Tips for Dog Owners
Crate Training Your Puppy
The use of a crate or portable kennel to housebreak and/or train puppies will teach your puppy the rules of the house and, at the same time, your pup won't have to worry about breaking any rules because he's safe in his own little place.
Your puppy will enjoy having his own haven to provide him with a sense of security and privacy, satisfying his natural den need to feel enclosed. Crating your puppy should therefore, not be viewed as cruel or inhumane.
Crate training offers numerous benefits. It can be used to housebreak your puppy since he will instinctively avoid "messing up" his home. He will learn to "hold it" and associate elimination with being outside.
 A crate is an asset in a home with lots of "people traffic". If the hubbub gets too much, your puppy can escape to the security of his own special place.
A crate provides the perfect travel carrier for your pet. It offers a temporary home that will keep your pet safe during a car trip and provide a familiar sleeping spot for your pet inside a motel room. Your pet can be left in his crate, while your family is out sight-seeing.
In other instances, crates can be used for adult dogs with behavioral problems, such as chewing. General obedience training will usually relieve these problems but, while your dog is being trained, he can be safely placed in the crate while you're away from home.
Like any other form of dog training, crate training requires time and patience. You are teaching your puppy how to behave and it takes time for him to learn to distinguish right from wrong.
Make sure you buy a generously-sized crate. The crate must be a comfortable "home" for your pet. It should be large enough to allow your pet to stretch out flat on his side, without hitting his head. He should be able to stand comfortably and turn around inside his crate, too. Although you don't want the crate to be enormous, it's better to use a crate that is too big than too small.
Place the crate in a quiet corner of a busy room, such as the family room or kitchen. Your pet will not feel isolated or that he is being punished with the crate if he is around other people or in a busy room. If you have two pets, both should be crated (in separate crates) at the same time, so the crated pet won't end up struggling to join his counterpart "on the loose" in the same room.
Line the bottom of the crate with a blanket or rug, and provide something to chew on and a few toys. In a few days, your pet should look forward to spending time in the crate and venture inside by choice.
Start your crate training off on the right "paw" by introducing your pet to his new crate gradually. Give the puppy an opportunity to relieve himself before he is put in the crate. During the first weeks, give your puppy a treat when he enters the crate so that he learns to associate good things with his home. Stay near him and offer words of praise and encouragement. When your puppy is out of the crate for play time, leave the crate door open so he may go in and out as he chooses; thus establishing a feeling of ownership.
Begin your crate training schedule by putting your pet in the crate for small increments of time. At first, leave him in the crate for 5 minutes gradually working up to a half hour of "crate time.
 Alternate "crate time" with periods of play and opportunities for your pet to relieve himself. Once his is trained, a puppy can be put in the crate for one to two-hour periods at regular intervals throughout the day, probably during his nap time or when he will be left alone. A pet may be in a crate for longer periods while you're out of the house as long as you keep in mind you need to periodically come home so he may relieve himself.
Accustom your pet gradually to being in his crate while you are in another room. Never use the crate as a means of punishing your dog, or it will be useless as a training tool. A crate should be a supplement to, not a substitute for, your love and attention.
At night, limit your puppy's intake of water by 8:00. Take the puppy outside to relieve himself just before you turn in for the night. Ideally, you should move the crate into your bedroom and let the puppy sleep inside his crate near you. When you hear your puppy's "wake up call," take him outside IMMEDIATELY. This may occur several times during the night, but a few weeks of interrupted sleep will certainly pay off.
Another option is to leave the puppy in an enclosed area, such as the bathroom. Place the crate at one end of the bathroom, leaving the crate's door open. Provide a pile of newspapers or old towels placed in a far corner away from the crate in case your puppy has an accident before you can take him outside. Your puppy will instinctively want to "go" as far away as possible from the place that he sleeps.
During training periods, release the puppy for meals, elimination and play. He will learn to associate these activities with being outside the crate, and will adjust his habits accordingly. Play with your pet before you place him back in the crate. If you play with your puppy, let him eliminate before going back to the crate. Praise him for being quiet while he's inside the crate.
Make sure your puppy is happy while he's inside the crate. If he is frightened, sit by the crate and be as reassuring as possible. If he looks tired, place a sheet over the crate to signal "nap time."
For puppies with chewing problems, encourage chewing inside the crate on a rawhide chewy or a hard rubber toy, but NO BONES. Dogs should be allowed to chew on their toys outside the crate too. If your pup mistakes your furniture for his bone, reprimand him. Remember to always praise your puppy when he chews his chewy toy. Eventually, your pet will learn to avoid problem behavior. Older dogs with chewing problems should be obedience trained. While they are being trained, you can place your dog in a crate when you're away.
After a few weeks of crate training, you will begin to notice changes in your pet's behavior. Pay close attention to his behavior when his is outside of the crate. You'll know when you've achieved the desired results from your training efforts. Keep working until you are satisfied that your puppy is trained.
DON'T OVERDO IT! Crate training is not recommended for puppies that are frequently left alone for long periods of time, such as while you are at work all day. A puppy that is isolated and denied companionship may become depressed and/or destructive. Use the crate as a training tool, not as a way of life for your puppy or dog.
Most puppies can begin to be "weaned" from their crate at five or six months of age. At that time, you should consider enrolling your puppy in obedience school. The crate can be used again for car travel and in a number of other ways. Remember, though, as your puppy grows, you may need to purchase a larger crate if you intend to keep using it.
< Back to Dog Care Tips |
