Crate Training Tips

Crate Training

Crate Training Tips

Crate training is based on the premise that puppies are unlikely to eliminate in or near an area used for rest. Crate training is popular among owners who cannot continually remain nearby to bring the puppy directly outside especially throughout the night. Puppies should not be placed in a crate during the day for more than 4 hours. This will create a hyper puppy if continually crated both night and day. Crate training works well for most puppies but not all. Many young puppies are simply unable to control immature sphincters, especially when they are anxious or frightened. Some pups may soil themselves and even ingest their own waste. Do not visit your puppy while it’s in the crate. Doing so, will encourage attention-seeking behaviors like barking and whining which will frustrate your puppy.

If you choose to try crate training, begin by selecting a crate that will accommodate your dog at its anticipated adult size. Your (adult) dog should be able to comfortably stand and turn to change positions in its crate. You will need to partition off a small area inside for the puppy and increase the space as puppy grows. The crate should be small enough that puppy doesn’t have room to walk to one end of the crate to void; then sleep on the clean area.

To introduce puppy to the crate, associate the crate with positive things, such as food and safe shelter. Leave the door open until there is no sign of fear. Cover a section of the floor with the blanket(s) you’ve rubbed on the siblings. Play with your pup, tossing favorite toys into the crate for it to retrieve. Place food and water in the crate to encourage your pup to consider it a safe place. This also decreases the likelihood that your dog will soil inside the crate. When the puppy enters the crate without hesitation at meal time, gently close the door while it eats. Keep the door closed for about 10 minutes and then immediately go outside to go to the bathroom. Let the pup out when it is calm and quiet.

Take puppy’s water up an hour before bedtime. Place a towel over the end of the crate to block your view. Don’t place puppy in the crate for the night until you’re ready to go to bed. When you cannot be in the same room with your pup, it should be crated, like when you’re eating a meal in another room. Puppy will need to go to the bathroom after it wakes up, drinks water, and eats a meal, after play time and in-between.

The crate is your dog’s special place where it must never be disturbed or threatened. The crate must not be linked with punishment or your dog will avoid it. Encourage your dog to use the crate as a resting place. When the pup is ready to nap, place it in the crate with a favorite toy or treat, like a rubber Kong stuffed with peanut butter or a marrow bone. Never place your pup inI the crate or try to remove it from the crate when you are angry. Do not reach in and pull your dog out of its crate. A dog that is threatened in its crate may aggressively resist leaving it. Teach your dog to willingly leave the crate on your command, using a simple “come” in a happy tone of voice.

The Umbilical Cord Method for House Training

This ~~The~~ method of house training is best used with the other techniques detailed above. Attach your pup to a long leash that is tied to your wrist or waist. This allows it a certain amount of freedom while ensuring your constant supervision over its activity. The pup cannot wander away to have an undetected “accident” and you can anticipate the pup’s need to void, taking it directly outside. Look for signs of sniffing the ground before a squat or walking~~working~~ around in circles before pooping. This method may be applied as an alternative to overnight crate confinement. The pup may be leashed to your bed or at least in your bedroom overnight. While some puppies may have “accidents” where they sleep, they may be less anxious when their owners are nearby, and this may positively affect their behavior.

Outside Exercise Pens & Kennels

If you have a shaded/sheltered area to place an Exercise Pen (large metal play pen); puppy can be in this area for a couple hours on a nice day. Puppies do not do well in excessive heat and will panic in thunder storms if left unsheltered. On hot days, you may need to place a frozen water bottle inside a tube sock so the pup can lay on something cool or provide a fan. Always have plenty of fresh, clean water for puppy to drink.

If you live in a wooded area, never leave puppy unattended, especially if you have coyotes or fishers. Even if you have a fenced in yard, leaving a pup alone in the whole yard, can still get a puppy into trouble unsupervised. Once, we had a puppy get its head stuck in the wheel spokes of the lawn mower! Thank goodness we were home to hear his crying. It was a 2 person job to get him out too! They can crawl into small corners and not figure out how to get back out.

You can also buy outdoor kennels thru a fencing company or farm store for about $350. Always provide an insulated dog house, or cut a dog door thru the garage. You may only have to buy 3 panels if connected to the side of a building. You need to think about if you’re gone longer than 4 hours, where is the dog going to go. Confining the pup all day and all night is not fair to the puppy. The pup will be starved for attention, will bark out of boredom and be very hyper to escape the confines. Never tie up a dog on a run.

Everyone loves a puppy, but in 6 months they’re almost adult size. Please be prepared so your training is a positive experience. An obnoxious dog is a reflection of its owner’s lack of training.

Favorite Crates:

LL Bean’s Canvas Crate. It goes from house to car in a minute. For some reason they are only available in the Freeport store, but can be ordered by calling the store directly. The model numbers are:

5Q944 Small $99

5Q974 Medium $139

5Q975 Large $159