How To Use a Crate To Train Your Puppy While Launching a New Business
If you’re the owner of a brand new business as well as a new puppy, you may be wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into. Both require significant time and energy, and they will suffer if you neglect them. The good news is you can nurture each of them to develop successfully with proper attention, patience and the right tools. The following tips from Silver Paw Pet Tags demonstrate how you can use a crate to train your puppy, focus on your business and preserve your sanity all at the same time.
Purchase Two Crates
If possible, purchase two crates: one for a quiet area of the house, such as a bedroom, and one for your office. Sometimes your business requires 100 percent of your attention, and the crate holds the puppy out of harm’s way.
Keeping your business and personal assets legally separate helps provide for your safety too. To accomplish this, along with possible tax benefits, register your business as a Maine LLC. It’s easy and inexpensive whether you file the LLC paperwork yourself or use a formation service so you won’t need an expensive lawyer to handle it.
Make the Crate Comfortable for Your Puppy
Effective crate training hinges upon your dog viewing the kennel in a positive light. That means your puppy should recognize the crate as a personal space where he or she feels safe and comfortable. Use a soft crate pad that fits the dimensions of the bottom and cover the top with a blanket or towel, leaving the front open so the puppy can see out one side. Setting the crate up this way will work well with your dog’s denning instinct.
- Allow the puppy to explore the crate freely with the door open at first.
- Leave a treat inside the kennel for the puppy to find, and coordinate the timing with closing the crate door.
- Create a routine for going into the crate by saying the same phrase, tossing in a small treat, adding a favorite toy or other repeated action.
- Avoid leaving anything in the box that your puppy could choke on while unsupervised.
- Never use the crate as punishment or speak harshly when it’s time to go in.
Avoid Future Separation Anxiety
Giving your puppy crate time away from you in a quiet area of the house teaches your pet that it’s OK to spend time alone. Expect some whining and barking at first, just like a baby who doesn’t want to go down for a nap. In most cases, the puppy will settle, but if not, there are barking deterrents you can place outside the crate to help train your young pet to be quiet.
Use a Special Reward for Time in the Crate
When you need to leave your puppy alone for an extended period, make the experience positive by providing a special, long-lasting treat. Use a Kong or other tough, treat-dispensing toy and fill it with goodies the animal has to work at to get out. Freezing the food inside the toy makes it last a long time. That way, your dog is occupied with a rewarding activity when you are away or out of sight. In most cases, the puppy will fall asleep after working hard to get the treat out.
Used properly, a crate can be an effective training tool and a safe, secure place for your pet to nap or work on a chew toy. It also helps you get back to work when your business needs your complete focus.
