with time and patience, crate training an older dog can make a big difference for you and your pup. these steps aren’t meant to be completed in one day, and it could take as long as a month or longer for your dog to fully accept the crate as their home within your home. after you set up the crate and place it in an ideal location, lock some dog treats inside it. open the crate and let your dog go in and eat the treats. as soon as your dog walks out, drop more treats in the crate and shut the door (with your dog on the outside).
if your dog remains calm, move the door halfway closed and drop a treat. if your dog leaves the crate, close the door and add treats to the crate as usual. when your dog is comfortable with the crate door locked, hand your dog a food toy or chew in the crate. when your pup is staying content in the crate for long enough for you to run a 20- or 30-minute errand, you can even try leaving the house—and keep building up to even longer stays. just remember to keep locking the crate with treats inside between training sessions.
we don’t always like it and neither do our canine friends, especially as they grow older. regardless of what you’ve heard about older dogs, you can teach them new tricks — and that includes crate training. crates also are a safe place for older dogs to heal after surgery or during an illness, and in case of emergencies. before you begin, designate a place in your home where the crate can stay permanently or at least during the training process. if your dog has a favorite place to retreat, consider setting up the crate in that general area so he can explore it before training begins. the crate should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not so big that he can relieve himself in one end.
the best time to introduce your older dog to a new experience is when he is calm and relaxed. for example, if your dog is more relaxed after dinner and before bedtime, consider setting aside a few minutes during this period to start the process. your dog will adjust more quickly and be happier if you present the new experience in a relaxed and positive manner. resist the temptation to force your dog into the crate or leave him for more than a few hours at a time. whenever possible, begin well in advance so that your dog will be comfortable spending time in his crate when the moment comes: older dogs are often creatures of habit, so while they can learn a new routine, it might take them a while to become accustomed to it. when done correctly, most dogs come to see their crate as a welcome retreat. it may take longer than anticipated, but the rewards of having a well-adjusted crate-trained dog are well worth the effort.
start by closing it just for a second before opening it and letting him out again. this will show your dog that he can trust you to let him out throw a treat inside the crate and encourage your dog to follow it. close the door for a second then immediately open it again, allowing your dog to exit the your goal is to make your dog associate the crate with positive feelings, so encourage her to go to the crate by putting treats and even food inside. eventually, how to crate train an older dog with separation anxiety, how to crate train an older dog at night, crate training a rescue dog, crate training a rescue dog, crate training a dog.
the training process step 1: introduce your dog to the crate step 2: feed your dog meals in the crate step 3: practice with longer crating periods step 4, adult and senior dogs can be crate trained, too—and there are so many reasons to do so, from housetraining to travel to simply allowing your dog the best time to introduce your older dog to a new experience is when he is calm and relaxed. this includes crate training. once you get the, how to crate train a 1 year old dog, crate training at night.
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