, it’s important to recognize the symptoms and the actions you can take to avoid these issues in the first place.

Infections – Dogs can suffer from a number of potential infections, in their ears, on their skin, in their eyes and their teeth. Ear infections are the most common and are often due to a foreign body or bacteria getting in there. Check your dog’s ears frequently for red spots, swelling, excess moisture, or dirt. Of all dog health problems, infections are the easiest to prevent. Clean your dog’s eyes, brush their teeth and brush their hair regularly to avoid any potential bacteria build up.

Allergies – Dogs have many forms of allergies. By far the most common is a flea allergy that can cause hot spots and lead to infections. Make sure you get flea medication for your dog every month and have a vet examine them regularly to ensure they are healthy. Additionally, if their skin problems lead to ear infections or other hot spots, it may be a food allergy – a more severe issue that should be addressed by a veterinarian.

Diabetes – Dog health problems tend to mirror human issues in many ways and diabetes is one such potential disease. Excess rich, fatty and sugary foods can result in pancreatic issues that cause diabetes. To avoid diabetes, keep your dog on a strict diet of dog foods with minimal table scraps or excess meals. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll need to see a vet regularly and may need to administer regular shots.

Arthritis and Dysplasia – Some dogs are highly susceptible to joint problems. Pure breds especially have a long history of arthritic dog health problems due to their longer, narrower joints. Make sure your dog receives the necessary vitamins and minerals it requires each day and that your vet checks the joints for degeneration at least once a year.

Obesity – Obesity is one of the most common and deadly dog health problems and is directly caused by eating too much and not exercising enough. Obesity itself doesn’t lead to mortality, but the higher rates of heart failure, tumors, liver disease, and skin problems are all very dangerous if not dealt with immediately. Obesity can be treated with a careful diet and keen eye to a dog’s activity levels.

If your dog gets plenty of exercise, eats well every day, and you keep it clean and well groomed, many of these health problems will never be an issue. Even then, you should make sure you visit your vet annually to check for any potential issues. The earlier you catch a disease, the better it can be treated.

Bulldog Puppy Training

Bulldogs are one of the truly old and elite purebred strains of dogs in modern society. A symbol of England since the 1500s, Bulldogs are stoic, courageous and bullheaded. So, Bulldog puppy training can be quite a chore if your pup is particular stubborn or adventurous in your home.

Choosing Your Puppy

When you choose your Bulldog puppy, keep in mind how much goes into this breed. Bulldogs are prone to many health problems, starting from birth with their high mortality rate. Choose a puppy that is at least eight weeks old, friendly, and not aggressive. Make sure it is in good health with a vet, as there are a number of puppyhood health problems that a bulldog might have, especially with their noses and ears.

Bulldog puppy training should start as soon as you bring your puppy home, but only if the dog is old enough and has been properly socialized. If the puppy is not yet 10 weeks old or if it has not be properly socialized with people and other dogs, make sure you do this first to avoid the creation of any excess aggression issues.

Bulldog Puppy Training

Once your puppy is old enough, start training with basic housetraining. Bulldogs can be especially stubborn at a young age, so it is highly recommend you use crate training and are home as much as possible during house breaking. It will take slightly longer than normal to finalize the housebreaking process, but once they are broken, a Bulldog is extremely careful not to violate its home.

After you’ve established the basics, start creating an environment in which you are the clear and obvious alpha pack leader. Train your bulldog puppy not to bite or nip using toys and a clear whining sound to show that it hurts. Do not allow your puppy to jump on the couch and never let it sleep in your bed. The crate should be used as much as possible in these early months as you stretch out how long the puppy can stay in there.

Bulldog puppy training should move into the obedience phase between 3 and 6 months with focus on basic commands like lying down, sitting, staying, focusing on you, coming when called, waiting inside doors and not pulling on the leash.

You will find that a Bulldog is very adept at picking up on these cues, but may not initially want to follow your lead due to its strong nature.

Using Bulldog Puppy Training to Protect Them

Because of their innate curiosity and courageous nature, a bulldog will try to explore as much as possible. Teach them early not to chase cars, to stop at the curb and to make sure they don’t run away from you in public. Never take a bulldog off its leash until you can be sure it will return upon being called and not run too far from you. The risks are higher with Bulldogs than with many other small breeds.

Proper Bulldog puppy training may seem a little tougher than normal when you first get your new little friend, but eventually you’ll find that a Bulldog is among the most loyal, attentive dogs you could possibly own. They will stubbornly stay by your side, follow your instructions and stay clean indoors. But, only if you lay down the law early and make sure they follow your instructions in the future.