The Ins and Outs of Puppy Crate Training
18 Jun 2009
Puppy crate training can be an invaluable tool. Not only does puppy crate training help you to have an aspect of control for your training, but it can satisfy the dog’s need for a den. Puppy crate training can help with housebreaking, separation anxiety, destructive behavior, puppy safety, and as a mode of transportation. Do puppy crate training properly and your dog will use it for resting in, even as an adult.
Introducing The Crate: The first step of puppy crate training involves introducing your puppy to the crate. If you have purchased a vari-kennel type of crate, like the ones used for airline travel, start by taking the crate apart. Allow puppy to go in and out several times until he or she is comfortable with the crate and the reattach the top. For puppy crate training with a wire mesh crate, tie the door open. Place a piece of cardboard or a towel under the plastic floor plan to keep it from rattling. Again, allow the dog to go in and out several times before starting puppy crate training.
What Should Go In The Crate?: For puppy crate training, the crate should be a fun place to be. That means furnishing it with a few items. Some difficult-to-destruct toys can help keep your dog entertained. Make sure to discard toys if they become worn or broken and do not use toys that are small enough to be swallowed.
If you will be gone more than a few hours, make sure that you puppy has access to water. A water dish may be messy, so a water bottle hung from the side can help keep the crate dry. You should also make the crate comfortable for the puppy.
A blanket or towel can be used to make the crate softer, however it should be removed if puppy urinates in the crate or chews the towel.
Where The Crate Should Go?: While it may be annoying the first few days, due to the barking and whining, placing the crate in a room where puppy can see and hear you will make puppy crate training much easier. Dogs are pack animals, and they are happiest when they are with their pack.
Introduction Tips: There are some things that can make puppy crate training easier. These include:
1. Hiding or dropping treats into the crate periodically for puppy to find.
2. Praising puppy for entering the crate.
3. Use treats to encourage puppy to enter the crate - make it a game.
4. Crate when you are home. If the puppy’s first experience with puppy crate training involves you leaving him home alone, he could associate the crate with you leaving and develop separation anxiety.
Sometimes A Crate Is Inappropriate: While doing puppy crate training, there are some times when a crate should not be used. Do not do puppy crate training if:
- The puppy is younger than 3 months
- The puppy has diarrhea
- The puppy is vomiting
- You need to leave the puppy alone for more than a few hours
- The puppy has not eliminated (with the exception of house training)
- It is hot outside
- The puppy has been confined for excessive periods in the past and needs additional socialization and exercise.
Remember, puppy crate training is designed to make life easier and more comfortable for both you and your puppy.
Nick Luvera
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-ins-and-outs-of-puppy-crate-training-497863.html
9 Responses
2009 Jun 18
What do you think it’s best for my puppy, crate training or outside?
My husband and I both work in the day time, I let the puppy out in the morning, but we both work 12 hours shift, and can't exactly let our 3lb Shih Tsu out in the yard without supervision, since there's an owl near by. Do you think we still train him to housebroken or do you train him to do his business on the papper mat?
2009 Jun 18
Train him to go outside, and hire a dog walker while you are away at work.
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2009 Jun 18
12 hour shifts? theres no way she can hold it in a crate shell either soil herself or hold it in which is horrible for a puppy
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2009 Jun 18
both - i would work on house training - and while your away at work - buy a child gate so you can block the dog either in the kitchen or in the bathroom ( looking for tile floors ) you should leave the puppy in the room with his crate open and his pillow or blanket ( what ever he/she sleeps on ) along with fresh water and since you are gone all day and it is a puppy i would leave a small amount of food also - put a mat on the other side of the room you could place ( nasty but helps train ) a peice of dried doggy dirt in the mat the first few times so he gets the idea that is the place to go -
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good luck -
2009 Jun 18
Crate trainning is always the best method b/c it can create a pattern and it stays consistent. I have done this with a few puppies and it works wonderfully! You just have to get over the initial whining that the puppy will do when you put him in there. also when you put them in give him a treat so they know that it's not punishment, you should never use the crate as a punishment. and with the papper mats do you really want to have company over and them see the puppy pee right there or have them see the puppy going on it.
GOOD LUCK!
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2009 Jun 18
I find crate training horribly cruel (crate training to LIVE in– obviously putting a dog in a crate for travel is fine). Dogs are meant to run around– NOT be stuck in a crate for 12 hours. Train him to go on a paper matt so he'll have space away from his mess to sleep. Imagine having to sleep next to your own mess for twelve hours…how horrible! Not to mention– most dogs won't go in a crate and holding it in for 2 hrs is not good for their health.
Crate training is lazy, as far as I'm concerned. There's no more "training" involved than putting a rat in a cage. All it is is getting a poor dog used to being locked up half the day…that's sad. Using a crate for travel or the vet– that's smart. But teaching a dog to live in a crate…I don't approve. How would you like to be stuck in a space the size and smell of your bathroom for 12 hours at a time?
The best thing to do would be confine him to one room with a child gate, with full access to food and water, and train him to go on a mat in that room.
Also, I know this may seem a bit rude and I'm sorry if it does– but are you sure that you and your husband have time for this dog in your life?
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Have had plenty of happy, potty-trained dogs and 0 crates. Just adopted another.
2009 Jun 18
You both work 12 hour shifts? Why did you even get a dog?
I don't know what you should do with her.. If I had to be gone for 12 hours every day, I wouldn't even have a dog.
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2009 Jun 18
you want him to be trained for both…. crate trained and outside… you can always get a puppy round pen or play pen i call them then if you have an area like the kitchen you can confine her to the kitchen and put puppy training pads down but she will have more room than being in the crate all day… thats what i did for my poms when i was training them or had to be gone all day worked great…..
good luck!!!
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owner of 5 poms and 4 lrg. dogs
2009 Jun 18
Do not even consider leaving the dog outside - that is a terrible solution. Make sure that you get a large crate or even an ex-pen. Dogs feel safe and comfortable in a crate. It's a natural den. Your dog will take 2-3 days to adjust. Your dog most likely will NOT eliminate in the crate. Typically they go in the morning and will wait until you return. If you buy an ex-pen, I would recommend puppy pads.
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