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Why Almost Everyone Is Wrong About Crate Training
by Malacka Persa
Editor's Notes: Crate training... yes or no? You'll find strong supporters both for and against training a dog by putting it in a crate.
Some people feel the crate is a "safe place" for the dog and that the dog will not soil such a special place, thereby enabling you to complete housetraining for the dog. Others feel it is inhumane to lock a dog in such a small place and that you should just train them by taking them for frequent walks outside. For myself, I've crate trained by last 2 dogs. It worked reasonably well, though we also needed to take them outside to give them the idea.
The following article is written from the perspective of the dog itself... (:-))
Dear Dog-Owner,
I wanted to write this to dispel a couple of misconceptions about crate training. But why should you listen to me? Because I'm a dog and I should know...
First, crate training should be used to housetrain a dog or puppy. But some owners seem to use it as a form of punishment. The end result is that neither the "training" nor the "punishment" work.
Second, to make crate training effective, there's one vitally important thing that a dog owner must do. The owner must establish a routine of rewarding the dog for demonstrating the proper behavior. Without it, crate training is a useless exercise for both the dog and the dog owner.
Third, the dog owner should establish a routine feeding schedule. After all, what goes "in" on schedule typically comes "out" on schedule.
Editor's Notes: So, that means you can't just stick a dog in a crate and leave it for hours on end and expect it to be "good."
Finally, there are several other quick and easy things you can do to ensure that crate training goes smoothly and is effective in housebreaking your dog. In fact, you'll be surprised when you find out how simple they really are.
These secrets are used by professional dog trainers all over and it's something they'll charge you hundreds of dollars to learn.
Save your money and click here to discover the secrets for yourself:
Yours in Success,
Malacka
P.S. If you sign up for our Free "Doggone It - Dog Training Tips" newsletter today you'll receive a complimentary and fun audio Dog Training session that you can download immediately. Hurry before this limited offer expires...
About the Author: Malacka Persa may be contacted at www.writersnest.com, malacka@writersnest.com. To view more of her articles, see www.dog-training-at-home.com).
Editor's Notes:When it comes right down to it, the issue of crate training vs. housetraining a dog by taking it outside frequently is really a personal one. No one else can tell you what is best or right for you and your dog. I liked the crate when my dog was a puppy because it kept him from doing his duty all over the house. But crate training didn't really work that well with him. He really didn't "get it" until he was old enough to understand why he was being taken outside every couple of hours. For you, you'll just have to decide for yourself if crate training is the route you want to go.