Crate training your dog can be very simple if you put the time and energy into doing it right.  Crate training your Labrador dog is very important to ease separation anxiety and promote housebreaking.  Here is a guide to properly crate training your Labrador dog.

1.  Introduce your puppy to the crate: Your puppy will probably not like the crate at first which is why you will have to introduce it to them in a non threatening and enticing way.  How?  By using treats of course!  Your Labrador dog will be highly motivated by food and you will use that to your advantage in every training method.  First introduce your Labrador dog to the crate by throwing treats in, at first just at the opening and slowly moving them further back until your pup gets completely into the crate.

2.  Keep the crate door open: Your puppy will be wary of the crate so you must keep the crate door open until they are completely comfortable with it.  Keep practicing getting your puppy into the crate using treats but keeping the door open.  Eventually get your puppy into the crate and teach her to stay, also with the door open.  After she has mastered that, close the door but do not lock it.  You may even want to leave the door open a crack so the puppy does not feel trapped.  Try testing your puppy by leaving the room for a few minutes.  This is a good activity to try when your puppy is getting tired.

3.  Close the Door:  Once your Labrador dog is comfortable being in the crate alone with the door shut but not locked it is time to lock the door.  Use the same treat tactics to get your puppy into the crate.  You may want to introduce a cue word like “crate” or just tap the top of the crate to let your puppy know it is time to go inside.  I find that a puppy does better when there is a sheet placed over the crate to keep from distractions and promote sleep time.  At first you will want to only to leave your puppy inside for about 15 minutes and gradually increase the time.  If your puppy begins to cry do not let them out.  You should only let them out when they are quiet otherwise you the puppy will learn that crying is the way to get out of the crate when they want.

Tags: crate training, Labrador retriever, puppy housebreaking

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 at 5:41 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.