Crate training can be very difficult as the first feeling
of the pet towards it will be loathsome. One of the reasons is
that the animal’s movement becomes very restricted. Pets which
are kept in a crate, will also find it difficult as the size
will be even more limited when compared to the cage. Things will
be even more complicated for pets which are habituated to roam
freely in the home and as well as outside, like in a back yard.
In this case, experts suggest classical conditioning. This
approach consists of counter-conditioning and desensitizing. The
cat must be made familiar with the environment within the crate.
This is known as desensitization. And to alter the pet’s
negative attitude to a positive one is known as
counter-conditioning.
A very simple method is to place the crate in or near the pet’s
living quarters. At meal time, the food must be placed inside
the crate, so that the pet will go inside the crate to eat the
food. If the pet seems hesitant, the door of the crate can be
left open with the food placed inside the crate. There are
chances that the animal will go inside and eat it after some
time. And if the pet doesn’t eat food even after many hours, the
owner must remove the food from the crate and feed the pet near
the crate. Gradually the distance between the crate and the food
must be decreased, finally till the pet starts eating the food
inside the crate. Also when the animal starts entering the crate
willingly, the care taker must try to use a cue word when he
places the food inside the crate. Words such as ‘crate’, ‘food’
or ‘come in’ can be used while opening the door of the crate to
place the food inside.
The pet can get scared that the owner might lock him up if it
enters the crate. If this is the case, the owner, after placing
the food within the crate, should leave that area and go far
away. This way the pet will feel safer and comfortable to
approach the crate. Once the pet gets habituated to eat within
the crate, the owner must try to come closer at least by a foot
every week, till he can stand near the crate.
After the pet gets adjusted to all these, the next big step is
to shut the door of the crate, not altogether but for just a
short period of time. Once the animal gets familiar with this,
place only small quantity of food inside the crate and make him
enter the crate in the presence of the owner. After it enters
the crate, the door must be locked with the pet inside. When the
pet finishes the food which was placed inside the crate, the
rest of the food must be fed through the crate bars. The pet
will not only feel comfortable about entering the crate but also
being locked within it. In the beginning the food must be fed
immediately through the bars, at once. Then the food should be
divided and time gap should be given in between each feeding
session. The gap should be at least of five minutes or even
more.
The pet can sometimes but very rare have a grudge against the
material or size of the crate. In such cases, the crate must
simply be replaced with the choice of the pet. Once the pet gets
trained with food, it can also be provided with toys inside the
crate. The owner can use a toy to lead the pet near and then
inside the crate.