Crate Training Puppies – It’s Easier Than You Think

Article by Davey Martin

Some people feel it is cruel to lock a puppy up in a crate. They look at it as a prison cell. However, puppies feel safe in small spaces as long as you do not leave them for too long. It should not be used as punishment, and they should not be ignored. If used correctly, a crate can be a beneficial tool for training your puppy. If left on their own, puppies will often find a place to hide like behind a couch or under the bed.

Crate training allows your puppy to have a place just for him; he will feel secure and hidden when he gets afraid. A small puppy can feel overwhelmed by a large space like your home. A crate is more his size.

A crate will provide a place where he can get away from other dogs, kids, or scary noises like a vacuum cleaner or a blender. You can also take the crate with you if you visit family or take a trip. It will be a place of comfort in unfamiliar surroundings, and it will help to keep the puppy calm.

Crate training puppies can teach them good behavior and prevents them from picking up bad habits. It is often easier to housebreak a puppy when they are used to being in a crate. When you keep them confined to a small area, they are less likely to have an accident in their sleeping quarters. You will have to give them frequent breaks to go outside, especially if they are very young.

Even when your puppy is housebroken, it will be best to crate him when you are gone for long periods. Many puppies suffer separation anxiety and display bad behaviors when their owners leave them. They actually prefer the security of their crate to the openness of your home when you are not there.

You can prevent many issues that dog owners battle by teaching your puppy to be crated when you are not available to supervise. This includes climbing on furniture, chewing up items around the house, and having accidents on the floor. Even if your puppy is well trained to wait to be let outside to go to the bathroom, he may choose to misbehave when you are not there. He is letting you know he is upset for being left alone.

When your puppy is little, you will want to let him out often so that he does not have accidents in his crate. By the time he is three months old, he should be able to wait for around four hours before needing to be let out.

If you have a job, you can use your lunch break to go home and give your puppy a break. If that is not possible, you need to ask a neighbor or find a pet sitter who can stop by. It will not be too many months before your puppy can wait all day, but you do not want to cause him to have regular accidents or he will be much more difficult to train. Training your puppy to be crated will help him to develop into a well-behaved, happy dog.

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For more indepth information, check out crate training puppies at www.daveydogs.com today. Be sure to also check out the information on house training a puppy for further information.

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