Transcription
An Owner’s Manual for:CR AT E T R AININGby theA M E R I CAN K E N N E L C LU B
ABOUT THIS SERIESAt the AKC, we know better thananyone that your dog can’t be treatedlike a car or an appliance, but we’venamed this series “An Owner’s Manual”because sometimes you probably wishyour lovable companions came withone.These concise guides give you the tools,tips, and direction to be a responsibleand confident dog owner who bringsout the best in your dog.Give them a test drive!AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 2
WHAT IS CRATE TRAINING?Basically, you’re giving your dog a room of his own.By keeping your dog in a crate that is large enough forhim to stand up and turn around while you’reaway or sleeping, you’ll help housebreakhim and give him a space to feel safeand protected. Plus, you’ll fill it withtoys and bedding, so he’ll feelextra cozy—kind oflike a playpen for a baby.Golden Retriever/Courtesy Pet DreamsAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 3
ISN’T THAT CRUEL?Nope! In fact, dogs like crates sincethey mimic the close quarters of awolf’s den. Also, this practice can helpwith anxiety issues. Dogs naturallywant to protect their space when theirhumans aren’t there to do it for them.But watching over a large home (oreven a studio apartment for a little dog)can be overwhelming. When all theyhave to “guard” is their little room, itbecomes more manageable in theirlittle canine minds.AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 4
OK, YOU’VE SOLD ME.HOW DO I SELECT A CRATE?n I t should be big enough for your dog to stand up,turn around, and lie down, but not much largerthan that.n I f you have a growing puppy, considera crate that has a removable partition sothat the crate space can “grow” with the dog.n M etal is better than canvas becauseit’s easier to clean up accidents.n It should be well ventilated. Vuk Vukoslavovic/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 5
TRAINING FOR THE CRATEIt’s necessary to teach your dog to enjoy his crateand to start in small increments of timewhile you’re home.AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 6
PLAN AHEAD:The first few days and nights will be rough on yourpup as he adjusts to life without mom and hislittermates. If you plan ahead, give a blanket ortowel to the breeder to keep in the litter beforebringing your pup home. That towel—scentedwith his litter—can go in the crate tohelp the transition. Marlonneke/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 7
STEP 1:Line the crate with blankets to make itcozy. You can also cover it with a(lightweight) blanket to mimic the “den”environment. Make sure it is stillventilated and not too hot if you do this.AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 8
STEP 2:Bring your puppy to the cratefor naps and quiet-time breaksfor the puppy to “unwind” fromfamily chaos. Start in incrementsof 10 minutes and work up tolonger. Offer treats when he goesinside, and toys (like a stuffedKong). It’s also helpful to keeppuppies in the crate overnight(they may cry the first night ortwo—don’t be alarmed, they aresimply adjusting to home without their mom and littermates). Violet-blue/Gettyimages.comAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 9
STEP 3:Every time you take the puppyout of the crate, take him for awalk so he can eliminate. He’ll getused to the idea that bathroomtime comes after crate time. Daisy-Daisy/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 10
HOW LONG IS OK?1 Hour for every month your dog’s age is (up to 6 to 8hours max) (e.g., a four-month-old puppy should notbe crated for more than four hours)AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 11
NO-NO #1Never leave a puppy in his crate all day; heneeds several bathroom breaks and play andfeeding times. Even though he won’t want tosoil his sleeping area, if he is in there for extremely long stretches, he just might. (He can’thelp it.) And if he does, it is because his ownerhas neglected his responsibility, not becausethe dog has misbehaved. IGlobalP/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 12
NO-NO #2Never use the crate as punishment.Your dog should see his “room” as a placewhere only happy, peaceful things happen. WilleeCole/Gettyimages.comAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LCrate Training 13
TH E AM ER ICAN KE NNE L C LUBWHO AND WHAT WE ARE:The AKC is a not-for-profit organization and the largestpurebred dog registry in the world. We are thesports-governing body for over 22,000 dog events a year,including conformation (dog shows) and exciting sports likeagility, obedience, rally, tracking, lure coursing, earthdog,herding trials, among others.
TH E AM ER ICAN KE NNE L C LUBBut the AKC is so much more! Here are just some of the ways we support and enrich the lives of dogs—purebreds andmixed-breeds alike—and their families. We:nCreated the AKC Humane Fund, which supports breeddonated over 24 million to the CHF. (The AKC is the onlyrescue activities, assists shelters that permit domestic-abuseregistry that incorporates health-screening results into its per-victims to bring their pets, and educates dog lovers about re-manent dog records.)sponsible dog ownership.nnOffer the Canine Good Citizen program: A 10-step testthat certifies dogs who have good manners at home and inConduct thousands of kennel inspections annually to mon-itor care and conditions at kennels across the country andensure the integrity of the AKC registry.their community. Over 725,000 dogs across the United StatesOffer the largest, most comprehensive set of DNA programshave become Canine Good Citizens , and 42 states have passednresolutions recognizing the program’s merit and importance.for parentage verification and genetic identity to ensure reliable registration records.nFounded AKC Reunite, which has brought more than 400,000lost pets back together with their owners.nSupport one of the world’s largest collections of dog-relatedfine art and artifacts at the AKC Museum of the Dog, and wenCreated the AKC Canine Health Foundation, which fundsresearch projects and clinical studies. Since 1995 the AKC hashave the world’s largest dog library at AKC headquarters inNew York, both of which are open to the public.
TH E AM ER ICAN KE NNE L C LUBTHANK YOU FOR READING!We hope this information was valuable to you in helping your puppy live a long, healthy, happy life. Below, find additionalbooks in our Owner’s Manual series designed to strengthen the bond between you and your furry family member.5 TRICKS TOSHOW OFFCANINE BODYLANGUAGECANINE GOODCITIZENAGILITY FORBEGINNERSPUPPY NUTRITIONHOW TO CRATETRAIN YOUR DOGFIRST AIDFOR DOGSSELECTING A PUPPY5 BASIC COMMANDSLIFE WITH ASENIOR DOGWHY DOES MY DOGDO THAT?RESPONSIBLE DOGOWNER TIPSWHAT’S HE THINKING?PUPPYSOCIALIZATION
anyone that your dog can’t be treated like a car or an appliance, but we’ve named this series “An Owner’s Manual” because sometimes you probably wish your lovable companions came with one. These concise guides give you the tools, tips, and direction to be a responsible and confident dog ow
