While I do not claim to be an expert in crate training, all of my dogs are crate trained. With that being said crate training comes up a lot with puppy buyers so I decided to share my crate training method.
When the puppy first comes home, I begin crate training by doing a fairly odd first step. I find an old pair of sock I should probably throw out and wear them all day. At the end of the day I put a small crate, only big enough for him to stand up and turn around, right beside my bed. I grab a small but tasty treat!
When its time to go to bed and I just accept the fact that I am not going to sleep a lot. Here is the part where the old socks come into play. I take off my socks and put one in the kennel. I tie the other one on the kennel somewhere near the bottom of the kennel.
We do lot of snuggles before going into the kennel. I tell the puppy 'bedtime!' and do lots of puppy babble about good puppies and bedtime. Then I put him in the kennel and give him a treat and say 'Bedtime!'. Once he eats the treat, I give him the loose sock and tell him good night.
Whenever he fusses I use lots of consistent word cues I want him to recognize as comforting and use a comforting tone. 'I am here' , 'you are ok', and 'good boy' are my key phrases. When the puppy fusses at all, I use the same key words as before and I put my hand near the kennel when I say it and show him the sock. I like to have the one tied to the kennel because I don't want to be up searching for the sock. I want to quickly comfort and quiet the pup.
I might have to do this several times through out the first night. Depending on age, I will take him out to potty if it has been a couple hours since he last fussed. I also do some of the same type of kenneling during the day. After a few nights the kennel frustration for both of us is much better. I start moving the kennel a bit farther from the bed. Eventually ending up in the location where I want the kennel to be permanently.
Usually the room being dark is a key to bed time and quiet time. All of my dogs know the words 'bed time'. They typically head right for their kennel when I say 'bed time'. We also do a kennel time treat when I require them to use the kennel. Its just another reinforcement of kennel time being a good thing. My dogs often take naps in their kennel during the day, on their own terms.
I do use wire crates but the crate of your choice is fine. With Australian Shepherds, I do not recommend adding a bed or blanket because they will get hot and fuss because they are too warm.
Everyone does this differently, but I thought it might be helpful to share the things I have done to make kennel time work for me.
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