Hi I'm Brandon and welcome to Chewy!. You're probably familiar with crate
training a puppy, but did you know that crate training an older dog can be just
as important?. Although the process isn't so different from training a puppy,
there's still a few important things to know before you begin. So let's get
started! Tip #1: Teach your dog to love
the crate! Your goal is to teach your dog that their crate is an awesome place to
chill. But with an older dog, you want to make sure you do it at their pace. In
some cases, if your dog previously didn't have great experiences with the crate, it
might take a bit longer to get them to change their mind. But just like any
other training session, keeping crate training fun and relaxed
every step of the way is bound to win that crate some brownie points with your
dog. Tip #2: Make the crate a comfy place. Make sure the crate is big
enough for your older dog to stand up, turn around and comfortably lay down.
You'll also want a soft mat in there for comfy coziness.
If your dog is a little more anxious, dog appeasing pheromone or DAP products
like a spray or a collar can help keep him cool and collected. Tip #3:
Set your dog up for success. Before you crate your dog, make sure he is fed and
exercise so we can just focus on relaxing. Giving him his favorite chew
toys can help encourage him to associate the crate with good things.
Remember not to crate your adult dog for more than 4-6 hours. If your
dog is over-crated, he might start to resist going in the crate. Remember the
crate is supposed to feel like a chill getaway. Kinda like my secret pillow
fort. Tip #4: Go back to basics. If your adult dog isn't used to a crate, he
might show signs of stress like whining, barking, or destructive behavior. Don't
feel discouraged! Instead, try going back to basics and working more slowly
towards the goal. If your dog is showing extreme signs of panic or distress from
being in the crate, he might have separation anxiety.
You can try consulting a professional trainer or check out our video on
separation anxiety here. Crate training your adult dog can help reduce anxiety,
prevent unwanted behaviors, and give them a safe space to retreat to whenever
need a little peace and quiet. And remember, no matter how old your dog is,
you can always teach your best friend some new tricks with with little
patience and lots of fun. Do you have any tips for crate training and older dog?
Tell us about it in the comments below. I'm Brandon and thanks for watching. Bye!