Dogs are den-dwelling animals. With that being the case, you can understand why a dog would find comfort and safety in a crate or small kennel. Crate training your puppy is a win for everyone. Once they start calling their crate as home, many times they will go in it even when they don’t have too. Puppies and dogs enjoy having a place to themselves where they know nothing can get at them, or is expected of them. Let’s take a look at the following information to find out why you would want to consider crate training your puppy, and how you would proceed.
What is Crate Training?
Crate training is the process of getting a puppy comfortable with staying in a crate as a means of security and a safe retreat. That’s why crate training is not cruel, but is quite the opposite, providing comfort and safety. Crate training may also be used to potty train a small puppy.
Some experts say that crate training is the basis for all further training. It sets the stage for good puppy behavior and gives them a level of confidence they may miss without crate training. Another advantage of being crate trained early on is it can help reduce anxiety in the event puppy needs to be crated, such as at an overnight stay at your veterinarian’s clinic or hospital.
Choosing the Crate
When buying a crate for puppy, you’ll want to consider their size. Crates come in different sizes. You want a crate which is relative to the size of your dog. You want it to be a confined and cozy space but not cramped. The crate needs to be big enough for puppy to be comfortable but not too big that puppy no longer sees it as a den. If you get a crate that is small enough, puppy will greatly resist using part of it as a potty place, as they see their crate as their den and want to keep it clean. If you get a crate too large, puppy may use one side as their den, and the other for a potty.
May Need More Than One
Resist the temptation to save money by buying one crate for the life of the puppy unless it has a removable center panel. The crate you use to train your puppy should fit your puppy’s size. Then, if you choose to have a crate for your full-grown dog, buy a new one to fit your puppy’s adult size later. Some crates and kennels take this into consideration and offer a divider so you can section off a larger crate into a smaller den for your puppy. You can usually change the position of the divider to grow with the puppy if you need to move it more than once.
There are many types of crates, some designed for stationary use and some designed for travel. Some crates are designed to be mini-kennels, with features like quick breakdown and folding easily for transporting. You’ll find wire crates and plastic crates. Decide where you will be putting the crate and how you will be using it before you choose one. Wire crates are good for home use and for dog shows. Small to medium size plastic are good for combined home and travel use. Large ‘plastic are often too restrictive visually for home use, and often don’t work well with travel. If you have a large dog, you may have to get creative with travel options.
Crate Training Basics
Once you have a crate that is the proper size, you’ll need to begin to get your puppy used to going in it. Here are a few tips for getting puppy to explore and enjoy the new crate:
- Leave the Door Open – Place the crate in a central location where you spend time and are close by. Then tie the door back so it’s open and your puppy can go in and out. This will allow puppy to explore without feeling separated from you or trapped. Puppy won’t understand at first that the door opens as well as closes, but will after further exploration and training.
- Drop in a Few Treats – As puppy explores, the little treats you’ve left inside the crate will delight and encourage more exploration. This will allow puppy to associate happy feelings with the crate and become attached to using it quickly.
- Make Crate Comfy – Add some comfortable bedding or towels for puppy to lie on. Don’t make it too plush. You will want to be able to wash the bedding. You can also put puppy’s favorite toys in there. Don’t use children’s toys. They often have parts that dogs can choke on if they start chewing on them. Give puppy all the comforts of home in the little den.
- Short Intervals Only – Once you start closing the door, be sure to keep puppy’s time in the crate short. Younger puppies cannot hold their bladder for very long so don’t leave them in the crate too long or your crate training will backfire. Over time you can increase the intervals. Try crating puppy after a potty break for about 15 or 20 minutes. Set a timer and release your puppy when the time is up. And don’t forget to praise puppy for the good work.
- Crate Train Only While Home – When you leave for a few hours at a time, section off a safe area of the house for puppy to stay while you are away. Set the crate in the safe area with the door propped securely open so puppy can use it as a resting area within the play area. Closing a puppy in a crate while you are gone for a long period of time may cause puppy to form an aversion to the crate if associated with you being gone.
- Crate Use For Potty Training – Once your puppy is familiar with the crate, you can start potty training with the crate for short periods of time. As soon as you take your puppy out of the crate, go right outside to the potty spot. If the puppy goes potty, make sure you praise, offer treats, and play. If the puppy doesn’t go potty, then back to the crate for another short interval. Repeat this routine several times a day and your puppy will soon understand and get to know his crate and his potty spot. Remember to be consistent if you choose this method.
If you stay the course with crate training you’ll find the rewards are great. Your puppy will love the comfort of ‘home’ and become more and more capable of controlling the urges to potty wherever and whenever. Your puppy will also appreciate you for being such a determined and solid puppy parent when guidance is needed most.