Having a crate in the home can be valuable to many dog owners. Not only can it create a secure and safe space for your dog to rest in, but you can be sure that your pet pooch isn’t up to no good.
Not only that, it can also help during the time you are house training your dog. However, what it should never be used for is punishment.
This can cause a whole list of problems for your dog – and they will never want to get inside the crate. The crate needs to be a welcoming space for your dog. For them, it is a cozy and relaxing place to be in.
This is especially true if they are afraid of things they cannot control, for example fireworks. Having a place they can go to which stops them from being anxious is always a great thing.
If you are having trouble with calming your dog when they are put into a crate, then you may be at your wits end.
However, there are steps you can take to make sure your dog is calm once inside a crate. So, let’s take a look at how you can calm a dog in a crate.
Simple Tricks To Keep Your Dog Calm In A Crate
Here are some simple ways to help keep your beloved pet pooch calm inside a crate. Once you make a habit of the steps below, there is a good chance your dog will feel much calmer once inside the crate.
1. Never Try And Force Your Dog To Be Inside A Crate
One of the things you should never, ever do is force your dog to be inside the crate, but also to get out of the crate. This can cause him or her to be stubborn and not want to be inside the crate.
They might even see being forced to be in the crate as punishment. It is often better to open the door and let him or her go in and out on their own accord.
Once he or she is in, you can then give him or her time to get comfortable before shutting the door. And that is another point.
Make sure your dog is fully comfortable and relaxed before shutting the door. So this means not closing it right away before they even have a chance to lie down.
2. Make The Dog Crate Extra Comfortable
You will want to make sure that the crate is very comfortable and a place that they can go to to relax. This could mean adding a wonderful cushion, or placing their favorite toys and blanket inside it.
You might also want to think about calming supplements made for dogs that they can eat once inside the crate. A good example is the probiotic calming dog treats by GoodGood.
3. Put Treats Inside The Dog Crate, But With A Twist
Speaking of treats, you can hide a few treats inside the crate. Your dog will eventually notice them, once they do, open the crate after a couple of minutes and let your dog walk in.
Lock the crate, and once the treats are found, unlock the crate and let them come out. It begins to get a dog used to their crate.
4. Buy A New And Unused Dog Crate
If your dog has a negative experience with a crate, then the best thing you can do is to buy a brand new one. You will then need to go through the steps of getting your dog used to the crate and feeling comfortable within it.
Why Might A Dog Not Want To Get Inside A Crate?
If you find that your dog will not even get into the crate, then there could be some good reasons for this.
One of the most simplest and common reasons for a dog not wanting to get into a crate is due to a change within the environment the crate is placed in.
For example, you may have moved the crate, or something may have changed within it. This could be a clean rug – so they have lost his or her smell – or even new toys.
Other reasons could be because he hurt himself in the crate, the crate was used as a punishment, or if he or she has to use the crate all the time. They may just become tired of being in there.
Another thing to think about is whether your dog has separation anxiety. If he or she does, then they may have learned that you putting him or her in their crate means that they will be away from you. So keep these things in mind.
Why Does A Puppy Whine In Its Crate?
You might be thinking that your puppy is not happy about being in his or her crate because they whine when they are in there. Puppies tend to whine in their crate because they likely have feelings of confusion and loneliness.
This is because they have been separated from their pack, and this can be a big change in their lives. They are also not used to being confined, so will need training in order for them to get used to it as they grow up.
Puppies are naturally social, so they will whine if left confined on their own. However, during the training period you should not give them attention. If you do, they will learn the habit of whining until they get your attention.
Obviously, look out for other signs that could mean more than them just whining due to normal behavior. This is often the case when they never used to whine in a crate before, for example.
Final Thoughts
If your dog isn’t calm inside a crate, then there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that they feel calmer over time.
From buying a new crate, to making them extra comfortable, it shouldn’t take too long to make them feel better.
