Crate Training

When thinking of Crate Training your new puppy, please think of it in a positive light.  My current dogs and past dogs have always looked at their Crates as not only as a "Happy" place, but their very own "Home and Safe" place.  Even when the doors are left open and they have a choice to use or not to use, they use more often than not (from my 8 month old puppy, to my 6 & 1/2 year old dog, to my senior 12 & 1/2 year old dog).  This makes life in general easier for them to cope with change, whether it be guests over, traveling, or moving an entire household to a new house.  It gives them a steady since of "home" their very own "den and safe place" even when things around them may change from time to time.

Generally speaking, by nature dogs are den animals and prefer not to pee and poop where they sleep and eat (crates tend to naturally inhibit them from peeing and pooping as they do not want to do where the lie if it can be at all helped).  You can help you puppy get off on the right foot from the first day you bring them home, by slowly and patiently introducing them to their crate.  Crates should be properly sized to your puppy or dog (just big enough they can stand up, turn around, and lay down).  Remember crates are "always" happy places, "never" use when you are angry or to punish your puppy!  Crates are a great tool in helping puppy owners with housetraining as it gives you a safe place in which your puppy can reside if you cannot watch your puppy 100% of the time. 

Keep in mind that puppies who come from Pet Stores or Kennel Type of an environment can generally take longer to house train as they are used to having to pee and poop in the same small space in which they sleep and eat.  Take the time and patience to be extra vigilant and take one day at a time, always trying to set the puppy up to succeed.

Be ready for you puppy to object to being confined.  They are used to crying gets mommy dog to come running (that's you now).  (Example: Keep in mind if you have ever had a human baby, remember the crying baby in the crib learns quickly that crying either works or does not work to get mommy and daddy to give it attention. Generally they will try crying louder and longer before giving up.  Pups are just as smart!)

You can start the puppy coming and going in the crate for toys, food, and water.  Keep it fun. Start closing the door for a few seconds at a time, make longer and longer as the puppy relaxes and gets the idea.  Let the puppy out when he is quiet, not whining or barking for attention.  (Exception, if the puppy normally whines to be let out to go potty, take them out to go potty, a quiet non event, praise quietly for going potty, treat, and return to it's crate). 

If at any point you are concerned you have a puppy who is truly claustrophobic and afraid, stop, and seek professional assistance before continuing.  Do not force a fearful puppy into a situation in which it can cause them to get worse.  This is rare, but be aware it occasionally occurs.

Be aware puppies have very small bladders and can have accidents in their crate, even when we have attempted to do every thing right.  They are babies, and as such it is unrealistic to expect perfection right off the bat.  Stay consistent and positive and you should see improvement daily as they begin to settle into their new lifestyle and schedules.  Take one day at a time as our goal is a life long one not a short term goal.

It is normal for young puppies to need to go potty during the night.  It is your responsibility to listen for their whining to let you know it is time to go outside to go potty. When this occurs quietly take your puppy outside, on leash, to go potty.  Quietly praise and treat them for going potty, use your "go potty" word, then take them quietly back to their crate, and go back to bed (make it a non event).  Dogs are den and pack animals by nature, having your crate in your bedroom will give them comfort and also allow you to meet their potty needs during the night.  As they get older, slowly the need to go at night will lesson and normally eventually fades completely.

To promote easier housetraining, free feeding your puppy is not suggested (leaving food out at all times when you are home) as if you do not know when it goes in the puppy it is really hard to know when to expect it to leave the puppy, making house training much harder on you and your family.  Feed your puppy quality food in amounts and times a day, as advised by your Veterinarian ,multiple times a day.  Place the food down for a short time, like 10 to 15 minutes maximum then pick up and put away until the next feeding schedule.  Keep water down however for the puppy to access at all times.

Generally puppies seem to prefer wire crates over plastic crates as they allow for better air flow and view to the world around them (if needed when cool, you may wish to cover up partially with a sheet or blanket, just make sure enough is open to allow for air flow).  It is not advised to leave puppies in the garage or outside in the Sacramento Area during our heat waves, garages can heat up to temperatures like cars that can kill those we love!  Keep the crates inside where they puppies are able to be at a comfortable temperature, like us, no matter the season.

Be aware the crate not only assists you in managing your puppy in the housetraining area, but also in the chewing/teething and bored puppy destruction phase.  It gives you a safe place to keep the puppy out of trouble if you are unable to watch the puppy and redirect into a more desired behavior.

Remember it is up to "us" their human guardians to set them up and promote them to succeed.  Try to think ahead and be proactive, so you do not accidentally set them and yourselves up to fail.  If there is an accident, be honest, stay positive, and use it as a learning experience of what went wrong and think about how not to set it up to happen in the future.

Crates are also great when used for transporting you pet inside your vehicle and for traveling.  You may find it convenient to have a back up crate for these times, to save time and energy switching your crates around.

Keep your puppy's crate clean and fresh so it is an inviting area for them to want to be.

Remember to offset your puppy's time in the crate with lots of access to run and play!  Puppies need adequate exercise to grow both physically and mentally!  Tired puppies are happy puppies, which in turn make for happy owners.

Cindy C. Smith, The Right Steps, 916-966-6883,

www.therightsteps.com

© 2007 The Right Steps & Cindy C. Smith. All rights reserved.

We welcome you to attend one of our:

"Free Seminars" on Positive Solutions to Problem Puppy Behavior include: Play Biting, Jumping, Housetraining, Management, Leadership, Chewing, Exercise and Toy Ideas as well as what to expect as your puppy matures from a Puppy to Adolescent to Adulthood to Senior.