Crate Training Your Scottish Terrier
Crate training your Scottish terrier at an early age is not cruel as some people may think. Far from that crate training helps him to know his own space in the house and plays an important role in potty training a new dog.
A crate can be a flat basket with some bedding inside to make it more comfortable or a cage with see-through bars and a locking door. It should be used like a dog's bedroom.
Most dogs clearly prefer to rest or sleep in den-like spaces. That is the reason why they crawl under the table or the bed. If the crate is positioned in such a space it will look more natural for him to use it.
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Crate training must be handled with care in the beginning. When introducing your Scottie to the crate for the first time, praise him or bribe him by putting in some treat and gently have him get inside it. Let him stay in his crate for short periods (10-15 minutes) initially. |
Puppies may get anxious when left alone, so you should stay nearby in order to give him a sense of security.
Do not let him out if he starts barking or whining, unless you want him to learn that barking and whining is the key to getting what he wants... Usually he will stop it after a few minutes and go to sleep.
Feeding him while he is in the crate will show him that this is a safe place to be at. Once he becomes accustomed to the crate you can slowly increase the crating time up to two-three hours. The crate can be used at night and during the day when you are unable to watch your Scottie or give him attention.
In general, your Scottie will not mess the place he sleeps in. That's why crates are such an excellent tool for potty training any dog. However, it's up to you to make sure he relieves himself before you put him in the crate. Do not crate smaller puppies for more than three hours at a stretch because they have limited bladder control thus urinating more frequently.
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When buying a crate for your Scottie, make sure to buy one that is appropriate for his size, neither too big nor too small. The crate must be big enough for your puppy or adult dog to be able to stand up, turn around, and lie on his side but not so big that it leaves him room to pee or poop in there. |
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In case you bought a bigger crate for him considering his future growth, block one section of the crate to make it temporarily smaller. It is also advisable to remove the dog's collar before crating to make him feel more comfortable.
The crate should never be used as punishment. Your Scottie must think of his crate as his comfortable den—not a jail cell. Properly crated dogs learn to love their crate as their own place where they feel secure and happy.