Crate training is a process that can't be rushed

Crate training your dog can have a lot of benefits. A crate gives your dog a safe place to be when they are nervous or when you are out of the house. For dogs that have destructive habits while you are at work, a crate not only prevents your dog from taking apart your house, but helps keep your pet safe, too. Crates are especially helpful if you have a dog that suffers from separation anxiety or are working on house training. While training a puppy to be comfortable in a crate is easiest, it is definitely possible to train a dog of any age. What's most important is to remember that a crate should never be used for punishment, nor should your dog spend all day and all night locked away in a small space.

To help get your dog comfortable with a crate, make sure the crate is open and available to him at all times. Let your dog sniff and explore the crate on his own before doing any sort of training. Encourage your dog to spend short amounts of time in the crate by enticing him with treats and toys he only gets to have while crated. The more positive you make the experience, the easier time you will have training your dog. As your dog become more comfortable, work your way up to longer periods of time in the crate.

If your dog is reluctant, try serving his meals in the crate. If he's willing to go all the way in, serve them in the back of the kennel. If not, put the dish as far in as he's willing to go and gradually work on putting the dish farther back. Once your dog is entirely in the crate, shut the door while he eats. From there, you can work on leaving the door shut after he's finished eating for longer periods of time. Again, your dog is learning that being in the crate is a positive experience and not a punishment.

Once your dog is comfortable with short periods of time in his crate, try crating him while you leave the house for short errands. Like with meals being served in his crate, the process should be gradual. Start with short trips and, as your dog becomes more comfortable with the crate, you can increase the amount of time you are gone.

Remember that, as you train your dog, your dog is also training you. If your dog whines when you put him in the crate and you respond, your dog will learn very quickly that whining gets your attention and will continue to whine or bark as much as possible until you let him out. Above all, remember that crate training doesn't happen overnight (literally!). You want the crate to be a pleasant and comforting place for your dog, and the only way to do that is to take your time with the training process.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, a cat, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.