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I asked myself this question when we brought home our German shepherd puppy. I had read many articles on the web and I decided to give it a try. I bought a crate that was just the right size for my little puppy. He had plenty of room to stretch out and sleep and he could sit up in it. He had room to stand up in it and he could turn all the way around in it. I put a nice soft blanket for him to sleep on inside the crate.

We came home with our little puppy and took him outside right away to go potty. We praised him for doing such a good job and brought him inside to his crate. The puppy liked his crate and went right in. He seemed to feel secure and safe in his crate and went to sleep. We let him sleep for a few hours and then took him back outside for a potty break. We took him to his same potty spot, so he would become familiar with it.

When you use a small kennel or crate to confine your puppy when you are not with him, this is called crate training. It’s important to get the right size of crate because a puppy doesn’t want to soil the area that they sleep in. He will hold it until he is let out to go. It’s important to be vigilant in letting him out within a reasonable time.

Watching your puppy at all times when he is out of the crate is probably the most important factor in crate training. It is best if he doesn’t have accidents in the house. Each time that he goes potty in his potty place outside he should be praised. He should get plenty of exercise, running around outside is best. Taking him for walks and playing with him is also good exercise.

I found that crate training your dog does work. It was a valuable experience for my dog and I. As your puppy gets familiar with the way that the crate training works, he will enjoy the routine.

Teaching your puppy crate training is the first and best step in his life. It makes all the other steps in his training go so much smoother, much like a solid foundation makes for a superior wall. Establishing you as the Alpha member of his “pack” is one very good reason for starting your puppy in a crate when he is very young.

Another reason for crate training is that dogs love predictability. To know what is going to happen in any given situation makes him happy, and more apt to be the best-behaved dog he can possibly be.

A strong crate is the very basis of good puppy training. A wire crate with a lock is the best kind. Make sure it is large enough for him to stand up and turn around. But not so large that he can roam and wander around. A too-large crate will inhibit house breaking. A crate that is just the right size will be perceived as his “nest”, where puppies never “go potty”. They will learn to hold it if you don’t make a prison out of it.

Never leave a puppy under 8 weeks longer than one hour in his crate. He will soil it, after struggling and suffering as long as he can.

Put a nice pad in there with a bone. Start with placing a tasty treat in there, he will go in and get it. Do this several times without closing the door, let him come in and out freely for an hour or so. Praise him highly each time he goes in, make it all very pleasant.

Then when his attention is on his treat, close the door. Praise him quietly, “What a good boy, it’s ok, such a good boy!” In 10 or 20 seconds, no longer, let him out without a word, no praise, just a pat. Do this for increasingly longer intervals, but do not give him a chance to get upset. You can do this several times the first day.

Make sure every training session ends on a happy note, this is crucial.

Once he sees the crate is his own private territory, he will go in there on his own, expecting treats and your attention. When he does, say, “Wanna crate?” with a happy face while getting his treats. Start leaving the room while he is in there for 2 minutes and onward, gradually. When you return, don’t make a fuss, just walk over and open the crate. In 3 days he will be officially crate-trained, ready to be left alone for an hour, no longer at first. Leave him gradually longer, slowly and carefully.

Q. Why do I want a crate for my puppy?

A. Because they love it is the best reason. They feel very safe and secure in there. Here are some more:

When you leave a puppy alone, he always has some measure of separation anxiety. This leads him to any behavior that brings him comfort, which is chewing, digging, or when it is severe, voiding his bowels. When placed in a crate, he feels safe because nothing can get to him, nothing can harm him. He will sleep and chew and wait for you to return.

Crate training is the first step in being able to leave him overnight at the vet. Without it he will cry the entire time, feeling lost and abandoned. With crate training, he is sure you will return, you always do. Of course the vet’s office is strange and will cause him some anxiety, but nothing like the pure terror he will feel without experience in being locked in.

NOTE: About crate-training, do not make a prison of his crate. Do not use it as punishment. Do not leave him there for more than 2 hours, just time for a long puppy nap and some chew time. After that he will cry. Do not remove him while he is crying. This will make him think he has to cry to get out. No matter what, make sure he is being good when you open the door. He will learn he has to be quiet to get out.

Do not make a fuss when you are letting him out, just quietly open the door and take him out to potty. When he potties, praise him to high heaven! Dogs naturally do not go where they nest, but sometimes it happens. Do not scold, just clean it out with a bland face. He will learn the lesson. If possible, try to clean it while he is outside so he returns to a clean crate.

In 25 years of training dogs, I have never seen any one thing more critical for a dog’s well-being than good crate training.

Puppy crate training can vary the effective length of time it requests an animal to another. cubs have grown along with other dogs can possibly learn by example. This is particularly true when amplified a human being who is close to all time. If the puppy comes from an animal shelter or a pet, may require a little more. The factors that will help ensure that dogs may be more comfortablecan be during this process are:

Crate sizes:

You will need to purchase a niche that offers enough space for your dog when it reaches full growth. The committees set up to separate the credit for the relatively small size of the dog. You do not want the cage baby be too big because we tend to favor the side pot for their area. You have to be positive that the box is just large enough for standing, turning and fixing.

Whenyou can start:

You should begin your crate training just before the puppy is 12 weeks. You lead your canine friend to the dog cage using the control word "cash" or perhaps "read". You can short periods, with the door closed with the dog in a cage if you are nearby. And 'acceptable that the puppy falls asleep without using the cash but you should not leave out area at the time of awakening, as we will show inconsistencyyour process and delays. Finally, you should never open the door to each fund your puppy dog barking or crying. They need to keep calm for 30 seconds before opening the door.

When the puppy is twelve to 13 weeks you can begin to leave them in their cages at intervals of dog. Want to try to remember not to allow them to have any toys or bedding that can be ripped and you also want to remove the collars of dogs to see that thisa danger of choking if the collar should get hooked by the fund. Dog is younger than 12 weeks should be kept in the bottom trays for more than three hours.

Program:

puppy crate training can become an exhausting effort of not having the correct diet and schedule of activities. You want your puppy dog for at least an hour every day. I advise them to get out of the house before and after the meal. If you have a lunchBe sure to regularly get as much help as possible to family, friends, neighbors or Pet Sitters. Do not give your puppy water in his cage until he showed better control of the bladder.

How do you deal with accidents:

Do not be fooled accidents may occur. Whatever you do, do not punish your puppy hard. Only reprimand your dog if you take them in flagrante delicto. A puppy is rather short and remembernot understand what you are upset if you had an accident that failed earlier.

Running obedience

When your puppy relieves correctly in the appropriate box, should be encouraged with enthusiasm when you "go". Play with your puppy before going inside. If your dog is slow to do, say things like "go to pot" or "Hurry.

When to stop the use of dogs body

After building a relationship of trustwith your puppy, you may stop using the credit union. Precisely because they are broken home does not mean that things will not chew or dig in the trash. You can leave your dog occasionally during the race short. But remember, if your dog makes a mess when you are away, but I do not remember what they were doing when you get home so you can not blame them.

All these things can help you when the puppies crate training. The most important thing of all isare compatible with your dog.

Considering getting a puppy? Having trouble training a puppy where to potty? Tired of coming home and having your things chewed up? You need a dog crate.

Crates are used by trainers, groomers, veterinarians, and sitters. If you ever leave and board your dog, they will be using a crate.

We have had four dogs in our home. I have used crates with three of them and will forever more!! I was in the mind frame that a crate was cruel; I quickly learned that that was not at all the case. It has turned out to be more like a playpen for our pups. I used a playpen to keep my daughter safe and to give her a place to nap; a crating is the same concept. I have been pleasantly surprised with each dog we used it with. My house can get a little crazy. I only have one child, but we always have neighbor kids, friends, and church family members over to our home. The Cavaliers tend to go nap in their crates (all by themselves) when our house gets loud and crazy.

Dogs by nature look for dens to sleep in and have their puppies in. Mother dogs teach their puppies not to go potty in the area they sleep. This is an instinct. Have you ever noticed your puppy sleeping under a piece of furniture?

Reason to use a crate:

Keeps puppy safe when no on can supervise them

Keeps puppy from chewing on your property

Safe place for dog to rest

House training

Travel

Types of crates:

There are many types of crates on the market. Plastic, metal, and wire tend to be the most popular. I prefer the wire crates. I like the fact that the wire crate is open on top and the sides for ventilation and are easy to clean. The crate folds down for easy storage and transportation.

Size of Crates:

Dog Crates come in many different sizes. The height and length of your adult dog will determine what size kennel to purchase. Your dog should be able to stand up, without hitting it’s head on the top, turn around, and lie down stretched out to the full length of its body without being cramped. Most wire crates come with a divider. This allows you to make the crate smaller when the dog is a puppy and larger as the puppy grows. You will only need to purchase one crate instead of different sized crates as the puppy grows.

What to put into the crate:

Make the crate inviting. Put in the crate a washable pad, blanket, or a pillow. Put items in the crate that is puppy safe. Just remember, the items will more thank likely be chewed on by the puppy. Never put food or water into the crate.

Placement of the crate:

The placement of the crate varies depending on the purpose of the crate. I keep our Cavalier’s crate in the bedroom. The purpose of the crate in our home is for sleeping, holding the dog while we are away from home or are unable to supervise, and a quiet place for them to retreat to. Other dog owners will put the crate in the room where the family spends most of their time.

How to introduce your dog to a crate:

1. Make the crate comfortable and appealing

2. Put treat/toy in the crate

3. Sit by the crate with the door open

4. Let the dog wonder in and out of the crate, find the treat, and play with the toy

5. Do not force the pup into the crate when you are introducing it

6. After about 20 minutes, put the dog in and close the door

7. Stay by the crate, put your fingers in and praise the dog, letting him know that everything is ok

8. Let out after a few minutes unless whining

9. Never let the dog out if he is whining

10. Do not make a big deal out of letting the dog out of the kennel

11. Put puppy into the crate while napping, leaving the door open

12. Make it clear to all family members that when the pup goes into the crate by himself to leave him alone. The crate is HIS domain for privacy and relaxation.

Crating during the night:

o Allow the puppy to go potty

o Play with the puppy to wear him out

o Expect whining for the first few nights. It is a new experience.

o Put the crate close to your bed.

o Put your fingers in the crate so the puppy knows you are there

o Usually if he whines for more than 10 minutes, I will take him outside to potty, bringing him back and returning him to his crate. Do not play with or cuddle him.

Whining issues:

The pup is going to whine. He likes to be with you. Before leaving the pup in the crate for more than a few minutes, allow the pup to empty his bladder and bowels. Exercise the pup until he is worn out will cut down on whining. Never yell at the dog or hit the kennel. I never let the dog out of the kennel when he is whining. Always wait until he stops.

Amount of time a puppy can spend in a crate before needing to go potty:

o 2-4 months – 2-3 hours

o 5-6 months – 4 hours

o 6-12 months – 5-6 hours

o 12 months plus – max of 8 hours

Crates are not to be used as prisons. They can be easily abused. But if used properly, crates are a great asset to you and your puppy!

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You’re going to have to get over your old idea that crates are punishment for dogs. The truth is that your Golden Retriever will love his crate. It’s a safe place that satisfies his natural instinct for his den.

All dogs are instinctively den-dwelling creatures, and his crate may be an excellent substitute that meets your Golden Retriever’s genetic need for a warm, safe place, particularly when he’s afraid or confused. At the same time, it’s not a good idea to let your Golden stay in
his crate for hours on end, as this could cause other behavioral problems that will be difficult to solve.

When you bring your Golden Retriever puppy home for the first time, the open crate should already be there in the spot you want it to be permanently. The crate should probably be located centrally in the house but not in a high-traffic area. Read the rest of this entry »