Your happiness, as well as your dog’s, is based on its training. Your dog will be more predictable when he is trained in the right way. You will be less stressed knowing that he will behave himself when he is home alone or around other people. Although it is time consuming teaching and training your dog, the time you invest in your dog will pay off.
Here are a few ways to make crate training more positive for your dog. If they are hesitant about the crate, you can put a nice chew bone inside and shut the gate while they are not in it. Your dog will want the bone and will be unable to resist entering the crate. When he finally goes into the crate to retrieve the toy, shower the dog with praise.
Always ensure your dog is getting enough exercise. Don’t let your dog sit around with nothing to do. They won’t get any exercise that way and if they’re too bored, they might sniff around and get into some trouble. A bored dog will try and find something interesting to do, and training is not usually interesting. You will find that your dog will pay more attention to you when it is exercised and happy. Go on runs or long walks together.
Always buy a crate that is the correct size for your dog so you can train them well. Keep in mind, puppies do not stay small forever. You must be able to accommodate the growth your puppy will experience as he ages. A larger crate allows for continued comfort and happiness. At full size your dog should be able to move around without feeling too constricted.
Training your dog is essentially establishing relationship rules, and, like with people, enjoyment with each other will be so much more since the groundwork has been established. Remember to keep reinforcing what your dog has learned. Do not let him stray from good behavior over time, and stay firm if he does. After your dog has learned the basics, you can work together more effectively to instill more complex behaviors.