Crate Training 101!

Crate training a puppy is the best way to housebreak and train any puppy. Canines do not like to defecate or urinate in the place where they sleep. Therefore, with some precautions, keeping a puppy in a crate during the day and night are good for both the owner and the puppy. Because dogs by nature are den animals, the crates come naturally to the puppies. A crate is like a puppy’s den, a place of security. The owner should not think of it as locking him up or as a cage.

First off, owners should place the crate away from noisy places in the house. The crate should be just big enough for the puppy to turn around and lie down. If the breed is a larger breed, the owner should elect for a larger crate and place a barrier on one side of the crate during its puppy stage. As the puppy outgrows that space, take out the barrier. If the crate is too big for the puppy, he will go to the bathroom at one end and sleep on the other, essentially ruining the training.

Here is an example crate training schedule. After the puppy eats in the morning, make sure that he has a chance to go outside for about 20 minutes before he goes in the crate. A 3 month old puppy can usually only hold on for about 3-4 hours before it must go to the bathroom. Someone should let him out midday. As the puppy gets older, more time can pass before the puppy needs to be taken out. At night, the puppy should again be let out after he eats/drinks. Finally before bed time, the puppy should be taken out one last time before being placed in the crate.

The puppies will usually do fine for the 8 hours overnight in the crate. They should be let out first thing in the morning. You should not play with the puppy until it goes to the restroom in the morning. When a puppy does go outside, make sure to give him lots of praise and affection for going outside and reward the puppy with a small treat.

The crates should be a comfortable place for the puppies to be in. The crate should have a warm, comfy crate pad covering the bottom and a chew toy or two. Most dogs sleep in the middle of the day and at night and are usually awake early in the morning and later in the afternoon. Puppies will usually sleep more than this. To start training the puppy, owners should place a very small treat in the crate so the puppy will think it is a great place to go. Don’t force him into it. And don’t leave him when the owner is home. The puppy needs to socialize with people. He will want to come out and will think he is being punished if he can see people but can’t be with them because he is locked up in the crate. Once the puppy knows the crate as its den, it will love that place and happily go inside anytime the owner is out.

Here are a few things to remember about crate training:

• No food or water (sometimes) in the crate. Because the puppy is not active, it is not necessary.
• The younger you start, the better; older puppies may have an issue with confinement.
• Never send a puppy to its home as a punishment as that will defeat the purpose of crate training.
• Always remove the collar before putting the puppy in the crate. Otherwise the collar may get caught on the crate and choke himself.