Lhasa Apso Crate Training [Part 3]

This is the final part of this section on Crate Training.

We have seen that crates have their special uses, that some pets like to have a crate - with open door - as their own special sanctuary, but you will find that some puppies and dogs just do not like crates.

If you want to introduce your puppy or dog to crate training you must do so slowly and with the door open. Then if your pup is OK with that you can shut the door for a few seconds - and progress from there slowly. If, on the other hand, your dog or puppy shows signs of distress like chewing at the crate sides, crying or barking - it could well be that you will create stress and problems by trying to continue with the training.

It is easy to train without a crate. You will need to 'puppy proof' a room - checking out everything which is within the puppy's height range. Pay special attention to electrical and telephone wiring, kitchen bins, and other items which can be chewed. If you have had a toddler around the room and had to toddler proof it, then you get the idea!

If you do use a crate, use it as a bedding area, keep it small enough for the puppy to just stand and turn round in comfortably. Then remember that your pup won't want to soil its bed, so take it to its pads, or newspaper, or outside in the garden before you leave it in the crate.

When it is very young it can only 'hang on' for one or two hours... so do NOT keep it couped up in the crate for longer periods.
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Resources:

Books on the subject of training which I thoroughly recommend are It's Me or the Dog by Victoria Stilwell and The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell. Both are extremely comprehensive and, I think, should be in every dog owners library. They should be available new or used at Amazon so just click here for a selection of Dog Training Books

Lhasa Apso Crate Training

Unlike dog training in general which now has a general concensus of doggy authors, TV contributors, and internet experts, all in agreement on the general course which dog training should take...

[Which is - training with kindness, patience, praise and treats for performing any desired behaviour. Using treat based distractions to get your pet to concentrate on what you desire and ignore anything else. And remembering to train your pet that you are top dog and pack leader - by eating first, going in and out of doors first, deciding which way you are heading on your walk, and petting your dog when you want not when he or she asks for attention...]

Crate training receives diverse reactions from the experts. Some are in favour, some against, some maybe, or under special circumstances.

I am in the 'under special circumstances' group!

You must check out the opinion of your favourite experts and make up your own mind. That is why I recommend that you use as many of the information resources [which are mentioned within the various posts on this blog] as you can get your hands on - study all you can, learn all you can, and remember that the welfare of YOUR pet is the most important thing at issue here.

I will go more deeply into this issue in my next post and define what I mean by 'under special circumstances'.

(You can find links to my recommendations for TV programmes, internet resources [in the right-hand margin], and books within previous blog posts about the available experts in greater detail.)