When you are obedience training your dog, it should be a positive and enjoyable experience for both of you. The same must apply to crate training.

There are some basic guidelines that apply to crate training your dog.

1. Never get cross at your dog, or yell at him when you are teaching him to go into his crate. While you may get frustrated at times, getting angry will just make him fearful of you, and fearful of the crate.

2. Make the crate as appealing as possible, with a soft bed and some safe chew toys. If your dog likes to chew, then you may need to remove the bed for his own safety. Don’t forget to always have a bowl of fresh water in the crate; the easiest way to do this is to attach a metal bowl to the side of the crate. The crate should be large enough to let your dog lie stretched out as well as stand up and turn around.

3. Encourage your dog into the crate with a treat, and reward him when he goes inside. Repeat this several times until he is happily trotting into the crate for his treat. You can then start to shut the door for a second or two, open it and reward your dog. Over time, increase the time you close the door, but always open the door before your dog becomes distressed.

4. When you first start to leave your dog locked in his crate, give him a toy to keep him occupied. A stuffed Kong is ideal; he will spend an hour or two trying to get to the treats inside, and won’t be too upset by being confined.

5. Don’t leave your dog in his crate for too long, particularly if you are toilet training him. The maximum recommended time in hours is their age in months, plus one. So, if your dog is 4 months old, you should let them out after a maximum of 5 hours. Even if your dog is an adult, he shouldn’t be confined for more than about 5 hours. This may mean you need to enlist the help of friends and family to tend to your dog if you are at work during the day.

6. Choose your crate’s location carefully. The ideal spot is where your family usually gather, either the lounge room or family room is ideal. This will allow your dog to still feel like a part of the family while he is confined in his crate. If you are concerned about the space the crate will take up, consider dog crate furniture. as this provides a stylish alternative to the wire and plastic crates typically used.

7. Keep the crate clean. Spilled food can spoil, and smell bad. If your dog has a toileting accident in his crate, it needs to be cleaned up with a non-ammonia based cleaner to prevent him repeating that behavior. Wash his bedding regularly to prevent fleas breeding in it.

8. If your dog has any problem with his crate training at any time, take a break. Then go back to the beginning and repeat the basic steps. He will re-learn quickly and if you stay positive, he will be back on track again very quickly. Never force the issue if he is anxious, it will only make things worse.

Life with your dog will be easier when he is crate trained, so add a crate to your shopping list next time you are going to the pet store.

Tonight on the “My Doggie Says…” radio talk show, our guest will be Sharon Sakson, author of “Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs.” Sharon is also a journalist, TV Producer, breeder and dog show judge.

Tune in live at 8:00 PM Phoenix time on KFNX 1100 AM, or listen to the live streaming at www.1100KFNX.com.

If you call-in to join the program, we’ll make sure you get a free copy of the “Dog Appreciation Lessons CD,” a collection of eighteen special dog-bonding moments on the “My Doggie Says…” talk show.

In Phoenix:  602-277-KFNX
Outside Phoenix Area:  1-866-536-1100

Every once in a while, Callie Golden Retriever goes into her crate — either at home or at Lake Arrowhead — and scratches the floor for a few minutes. I have no idea why she does it. A few of the trainers and animal behaviorists who have been guests on the “My Doggie Says…” radio talk show have suggested that she’s doing what she would do in the forest — preparing a nice “nest” for herself. Maybe it’s this simple. It makes sense, but it sure is weird to see her do it. This video was taken in very low light, but you’ll get the idea:

Notice how Callie turns toward me, as if to say, “So what’s your problem?” Then she lies down to go to sleep.

At 2:00 in the morning, Callie Golden Retriever walked to the side of my bed and sat facing me. She “snorted.” I don’t know how else to describe the sound she makes. It’s not a bark, or a “wuuf,” or a growl. It’s just a “snort.” Usually, she uses a “snort” to get my attention.

Sometimes, Callie walks right to the edge of the bed and sits down in a place where I can reach her neck to give it a vigorous “puppy scratch.” And sometimes she sits down a few feet away facing the door. This means, “I gotta go pee!” But this was different. She was facing me, but too far away for a “puppy scratch.”

So, what’s she trying to say? Running out of options, I guessed maybe she wanted to go out. So I dragged myself out of bed and walked to the kitchen door that leads out to Callie’s side yard — her place to pee and, maybe, chase a racoon or possum. Got it. Right?

Wrong! She didn’t walk to the door. Instead, she sat down in the middle of the kitchen. Not close enough to the puppy treat bowl to be asking for a puppy treat. Just in the middle of the kitchen. Then I noticed that her food bowl was on the sink and that it still contained a few bites of dinner.

That stinker! She remembered, at 2:00 in the morning, that there was still a little dinner in her bowl, and she was asking me, very politely, to serve it to her.

I’m sorry, Mr. Research Scientist, but when was the last time a 2 1/2 year old kid did something like that? I swear; dogs are smarter than we think!

Sometimes, to understand what your dog is saying, you have to go through all the possibilities and be real creative about trying to understand what they are thinking. On the other hand, “food” is probably the answer more often than not.

Tune in tonight to the “My Doggie Says…” Radio Talk Show to hear Barbara Davis, of the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue,” and Heather Murphy, of the “Arizona Golden Retriever Connection, answer your questions about rescuing a dog. Listen Live at www.1100kfnx.com or on-air at KFNX-1100, Phoenix. To join the conversation, call (602) 277-KFNX or, toll free, 1-866-536-1100.