When house breaking a new puppy, people will often use the crate to teach them not to relieve themselves in the home. Dogs need to learn where to go to the bathroom.
They will make mistakes so don't punish them severely. You just want to scold them and reward them when they go where you want them to. And don't try to teach them the whole backyard is the right spot. Teach them that THIS spot is where they go when it is time.
It usually takes 7 days before they will get the hint and start going to the right spot on their own. With a puppy, you need to be watching them all the time. If they make a mistake it was your fault not the dogs. Watch them closely and when you see them making the signs of getting ready, immediately take them outside. And reward them with a treat and praise after a good job.
Now, you probably can't be with your puppy around the clock 24 hours a day so that is where the crate comes in. The crate is used as a sort of control. Dogs will not go potty where they sleep unless they are sick.
So the crate should be sized for your dog. They should be able to sprawl out but that is all the room they have. There should be no spare space on the floor of your crate if it is sized correctly.
So when they are in the crate they really have no place to go. This means you can't leave them in the crate too long. A seven month old puppy can't be expected to hold it more than 7 hours. Two month olds can only last about 2 hours max.
The idea is to put them in the crate at night and when you leave the house. Not only will this be a nice safe and secure home for them but they will soon learn outside is where they relieve themselves.
You will still have to keep an eye on them inside the home when they are out of the crate.
And remember to take them outside as soon as you let them out of the crate.
Some tips for using a dog crate:
Do not force them into the crate. Start slow by leaving the door tied open the first day. Let your dog explore the crate on its own. Feed the dog in the crate and close the crate door for a short time. Extend the amount of time you leave them inside as the day goes on until they get used to being inside with the door closed.
If you have trouble getting them to go inside the crate, start playing fetch and toss the toy into the crate. They will soon get comfortable with it.
The first night they stay in the crate, they may whine. Reasure them but try to get them to settle down. You can move the crate into your bedroom if you have to. But quickly have a set place for the crate.
Soon your dog will start going in the crate on their own and taking naps inside. Have a crate blanket for them to get used to sleeping on.
Take off any dog collars before you crate your dog. They could get something caught inside the cage and be injured. It would be easy for them to choke if something gets hung up while inside the cage.
Never use the crate as punishment or put your dog in the crate when you are angry at them. The dog should only consider the crate as a safe and comfortable place that is their own. It is not a punishment to be in the crate.
If your dog is sick and has diarrhea don't put him in the crate. They will have no choice but to mess in the crate. It will be defeating your purpose of crating if they get used to going potty inside the crate.
Only put food and water in the crate when you are home. Don't leave food or water inside if you are leaving. Also you just leave food and water inside for short periods of time. The crate is for sleeping and that is why they don't relieve themselves in there.
Soon, your dog will learn to always go outside but it is your duty to watch them all the time until they learn this. Watch for the signals that they need to get outside and immediately take them.
Using a crate is a great way to train your puppy. And you should be able to house break the dog within 7 days. You paying attention and catching them before they have a mistake is the key. If you reward good behavior, you dog will catch on pretty fast.
It is most important to remember the crate is never punishment so never yell at the dog when you want her to go in the cage. Always say it like it is a super fun idea and praise her for getting in the crate.
It is only a matter of time until she will use the crate for napping a lot. It is really a den inside the house for your dog.
| This article while it is pretty long is still not enough to learn all you need to about crate training...To learn a lot more today about house breaking puppies visit Puppy Training Tips and learn how to train your dog in under 7 days. |
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