How to crate train a dog, according to a professional dog trainer

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• Crate training can help with housebreaking and provide a safe way to travel with a dog by car or plane.
• Some dogs take to crate training quickly and easily, while others need to be slowly desensitized.
• To desensitize a fearful dog to a crate, teach them very slowly that the space is safe and comfortable.
• Here's how to crate train a dog step by step and how to pick the right crate for your needs.
• See also: How to potty train a puppy and 10 things that may help calm a dog with anxiety

Training your dog to be comfortable inside a crate has all kinds of benefits. Crating a puppy or adolescent dog provides a level of behavior management that a simple baby gate can't. Because dogs don't like to lie in their own accidents, a crate that is only large enough for them to comfortably lie down, turn around, and stand up can help to move your house-training along smoothly.

Crates can also prevent your dog from playing out their destructive fantasies and chomping on tasty forbidden items like shoes and garbage cans. For puppies and older dogs, alike, crates and pet carriers are valuable for safe travel on the ground, in the air, and in dangerous emergency situations.

As a certified professional dog trainer with almost a decade of experience, here's how I crate train a dog:Read the original article on Insider