9 Steps To Puppy Crate Training Success
Crate Training
One of the most dog friendly methods of training your pet is crate training. The process is very natural and uses the den instincts of the puppy or dog to help them understand where a safe place in the house is for them as well as giving them their own space and area. Since dogs naturally do not want to soil this area they are less likely to mess in the crate leading to faster and more efficient housebreaking.
Routines
Crate training works in conjunction with a puppies body functions. Establishing a routine with the puppy will help with the process and will avoid any unnecessary accidents. To use crate training techniques follow the steps outlined below:
·Feed and water your puppy at the same times (or as close to the same times as possible) each day. Most puppies are fed at least two to four times per day depending on their age.
·When the puppy has finished eating place them in their crate with some toys and soft bedding material. The crate should be where the puppy can still see people and feel part of the family, not where they feel that they are being isolated or punished for bad behavior.
·Approximately 15 minutes after placing the puppy in the crate take them outside or to the area that you wish them to use a bathroom. If you puppy has spoiled the crate prior to this 15 minute mark don’t punish them, simply clean the crate and plan the next time to take them out 5 minutes earlier. This is a process of trial and error but you will eventually find out just when the little puppy will go to the bathroom after eating.
·Have the puppy walk with you to the outside area or toilet area. Praise them when they go. If they are outside for more than 3-5 minutes and are showing no signs of relieving themselves simply place them back in the crate and try again in no more than 5 minutes. Don’t scold or pay undo attention to them until the go outside and eliminate. Immediately give lots of praise and attention and return them to the house for further attention and socialization.
·Puppies quickly learn that by going outside and relieving themselves they will get lots of positive attention and will come back into the house and play with or be around the family.
Cautions with Crate Training
To be sure that crate training is completed correctly make sure that the following occurs:
·Make the crate comfortable with toys, soft, washable bedding and lots of ventilation. It is to be a positive place that is the puppies “den”.
·Never use the crate as a punishment or isolation area. If your puppy begins to associate the crate with being ignored or punished they will quickly stop wanting to go to the crate.
·Keep the crate somewhere that is part of the activity centers of the house so that the puppy can still see people and be in a familiar area.
·Do not keep the puppy in the crate for prolonged periods of time. Confining your puppy to the crate is a form of punishment to the puppy and will make the crate a negative place to be.
There are many resources and books about crate training that provide additional information. Crate training your puppy makes it easy to travel with the dog as they are always at home in their crate no matter where you are or what type of transportation you use.
Kelly Marshall
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/9-steps-to-puppy-crate-training-success-68869.html
October 19th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
puppy crate training?
Hello,
Ive read all sorts of things about puppy crate training and Ive had small amounts of success with it so far. The main problem I am having is that my puppy doesnt like treats very much. And its not like Im just giving her one kind, I filled up a variety bag at the store and its hard to find treats she likes. So I have been using the ones I think she likes best. Anyway, when I toss treats inside the crate so she will step in, she just takes them, backs out, and runs to a different place of the house to eat them. If I try to prevent her from leaving the room where the crate is, she will completely lose intrest in the treat (mainly because I think she thinks I will put her into the crate). So how do you crate train a puppy who is not totally intrested in food?
I am not wanting to find out how to get her into the crate.. she is only 10lbs. I could just put her in there If I wanted to. I am trying to get her to find her crate to be a home that she enjoys being in. Ive seen many other puppies love their crates. Its just that all the crate training manuals talk about rewarding your dog for taking steps towards the crate and giving them a treat or praise, she just doesnt respond positively when she is near it at all. Just to clarify
October 19th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
What kind of treats have you tried? If they are just dog treats, bump up to something better. I’ve always started with raw hot dogs. And make sure you get the treats alllll the way in the crate to the back, so she would pretty much have to go all the way into the crate to get it. Even if you can get her over half way in you can pick up her rump and plop her in before she realizes it.
Kong with a bunch of peanut butter smeared and shoved up in it can help entertain a dog in a crate too.
Or if she likes rawhide bones, you could try to give her one of those that she can only have in her crate. Or a favorite toy. Some dogs are food driven, some a toy driven, some are praise driven.
Sometimes puppies are just tricky and know more than they should. In those cases you just gently have to force her into the crate, still give her treats and praise her profusely. She’ll eventually become ok with it. Maybe even like it!
References :
October 19th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Leave them in the crate until they stop barking. Put puppy pads in certain areas around your place.
References :
October 19th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I just simply put the puppy in the crate and shut the door without any fuss. Not every training situation requires a treat. I didn’t ask or give him a choice. He had his toys and bed in there, so he was OK. It was a matter of me deciding that he needed to be there at that moment and I was the one making the rules. After the first few days, he didn’t object, just accepted that the alpha had made a decision about where he should be. He was really Ok with his crate and was never in there more than a few hours (except at night and he slept through the night almost immediately anyway – but I think he was a pretty easy puppy.) He is sure a great dog now. We don’t use the crate anymore but he is very obedient and that early training I think made him that way.
References :
October 19th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
What kind of puppy is yours?
If is not big puppy. I use cheerio and Greenies lil bits, small piece of carrot, slice apple, some time use animal cracker.
References :
October 19th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
What I had to do with my dog is put his food dish in there…I also had to cover it with a blanky and put extra padding down. He likes his crate to be dark and he hated the hard surface of it. He is spoiled…I know. He wasn’t all that interested in treats until he was about six months. I read a book on crate training and it said that it’s not inhuman to leave your pup in the crate for two to three hours at a time while you are home so they get used to the idea of being in the crate and their bladders adjust to not going all of the time. If they start to whine though don’t bang on the door or start yelling. Just tell her no in a firm voice, as I’m sure you do, and go about your way. Also, putting the food dish in there so they know it’s a safe place to be. Kind of like there own little hang out. Don’t try to force her in there or hang around after you put the food dish in…because they will wonder what you are up to…just place it in there and gradually walk away. She will eventually sniff around and go for the food.
Locking the dog in the crate will also potty train your puppy because he wont urinate or poop in his "nest area" or crate. She has to get used to the idea that the crate is her nesting area. When it’s time to sleep put her toys in there…start feeding her in there…leave her water in there. Then slowly start to take things out. I started with Gus’s toys..then his water….and then his food. He loves his crate now. He hangs out in there all the time and gets pretty upset when I forget to leave the door open for him. You’ll also notice that whenever you get angry at her for doing something wrong or whenever she is anxious she will go to her crate. It’s helped me realize some of the things that make Gus nervous, he was adopted and his owners before me beat him. So I’ve learned a lot about his personality through this. I wouldn’t recommend putting the dog in the crate when you discipline it though, at least not at first, you want your dog to believe that the crate is a positive place.
I know some people think this is cruel but the dogs wolf ancestors found comfort, safety, and shelter in their dens, and modern dogs find solace and satisfaction in their own space as well. A dog does not have the same kind of mentality as a human.
Good luck! I hope she learns to enjoy her crate!
References :
Here is the book that I read…it’s really informative about all kinds of dog training.
http://www.crystalbay.net/ilovepoundpups/dogtraining.html