Congratulations on your new puppy! Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time, especially as your new dog begins to unwind and showcase their lovable personality. However, while it’s important to leave time for your puppy to get used to their new surroundings, you should also start thinking ahead about training, especially when it comes to crate training.
Your dog’s crate isn’t a punishment. Instead, it’s a safe place they can go to relax and have downtime away from guests, other pets, and even family. Because of this, crate training should be a top priority for your new pup, along with restroom manners and simple commands. But crate training doesn’t have to be tedious or stressful. When done with the right mindset and a handful of treats, crate training can be a fun time you and your new canine companion can enjoy.
Below, dtry these three games to help your dog create positive associations with their crate. These are designed to make training easier and more enjoyable for both of you, helping instill necessary skills in a fun way.
Fun Puppy Crate Training Game #1: Treat Toss
The best way to your new puppy’s heart is through their stomach. Dogs learn through positive reinforcement, which means that treats are a great way to help them learn new skills. For example, if you wanted to teach your dog how to sit, then using treats can help them understand what they’re supposed to do. This extends into crate training as well.
However, you don’t have to reward your dog when they enter their crate, although that can be helpful too. Instead, the first game you can try with your new puppy during crate training is treat toss. This game is simple and requires nothing except a few treats, a crate, and a puppy ready to learn.
Start this game by tossing a treat into the crate and letting your puppy go in after it. Don’t worry about shutting the door or trying to keep them in the crate for a certain amount of time. Instead, let them scope out their surroundings and come out when they please. When your puppy responds well to entering the crate, reward them with another treat.
You can repeat this game several times as your puppy learns to become comfortable entering and staying in their crate. This is a significant starting step for your puppy and works best as an introduction. Once your puppy has mastered this game and enters their crate with no problems, consider moving to one of the other games on this list to help fortify and reinforce the skills they’re learning.
Fun Puppy Crate Training Game #2: Find It!
This game takes advantage of your dog’s natural foraging instincts while also building on the skills they learned in “Treat Toss”. It encourages your puppy to stay in their crate for longer, with the door open for now, while also making what was once an unfamiliar crate a place of play and reward.
To play “Find It!” with your new puppy, add a blanket, towel, soft toy, snuffle mat, or similar item to their crate. Then, hide a few pieces of treats or kibble within the item you chose. Once your dog smells the treat, they’ll likely enter the crate and paw or sniff until they find it. This requires them to spend more time in the crate than simply tossing the treat inside while still fostering positive associations.
There are plenty of ways to customize this game and change it up to keep it interesting for your puppy. You can try alternating treats or using a different item to hide them. You can even opt for more advanced scavenger hunts, using a toy that your dog may need to paw or nudge to access the treats inside.
Fun Puppy Crate Training Game #3: Obstacle Course
If your new puppy is a high-energy breed, they’ll love this exciting game. To create a mini obstacle course for your puppy to explore, use pillows, chairs, or even tunnels. Or, if you’re looking for a more straightforward approach that your puppy can still enjoy, opt for a simple zig-zag path.
The focus of this activity is to include the crate as their final obstacle – toss a treat or one of their favorite toys inside once they reach the end, like you would in “Treat Toss”.
Get a Head Start on Puppy Crate Training Today!
Crate games are more than just fun and games – they’re valuable tools that can help your dog build trust and comfort in their crate. By turning your dog’s crate into a positive place from the start, you can avoid many common pitfalls of crate training. This means less time correcting behaviors like whining or barking while your puppy is in the crate and more time creating positive memories with them.
The key to crate training is keeping training sessions short and rewarding. If your puppy seems overwhelmed or uninterested, consider taking a break and trying again later. Try a different approach, such as switching to a different game.
If you’re struggling with mastering crate training or aren’t sure how to begin with teaching commands and other skills, consider reaching out to a professional dog trainer. At Pawsitive K9 Solutions, our team of professionals is ready to help you wherever you are in your training journey, whether you’re just starting crate training or want to address concerns like jumping.
Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation and start building the relationship with your dog that you’ve always envisioned.
Share your success stories with us in the comments!
Recent Comments