How To Crate Train A Puppy

Some people consider crate training cruel or inhumane, but if you implement the right technique when crate training, your puppy will soon love their crate. Crate training is not only a useful method for house training a puppy, but it also ensures the puppy won’t cause damage when left unsupervised. Crate training is a great way of house training a puppy, as most dogs will not go to the toilet in the same place they sleep. It is wise to implement crate training early on so that the puppy does not get into the bad habit of having accidents in the house.

When you first start crate training it is very import that you choose the right sized crate. For the first few months of training the crate should only be big enough for the puppy to stand up and turn around in. When purchasing a crate it is best to choose one with a divider so that the crate can be made larger as the puppy grows. When the puppy is fully grown the divider can then be removed.

When first setting up the crate it is best to place the crate beside the door so that when you let your puppy out it can go directly outside and won’t have any accidents on the way. When you first begin crate training it is likely that the puppy may have a few accidents in the crate. It is for this reason that we suggest putting old towels on the floor of the crate so that they can be washed easily. When the dog has been fully trained you should then consider buying a dog bead. In the event on an accident inside the crate, it is best to use a special dog cleaner that we remove the smell as the puppy may remark the spot if there is a smell.

Crate training should be a positive experience for your puppy, and the crate should never be used as a form of punishment or your puppy will soon begin to resent being inside their crate. When you first start crate training it is best to leave the door of the crate open with some rubber toys inside so that the puppy can get used to the crate at their own pace. You should never try and force your puppy into the crate, as the puppy will perceive this as punishment. When the puppy goes into the crate praise him and give him a treat. However it is best to avoid leaving food or water in the crate as this can increase accidents.

Once your puppy is comfortable with the crate you can begin to get him used to being confined in the crate. Leave a rubber toy in the crate and when the puppy is relaxed inside the crate you can close the door. Leave the door closed for a minute at first and open the door again only when the puppy is quiet. This can be hard at first because your puppy may begin whining, but it is important that you never let your puppy out of the crate when it is whining as his tells the puppy that if they make enough noise they will be aloud out. Only when the puppy is quiet should you open the door. Slowly increase the amount of time you close the door for until your puppy can be left in the crate for an hour without complaining.

Once your puppy is comfortable being in the crate for an hour you should get him used to being left in the crate while there is no one in the room. When your puppy is relaxed in the crate, leave the room for a few minutes. Walk straight out of the room and do not look back if your puppy begins whining. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave the room for until your puppy is happy with being left alone for an hour or more without whining.

Remember: You should never leave your puppy in the crate for longer than they are able to hold their bladder for. A puppy under 10 weeks old can hold their bladder for 4 to 5 hours. This means you will have to let your puppy out in the middle of the night. It is best to let your puppy out at the same time every night so that the puppy gets used to a schedule. Allow the puppy out of the crate after a maximum of 5 hours until your puppy is 10 weeks old. When puppies are 10 weeks old they can hold their bladder for roughly 8 to 9 hours.

Crate training can seem hard at first, but if you use the correct technique it can be easy for both you and your puppy. For step-by-step video instructions about how to train your dog, check out the recommended product in the sidebar.