by Betty Carew

Created on: January 18, 2011   Last Updated: January 19, 2011

A crate can become a dog’s world whether the dog has been with the owner for years or just introduced to the home. Adopted dogs do present a little more challenge than a dog that has been raised in the family but both can be crate trained. Adopted dogs may be nervous, looking for security and love and are, in a lot of cases, not potty trained. Regardless of how long the dog has been with the owner crate training an older dog has to done with patience, care and positive reinforcement. Here are a few tips for owners to crate train an older dog without stress for the owner or the dog.

Purchasing the crate

There are many reasons why an owner should invest in a good quality crate for an older dog. Purchasing a crate to suit the dog is extremely important. The crate must be large enough so the dog can go in with enough room to lie down and not feel cramped.

Always purchase a crate by the size of the dog. Make sure the height gives the dog plenty of clearance when standing. If the crate is too small the dog will not enjoy the experience. If the crate is too large the dog will not feel like it is a den. If the dog is not trained a crate that is too large will encourage the dog to go potty in the crate.

Placing the crate

Place the crate in an area that the dog can see what is taking place around the home. It can later be moved to a quieter area in the room. When the time comes to keep the dog in the crate the dog will need to know that the owner is near and be able to see them. This will reassure the dog that he is not left alone.

Shelter dogs need constant reassurance until they are comfortable with a new family. Shelter dog may come with a little baggage from previous owners such as being abused or never potty trained. This is important to keep in mind when crate training an older dog.

Preparing the crate

Preparing the crate for the dog is a must. Make the crate a comfortable place for the dog to want to use it. Place a comfortable blanket in there or if the dog is not trained, place a soft absorbent pad on the bottom of the cage with a soft pillow to lie down on. It is not likely any dog will go potty in the crate as dogs do not like soiling sleeping areas. Place an interesting toy inside to encourage the dog to enter.

Start crate training immediately

As soon as the crate is in place start training the dog to use it. As mentioned before this will take patience, love and positive reinforcement, when starting training have the treats ready. Never force the dog

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