SAFETY NOTE: This article is part of a series of articles on crate training. Before starting any of the training outlined below, make sure to read the introductory crate acclimation article. There you’ll learn about setting up the crate properly to avoid startling your dog and read the safety notes to ensure that your training goes safely and successfully.
Method #5: The Best Bet if Your Schedule Forces You to Leave Your Dog Closed in His Crate on Day One
Remember that you should, if at all possible, start introducing your puppy to his crate at a time when you have a few days to ease him into things. However, in the real world, it doesn’t always work that way. You might find a stray dog at midnight or have an emergency that forces you to leave your dog at home alone on his first day with you. Under those circumstances, you can use this abbreviated method to get your puppy to stay in his crate. We don’t recommend this method if you have time to do the other, more gradual, methods for crate acclimation. Try it only if you absolutely must.
This method’s a simple one:
Step One: Place your dog in his crate. You can lift him in if he’s a little guy, or lead him in with one hand holding his collar and the other under his belly. Give him something yummy that will take him a long time to chew, like a raw marrow bone from the butcher or a hollow rubber toy
Step Two: Close the door of the crate and leave.
Step Three: Keep your fingers crossed and get home as quickly as you can!
SAFETY NOTE: If your dog is a large adult dog you don’t know well, or if he’s shown any signs of aggressive behavior, we don’t recommend that you try to physically put him in his crate – this could cause an aggressive dog to bite. If you’re not sure you can safely put him in his crate, try luring him in with treats or seek the help of an experienced professional dog trainer to help you introduce your dog to the crate.