Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Puppy Potty Training Diaries

By Geraldine Dimarco


Dog potty training is a dirty job but somebody's got to do it, pun intended. The good news is-- it's not as difficult as it sounds. Sure, you'll have a couple of months of accidents here and there but then again, you'll have them anyway so you might as well train them now.

What's the secret that experts use on puppy potty training then? It is this: canine crate training. This will help you not only potty train the animal, it will give you the priceless advantage of being able to set travel plans with your precious pet as well. Sounds good doesn't it?

Crate training is when the owner trains the dog to stay in his spot, his crate, for a period of time. Dogs do not like eliminating in the same place they sleep in so what they do is hold in their urge to do their business until you can take them out of the crate. Therefore, crate training a puppy is one of the most effective tools in potty training.

Get a crate that is large enough that the puppy is able to comfortably sit, stand and stretch in without being too roomy. Place it in a room where people usually congregate or your bedroom so he will also start going to bed and rising the same time that you are. You want the puppy to associate crate with security so make it as cozy and relaxing as possible.

Ideally, the floor part is padded and put in a few toys and a blanket inside. Put in a trail of treats leading up to the crate. Allow the dog to enter the crate without you forcing him into it. When he is inside, keep feeding him food and pet him without closing the door. If he tries to leave, gently block his way with your body. Do this for several days.

When he seems like he is ready, close the crate door. Leave his favorite toys inside for him to play with. Make sure he sees and hears you while he is inside. If he starts to cry and complain, let him be until he calms down. Only when he is calm do you let him out; otherwise, he will think that crying long enough will get him his way with you.

Gradually, he will be used to confinement. Go out of the room for 5 to 10 minutes and come back in. lengthen the intervals you are gone until you think that he can be left on his own completely. The important thing to remember that puppies have weaker bladders so never leave him alone for more than 3 hours when you are crate training a puppy.

Crate training actually provides an excellent sense of security for the dogs because they are innately den animals who seek places of refuge. For most dogs, after successfully completing their puppy potty training, they still look for and go to their crates. So do you need more convincing? Go and start crate training the precious fur ball today.




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