Crate Training A Puppy Successfully

Crate training a puppy is a practical and efficient way to housetrain your dog and protect the home at the same time.

The purpose of crate training a puppy is to teach your dog to go into its crate (a rectangular enclosure which acts as a substitute for a den) on command for safety, obedience and general behavior control. It is an effective training method used successfully by many dog owners and trainers alike.

Although at first, putting your puppy in a crate may seem unfair and cruel, you should understand that dogs learn to consider their crates as their own homes. Dogs are by nature den dwelling animals and the crate helps satisfy their den instincts at the same time providing the dog protection and security.

How to Proceed with Crate Training A Puppy

• Purchase a crate made of plastic or wire from a specialized pet store and make sure that it provides enough space and comfort for your dog (a smooth floor or a crate pad, a bowl of water and your puppy’s favorite toy).

• The best location to place the crate is in a busy area of your house (where you have dinner, or where you spend most of the time with your family), as dogs are social animals and they will enjoy your company.

• Provide ample water in the crate for drinking and a chew toy for your puppy to play with.

• Place the meal near the crate – this has the effect of creating a positive association between the puppy’s home and his meal.

• Young puppies adapt easily to crates however there will be some initial whining or barking. Still, these will go away once your puppy realizes that the crate is his/her new home.

• Make a schedule for your puppy’s toilet needs and avoid leaving him inside the crate longer than 45 minutes after each meal as puppies cannot hold their bowels or bladder very long.

• If the puppy eliminates in the crate, try to figure out the causes: the schedule or too much time spent there being ignored.

The Advantages of Crate Training a Puppy

• The crate offers your dog a sense of security, privacy and comfort.

• With a successful crate-trained puppy, you can be quite reassure that your dog won't destroy items from your house, cause any accidents or develop bad habits while you are out.

• House training your puppy will be much easier and more quickly by using the crate to motivate your dog to wait until being taken outside, since all canines naturally avoid soiling their own den.

Potential Problems of Crate Training a Puppy

• Your puppy might become anxious and fearful if you put it in the crate for long periods of time. Do not leave your puppy in the crate more than three hours at a time.

• Your puppy might whine during the night, as he might feel alone, scared or ignored. Move your puppy's crate into your bedroom where he/she can see you. You can also hear your dog if he/she needs to go out.

• You have to make sure that your puppy doesn’t get weak and bored – you have to combine the crate training with long walks, running and other physical activities.

• Don't crate your puppy for more than five hours at a time. If your puppy soils the crate, this can do severe damage to progress made.

• Don't use the crate to punish your puppy. He will fear it and want to avoid it.

• Don't force your puppy into the crate. Tossing treats or favorite toys inside should be enough, and creates a positive association.

• Don't use too big of a crate. This allows the dog to create a potty area within the crate separate from the sleeping area.

Never should you ever send your puppy to its crate in response to bad behavior. A puppy's attitude to its crate must always be positive.

The main idea of the crate training a puppy is to help your dog feel comfortable and safe in the crate. The benefits of crate training a puppy far outweigh the disadvantages. At the same time, crate training can help you develop a better relationship with your dog without the need for you to feel worried when you aren't around to supervise him. With proper training, your puppy will also be happy to spend time in the crate when needed.

(See also on Crate Training Your Dog)

See also: Cages and Crates from PetSmart.com