If you’ve recently bought a Corgi puppy, you may have a few questions. While every house and dog owner is unique, several problems are common. The safety of your dog comes first.
A close second is keeping your house from being chewed to shreds. Crate training your Corgi puppy can assist with both of these concerns, as well as toilet training.
This post will explain what crate training is all about. We look at the advantages and disadvantages of crate training for both you and your dog. There are various methods for crate training your dog, and we go through them in depth. We also talk about things you should avoid doing to keep your dog feeling secure and happy.
Table of Contents
What is Crate Training?
Crate training allows you to capitalize on your dog’s inherent denning tendencies. Dogs are naturally drawn to tiny, confined locations where they may sleep, hide from danger, and relax.
Some people consider crate training to be harsh, comparing it to a jail cell. Crate training, when done correctly, provides several advantages for both your dog and you. Crate training your Corgi puppy is one of the easiest and least stressful ways to encourage your dog to behave properly.
What Are the Benefits of Crate Training Your Corgi?
Crate training your Corgi dog has several benefits. A lot of anxiety, tension, and concern may be avoided if your dog learns to recognize his crate as a safe haven. This applies not only to the dog but also to you, the owner. Many expert dog trainers and veterinarians endorse and approve of this practice.
Helps with Potty Training Issues
All puppies require assistance in determining where it is acceptable and unacceptable to relieve themselves. A cage aids in this process of localizing your dog. He will avoid peeing and pooping inside the kennel due to his innate denning instincts. It makes gaining some control over the process much easier.
Keeps Your Curious Pup Safe
Your Corgi puppy is naturally curious and may not understand what can and cannot be eaten. When you’re busy around the house and can’t keep an eye on him, a crate is a wonderful way to keep him secure. It will keep him from eating something he shouldn’t, such as the chocolate chips someone left on the table or a cleaning agent.
Keeps Your House Safe
A crate is an excellent technique to protect your Corgi puppy from destroying your home. Your dog may not be malicious, but he is curious, lively, and has a row of keen small milk teeth. If left unchecked, he may rapidly destroy Grandma’s antique furniture or eat your beloved book to a pulp. Crating is an excellent technique to avoid accidents and damage during the first several months.
Peace of Mind for You
We adore our puppies, but life is short, and we can’t spend the entire day with them every day. We need to get to work and perform some errands. Knowing your dog is safe in his cage while you’re gone might alleviate your tension and stress. You may rest certain that both the dog and the house will be in good condition when you return.
Comfort and Safety for Your Dog
Crate training, done correctly, will hone your dog’s denning instincts. He will start to see his box as his particular comfort zone and will enter it gladly. When your dog is nervous or frightened, he might seek refuge in his crate. This might occur when you have visitors, your dog is unfamiliar with them, or there are loud children running around the home.
Great Help with Traveling
Traveling with a crate-trained dog is considerably more comfortable and less stressful. Conditioning your Corgi to perceive the crate as his den allows you to move him around with ease. It includes trips to the veterinarian, family outings, and even extended vacations. Air travel, if essential, also becomes far less stressful.
Helps Prevent Anxiety and Fear in Your Dog
We love our pets and want the best for them, yet we frequently give them mental discomfort unknowingly. It generally occurs when we respond negatively to what we perceive to be problematic conduct. The dog becomes terrified, perplexed, and frightened as a result.
Crate training your dog is a wonderful strategy to keep your puppy safe when he or she becomes overly enthusiastic. It stops the problem from occurring, reducing tension and anxiety in your dog (and you).
When your dog is stressed, you may notice them sitting on you, digging, or barking at night.
What Are The Downsides of Crate Training?
Crate training, when done correctly, is an excellent technique to make your dog feel protected and secure. It is useful in a variety of scenarios, such as when the dog must be left alone or when traveling. Crate training your Corgi puppy just strengthens his natural denning impulses.
The risks of crate training do not stem solely from the usage of the crate. Rather, it is the manner in which the training is delivered that might generate issues.
Dog May Spend Too Much Time in the Crate
Crates are a big convenience for us, but they shouldn’t be used as a housing substitute for your dog. All too often, crates end up serving as kennels instead of training aids. The recommendation is a maximum of 4 hours at a time in a crate. In extreme situations, you may need more, but you still shouldn’t exceed 8 hours. More than this can cause your dog to develop a dislike for crates and even people.
Can Create Feelings of Isolation and Exclusion
Corgis are friendly, lively dogs who like participating in all family activities. Crate training your Corgi puppy establishes a physical barrier between you and the dog. It implies the pup can’t engage with you as naturally as it would. It may make the pup feel alone and undesired, which may develop into other undesirable behaviors over time.
Younger Dogs May Have Bladder Control Issues
Puppies under 6 months of age have weak bladder control. However, no matter how much the dog dislikes soiling his territory, he cannot contain his bowels for more than 3-4 hours. It may even be less than that for some. Crating your puppy, especially for extended periods of time, can cause anxiety rather than alleviate it. He may become agitated because he does not want to pollute his territory but is powerless to prevent it.
Not Suitable for Dogs with Medical Conditions
Dogs with medical issues that impact their peeing and feces cannot be crated securely. A dog who is unable to regulate its urinating and pooping processes will dirty itself in the kennel. It is painful for the dog and might lead to additional health problems in the long run. Before beginning crate training, contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your dog’s health.
Care Must Be Taken When Selecting and Building a Crate
Cage training is only successful if done correctly and if the crate used is appropriate for your dog. If the crate is too big, too tiny, or inadequately ventilated, it will not provide your dog with the level of comfort you desire. It’s also critical to put the box together correctly.
A collapsing kennel, while you are away, might startle your dog and do him severe harm. If the dog is allowed to roam freely without supervision, it may injure itself in a variety of ways. And you could return home to find chewed shoes and ripped books.
How to Crate Train Your Corgi Puppy?
If crate training is to be successful, it must be approached appropriately. It is not difficult to accomplish. All it takes is a little patience on your part. Prepare, commit, and dedicate some time every day for at least 6 months.
Not every puppy will act in the same manner. Some dogs may adapt quickly to crates, while others will require more time. No matter where you are in the training process, don’t rush your dog. Allow your dog to decide the pace.
Introduce Your Pup to His Crate
Once your container is ready and completed, place it where the family spends most of their time. It should be the place where people spend the majority of their time together, whether it’s your den, kitchen, or family room.
Remove the crate door and let the puppy roam freely. Some people will instinctively take to it and begin napping in it right away. Others may be less enthusiastic.
Positive Encouragement Is The Way to Go
If your dog is slow to accept the crate, you can assist him. Bring him close to the container and begin chatting to him. Maintain a comfortable and cheerful tone of speech. Check that the door is either closed or firmly fastened.
Begin with dropping little goodies near the crate, then near the door. Start dropping the goodies within the crate itself, farther and further back, until the pup is comfortable with this. If the rewards aren’t working, try using a favorite toy.
If your dog initially refuses to enter the crate, don’t push it. Your dog will ultimately go to get his reward or toy on his own. It’s only a matter of time. Some puppies may complete this process in minutes, while others can take days.
Feed Your Dog Meals in the Crate
If your dog enters the crate willingly, you can put his food bowl at the rear. If he is still hesitant, only put it in as far as he feels comfortable going. Keep the food bowl a little further back in his box each time you serve him food.
The length of time required here varies depending on the dog. Some will be able to eat comfortably by their second or third meal, while others may take many days. Again, do not attempt to rush your dog. In this situation, slow and steady wins the race.
You may begin shutting the door after your pup is comfortable eating within the crate. For the first few times, just keep the door closed while he eats. When he’s finished, open it up.
You can proceed if your dog shows no signs of anxiousness when you do this. When he starts eating, close the door and leave it closed for a few minutes before allowing him out. Work with him on this until he is comfortable being in the crate for about 10 minutes after eating.
If your puppy starts whining or weeping inside the crate at this point, you probably went too quickly. Reduce the amount of time the door remains closed after his lunch the following time. And don’t let him out until the dog stops whimpering. Otherwise, he’ll discover that whining is the key to opening the door.
Gradually Increase the Length of Time He’s Left Alone in the Crate
When your dog is eating his meals inside the crate and sitting there comfortably for 10 minutes thereafter, it’s ready to move on. While you’re at home, you may begin to train him to spend extended lengths of time inside the crate.
You may call your dog over to the crate and give him a reward. Enter with a command, such as ‘kennel up,’ and encourage him by leading him into his box with one additional treat in your hand. When he enters, praise him, give him the reward, and then shut the door.
Sit quietly next to his box for approximately 10 minutes, then go to another room for a few minutes. Return to the container and sit calmly next to it for a few minutes. Then take your dog outside. Repeat this process daily, gradually increasing the amount of time he is left alone in his box.
Work On Departures and Arrivals
When you’ve reached roughly 30 minutes of largely alone time, you may begin leaving the pup crated while you go out for brief amounts of time. If that’s what you want, you can start getting him to sleep there.
It is critical to practice departures so that your dog does not feel apprehensive. Change the time you put your puppy in the crate while getting ready to depart. Crate him anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes before leaving home.
Don’t make your leave emotional by prolonging it. If you keep it short, your dog will find it easy to swallow. Praise him and reward him for entering the crate. Close the door gently and depart.
Arrivals should also be kept low-key to prevent escalating your dog’s concern about when you’ll return. Remember to keep him crated for a short time while you’re at home.
Crating Your Dog During the Night-Time
If you want your dog to sleep in his kennel at night, start by bringing it closer to you. Close the door after putting him in the crate with your usual command and a lovely treat. Puppies must eliminate often. You’ll hear yours whining and be able to take him out in the middle of the night if he’s close by.
Once your pooch is comfortable spending the night in the crate, you may gradually transfer it to the desired location. Again, take your time with this to avoid separation anxiety issues.
What to Avoid Doing?
Crate training is a basic technique that takes dedication and patience. There are several things you should avoid if you want to achieve good outcomes.
Never Use a Crate as Punishment
Your dog should connect the crate with pleasant experiences. Never confine him as a punishment for misbehavior. If you do this, your dog will develop a variety of unpleasant behavioral patterns over time.
Don’t Keep Your Pup In the Crate for Too Long
Never keep your dog in his or her kennel for more than 3-4 hours at a time. It is critical if you do not want your dog to experience irritation and anxiety. Puppies are likewise unable to contain their urine as long as adult dogs. Your dog will need to go outside to relieve himself.
Want To Train Your Corgi With Peace Of Mind?
If you haven’t trained your Corgi properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your Corgi has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.
With Brain Training For Dogs, you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and, most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases, it’s still going to be:
- Cheaper than hiring a professional.
- Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
- And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your Corgi completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
Conclusion
Crate training your Corgi puppy provides various advantages for both of you if done correctly. When you can’t leave your dog alone, it provides you peace of mind knowing he’s secure and comfortable. This may be while you’re shopping or at work, and the dog has to travel. Just keep in mind not to keep your dog in his kennel for too long.
Your dog will also have a secure, cozy den to go to when he is upset or fatigued and wants some peace and quiet. He will come to appreciate the crate if you allow the training process to run its course and avoid using it as a punishment.
