dogs and crate training for calmer nights

Crate training allows your dog to learn to relax and sleep comfortably throughout the night, and can also help you determine when she needs to go outside to eliminate waste.

Start by encouraging your dog to enter her crate willingly and increase her time spent there as she adapts.

1. Make the Crate Inviting

Crate training can help dogs feel safe, secure, and at home in their new space. It’s essential to start early and ensure it remains a positive experience if your pup starts whining or barking in its new abode – address this behavior calmly to ensure success!

Forceful introductions or sudden closure of their crate too soon can create negative associations and add to their anxiety and stress levels. Instead, gradually introduce your pet to the crate in a calm area with temperature regulation while leaving its door open – encouraging exploration at their own pace before rewarding their participation with treats or soft bedding or blanket.

Start feeding meals and using calming scents or music to promote relaxation in their crate. When your pup can enter his or her own with verbal cues, gradually increase crate time for longer (e.g. after long walks or before bedtime).

2. Keep Treats in the Crate

Crates are not designed to be dens for dogs; they need to learn how to associate them with rest and relaxation on their own, guided by humans. Make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise, toys, and games to keep him engaged inside his crate so he doesn’t feel trapped; doing this may prevent him from chewing and whining incessantly while inside.

Dangle irresistibly tasty treats into your dog’s crate and encourage him to enter by clicking (or verbal markers like saying, “Yes!). Repeatedly throw treats until he begins entering on his own.

Once your dog is familiar with entering his crate on their own, begin gradually closing its door for short periods while nearby. Gradually increase both duration of crating and distance left before rewarding calm behavior with treats or rewards. This gradual training protocol ensures your pup doesn’t experience excess anxiety that causes panicked behavior such as damaging themselves while trying to escape their crate.

3. Keep the Crate in the Bedroom

Crate training can be an excellent way to help relieve puppies and dogs suffering from anxiety. Early training enables pups to associate the crate as their private space and feel safe even during midnight visits! For puppies with separation anxiety, early training should start as soon as possible – building positive associations between their time spent crate training and developing positive associations between themselves and the crate throughout life is vital for overall wellbeing!

To facilitate crate training, it’s best to keep their crate in your bedroom (if applicable), or another place with quiet and tranquil surroundings. This enables you to monitor their activity through the night – such as having to go outside to use the bathroom, as well as avoid wandering off through the house in their sleep or getting into dangerous situations while sleeping. Furthermore, encourage crate time by feeding their meals inside of it, gradually increasing time spent inside whilst remaining nearby, or using calming canine pheromones to keep them calm and comfortable in their crate!

4. Keep the Crate in the Hallway

Crates provide dogs with a secure space where they feel safe, warm and cozy at nighttime. When used correctly, crates become your dog’s personal retreat – our Phoenix Valley services help families transform crate time into calm time!

Crates should never be used as punishment; rather they should provide your pet with a safe space to retreat to when overstimulated or exhausted. A dog who remains confined all day long and all night risks becoming depressed and anxious from lack of exercise and social interaction; these things must all come into balance for optimal wellbeing for everyone involved.

Find an appropriate location for your dog’s crate that’s free from high-traffic walkways or hallways, rooms used by family members during the daytime hours, power cords that could potentially cause injury to themselves and areas with lots of lighting sources. When it’s time to put them away at nighttime, use commands like “kennel up!” to call them over as you enter their crate, giving a treat when entering.

5. Keep the Crate in the Kitchen

Making your pup anxious by forcing them into the crate before they’re ready may make them anxious or punishable, so take steps such as feeding your pup at times of low energy or during calming activities such as feeding. By doing this, they can develop positive associations between themselves and their crate; such as soft bedding, your scent-infused shirt worn over their shoulder and safe chew toys like frozen-stuffed Kongs to ensure positive associations are created over time.

As soon as your dog has become comfortable entering their crate on his or her own, start closing its door for short periods while remaining nearby and gradually increase this timeframe.

If your puppy begins whining during the night, do not give in. Whining gets them attention so they may continue with it longer and louder – potentially leading to injuries when trying to escape their confines.

If your puppy appears to have separation anxiety, it’s essential that you seek professional assistance immediately. Crating is often used as the last resort when treating separation anxiety in dogs; but with careful use it can serve to ensure both his/her wellbeing while you’re gone.

6. Keep the Crate in the Bathroom

Let your pup run loose in your home when you’re gone can lead to disaster! Your pup could end up raiding your trash cans, eating poisonous substances or chewing up favorite shoes or carpet. Your furry pal could even get into fights with other household pets or cause property damage! For their own protection and well-being, providing a secure crate would provide your canine the best environment in which they can rest and unwind safely.

When your pup starts whining in their crate, they may be telling you they need to go outside to potty. Resist giving in and releasing them – this teaches your pet that whining gets results! Instead, ignore their pleas until their crying stops before releasing them; if that fails, increase the duration of crate time until your dog has finished crying before reinserting him/her back into it so you’re less likely to encourage use as an bathroom facility.

7. Keep the Crate in the Living Room

Crates can be useful tools in keeping dogs safe while you’re at work, but they shouldn’t replace other methods of relieving separation anxiety. Crates should only be used as a temporary measure; other arrangements must be made for when you leave home.

Once your dog is comfortable in his crate, gradually increase the length of time spent there – first during the daytime, and later overnight. If vocalizing occurs in their crate due to too rapid an increase, you are probably increasing it too rapidly.

Make the crate more accommodating for your dog by placing it in an area they’re familiar with, such as the living room. Add comfort by decorating it with cozy blankets or other bedding; plugging in a diffuser filled with dog appeasing pheromones will also create a soothing environment. Richell USA offers an assortment of crates designed to suit every dog breed as well as every style apartment!

8. Keep the Crate in the Bedroom

Crate-training your puppy can often result in them crying the first few nights they arrive home, which is completely normal as they’ve spent so long being with their mother and siblings all night long. Placing their crate in your room can help them feel closer to you while giving them their own safe space that just belongs to them.

Once your puppy can stay calmly inside their crate for short periods without whining, you can begin encouraging nighttime sleeping arrangements in it. Use calm verbal cues such as “kennel up”, and reward with treats to promote positive associations; start off slowly to avoid negative associations from developing; gradually increase duration over time.

If your dog is whining in its crate, it could be because they need to use the bathroom outside. To avoid further distress from your pup while they relieve themselves, take them out and lead them immediately towards a quick trip outside for bathroom purposes before leading back home after use. When finished, return them back into their crate for safe keeping!


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