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Crate training a dog seems like a simple solution to many common dog behavioral issues, and it can be. Yet, there are some very common problems that can crop up when your crate training efforts are not immediately rewarded with a calm and happy dog sleeping away in his crate.

Size matters. When crate training a dog make sure that you give full consideration to the size of the crate. Too small and your dog can become neurotic. It's not unusual for puppy owners to accidentally buy a crate that ends up being much too small for their dog as he grows up. Make sure that he can move around in there and stand up without bumping his head against the ceiling even after he grows into his paws.

You can buy dividers that are really handy for large breed dogs that are going to outgrow their puppy size crate within a few months. These dividers mean that you can make the crate smaller when he is little and make it bigger as he grows.

If the crate is big enough for you to scoot into, join him in there for a few minutes the first day or two for just a couple minutes and show him how much you appreciate his sense of adventure by doling out the treats. When you first start closing the door, do it in small increments to help him adjust.

When you give him the first dry run, try to limit it to just a couple of hours. He is going to fuss about the situation. It doesn't mean that the crate is horrible. It means he doesn't want you going away without him. He doesn't like that idea and he is going to let you know, let the neighbors know, and if he has a great set of lungs, let the people a block or two over know that he isn't cool with your independence.

Be prepared for some ruckus. He will most likely bark, whine, cry, sound pathetic, scratch, and act like you are the worst human in the world the first several days he is in there. Let him act it out and do not give him any attention for such behaviors. Giving into him, even once, can lead to a serious issue for the rest of his crate training days. He will become more determined to cause upheaval in there than if you let him go about his fussing and crying without the reward of your attention.

Toys can be a good thing if your dog is safe. This can be a tricky situation. There are dogs that will take out their aggressions by shredding one of the more indestructible toys before you've even walked out to your car. There are other dogs that will happily snuggle up to their woobie bear and wait for your return.

If you're housebreaking at the same time, water can make this more difficult. However, you do not want to leave a dog without sufficient water for an eight to ten hour period. Some people leave ice cubes in the crate. Others say that while this gives them cooling and necessary liquid, they can potentially break a tooth on an ice cube. It makes for a catch 22 situation. If the weather is hot and you do not have ample cooling (or storms tend to knock out your power) leave the pup with some water.

Author's Resource:

Mike Morriswrites about dog training at trainingdoghelp.com For more dog training advice visit crate train a dog

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