Crate Training Puppies The Simple Way.

Article by WellTrained Dog

Crate training is a great way to house-train a puppy. For anyone dreaming of having a well-behaved dog, it’s also a great basis for other training and behavior. It is a simple and effective training method that anyone can use, and really good for both you and the dog.

Even if you’ve tried crate training your dog before, and not had great success, don’t worry, that’s not your fault, as you might have got incomplete or incorrect information for some reason. It’s a nice straight-forward approach, once you understand how and why it works.

One good reason for crate training is that dogs love predictability. To know what is going to happen in any given situation makes him happy and relaxed, and to want to learn how to do what you want. 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 not work for house training. 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.

Start with placing a tasty treat inside, and 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. You may be wondering why you want a crate for your puppy? The answer is because they love the feeling of being safe and secure in there. 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.

When leaving him overnight at the vet, if your dog is not crate trained 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: 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 a LOT! 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.

So that’s the great benefits of crate training, also available to see On Video

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