Look Out For These Three Mistakes When Crate-Training Black Labradors
When housebreaking black labradors, using a kennel can be quite helpful.
You need to be careful, though, to avoid a few problems in order to make this process a success.
Make sure that you don't send the dog to the crate when he does something wrong. Using the crate as punishment will reinforce to him that the crate is a bad place, and he will start to resist going in. Ideally, the crate should be a happy place for him, where he can feel safe and secure. If not, you will find it quite difficult to housetrain your puppy.
Next, ensure that your crate is sized properly for your dog. Remember that puppies will need smaller crates than adults. If he has too much room to move about, he will be tempted to soil the inside of the crate and not wait until you let him out. Crates should be big enough for your dog to get in and turn without difficulty, but not much bigger than that.
Third, be reasonable about how long you leave your puppy in the kennel. Remember that they can only go a few hours before needing to go to the bathroom again, and if he's left inside all day, you will be coming home to an accident. Give your puppy the best chance of success by starting with short periods of time and gradually lengthen the intervals. If this is difficult to do, see if there's a friend or family member who can help out. If there's no way to let your dog out every few hours, perhaps you should consider whether having a puppy is the right move for you at this time.
Crate training is a fantastic way to housebreak black labradors, and used properly, crates can be an integral part of effective labrador training.
You need to be careful, though, to avoid a few problems in order to make this process a success.
Make sure that you don't send the dog to the crate when he does something wrong. Using the crate as punishment will reinforce to him that the crate is a bad place, and he will start to resist going in. Ideally, the crate should be a happy place for him, where he can feel safe and secure. If not, you will find it quite difficult to housetrain your puppy.
Next, ensure that your crate is sized properly for your dog. Remember that puppies will need smaller crates than adults. If he has too much room to move about, he will be tempted to soil the inside of the crate and not wait until you let him out. Crates should be big enough for your dog to get in and turn without difficulty, but not much bigger than that.
Third, be reasonable about how long you leave your puppy in the kennel. Remember that they can only go a few hours before needing to go to the bathroom again, and if he's left inside all day, you will be coming home to an accident. Give your puppy the best chance of success by starting with short periods of time and gradually lengthen the intervals. If this is difficult to do, see if there's a friend or family member who can help out. If there's no way to let your dog out every few hours, perhaps you should consider whether having a puppy is the right move for you at this time.
Crate training is a fantastic way to housebreak black labradors, and used properly, crates can be an integral part of effective labrador training.
About the Author:
Michael enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge on black labradors with dog owners around the world. Check out more of his articles on labrador training and other topics on his website.
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment