Taking Effective Steps To Crate Training Puppies
The steps to crate training puppies have been well defined by expert dog handlers, most of whom agree on the basics. You must have a properly sized crate, make it attractive to your pet, carry out the training with patience, and lavish praise on your puppy as it learns its lessons.
A crate, if used properly, will become a den and a safe place for your pet. Dogs have an instinctive attraction to their own cozy space and will try to keep it dry and clean. You also should regard the crate as a positive, never using confinement as a punishment but giving affection and a treat or a toy when you lock your dog in.
The crate should be large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around freely, but small enough to give the feeling of a cozy den. There should be padding to make a comfortable bed. At first, you may want the crate near an outside door so you can let the puppy outside immediately after you release him, since excitement will make it want to urinate right away. By praising the animal when it relieves itself outside, you will be reinforcing housebreaking training.
At first, the time in the crate should be very short. Puppies under twelve weeks of age cannot go much more than an hour between potty breaks, and any baby will get bored if confined too long at first. The most important thing is to ignore whining, barking, or scratching to be let out. You do not want to reward this behavior with any attention at all, even yelling. When the animal is lying quietly, you can let it out (eagerness when it see you approaching is natural and allowed.)
Build up to longer periods of time gradually. In a very few days, your pet will accept that sometimes it will be in a crate. Having a toy inside will help reconcile a puppy to the confinement. It is instinctive to an animal to keep its den clean, so the crate will reinforce your housebreaking training. Do not confine the puppy longer than is physically comfortable (under three months and a young dog will need to urinate every hour or so, while all dogs have a bowel movement shortly after eating)and take it outside immediately upon release.
Giving a treat when your pet enters its crate and providing a toy to chew on will help it wait patiently for your return. Many dogs come to regard their crates very fondly, retreating to them voluntarily for naps and putting themselves to bed at night. Often you will not even need to close the gate at night, and you will be able to enjoy your own bed without fighting your canine companion for the covers.
You will also find the crate valuable for times when you want to leave the pet at home while you go out. With the dog happily in its crate, you can leave knowing that nothing will be destroyed by a nervous or bored puppy in your absence. Give the dog a treat when you put it in the crate, and provide a chew toy to keep it occupied.
Patience, love, common sense, and following the steps to crate training puppies will ensure success in this area of proper dog care. As your puppy grows up, the crate will become more and more of an asset to both of you.
A crate, if used properly, will become a den and a safe place for your pet. Dogs have an instinctive attraction to their own cozy space and will try to keep it dry and clean. You also should regard the crate as a positive, never using confinement as a punishment but giving affection and a treat or a toy when you lock your dog in.
The crate should be large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around freely, but small enough to give the feeling of a cozy den. There should be padding to make a comfortable bed. At first, you may want the crate near an outside door so you can let the puppy outside immediately after you release him, since excitement will make it want to urinate right away. By praising the animal when it relieves itself outside, you will be reinforcing housebreaking training.
At first, the time in the crate should be very short. Puppies under twelve weeks of age cannot go much more than an hour between potty breaks, and any baby will get bored if confined too long at first. The most important thing is to ignore whining, barking, or scratching to be let out. You do not want to reward this behavior with any attention at all, even yelling. When the animal is lying quietly, you can let it out (eagerness when it see you approaching is natural and allowed.)
Build up to longer periods of time gradually. In a very few days, your pet will accept that sometimes it will be in a crate. Having a toy inside will help reconcile a puppy to the confinement. It is instinctive to an animal to keep its den clean, so the crate will reinforce your housebreaking training. Do not confine the puppy longer than is physically comfortable (under three months and a young dog will need to urinate every hour or so, while all dogs have a bowel movement shortly after eating)and take it outside immediately upon release.
Giving a treat when your pet enters its crate and providing a toy to chew on will help it wait patiently for your return. Many dogs come to regard their crates very fondly, retreating to them voluntarily for naps and putting themselves to bed at night. Often you will not even need to close the gate at night, and you will be able to enjoy your own bed without fighting your canine companion for the covers.
You will also find the crate valuable for times when you want to leave the pet at home while you go out. With the dog happily in its crate, you can leave knowing that nothing will be destroyed by a nervous or bored puppy in your absence. Give the dog a treat when you put it in the crate, and provide a chew toy to keep it occupied.
Patience, love, common sense, and following the steps to crate training puppies will ensure success in this area of proper dog care. As your puppy grows up, the crate will become more and more of an asset to both of you.
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Searching to read more about the steps to crate training, then visit TW Bell's site on how to pick the best dog crate for your animals needs.
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