There is a lot of bad stigma that surrounds the use of crates and crate training in the
dog world. There are a lot of people who look at crate training as a punishment toward dogs or even abuse toward dogs. When in reality, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Now, let me make it clear, I am not talking about kenneling your pooch in a crate for
days long at a time or any other kind of inhumane caging of dogs. I am speaking
solely on having a crate in your home for your furry friend to provide a place of
comfort and safety.
So, why crate train? Like I stated above, crate training provides a safe place for your puppy
when properly trained to the crate. All of the puppies in my home and program have a
crate. It is almost like their own bedroom. They find comfort and safety in their
crate. It is a reliable place for them to unwind and relax knowing it is their space.
Remember, always make crate training a pawsative experience!
Crate training isn’t just for the dog; it is for their owner also. When you need to run
errands, cook dinner, or go to bed at night and you can’t supervise your puppy, the
crate creates a peace of mind knowing that your puppy is safe and not getting
themselves into any sort of danger.
Now that you are on board with crate training, let's talk about how to crate train!
It all starts when you bring your puppy home. If your lucky, the breeder started crate
training your puppy before puppy go home day and there is already a foundation for
your puppy to understand. But if that is not the case for you, let’s start simple. There are a few key things you will need to start this process:
A crate that fits your puppy properly.
A comfort object in the crate, such a dog bed, blanket, or pillow.
Crate cover (optional).
A toy to distract your pup.
Treats, treats, treats!
PATIENCE!
Now, let’s talk about the key components that will help with this endeavor.
First, make sure you place the crate in a good spot in your home. As much as you
would like for your puppy to be near you at all times, keeping a crate in a high traffic
area, like the living or dining room, is not the key to success. When puppies see a lot
of things happening around them, they will suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out)
and they WILL start to cry. We recommend placing the crate in a room by themselves or a place in the home that doesn't get a lot of traffic, like a laundry room or spare bedroom. If you do not have the space for that, then we recommend getting a crate cover. Making sure your crate is properly placed and or covered, will ensure your puppy gets the adequate amount of rest and comfort they need.
Second, always make sure your puppy goes potty before putting them into the crate,
especially before bedtime. This will help them make it through the night without you
having to get up to take them out to potty. Although, the first week or two, this will
happen. A puppies bladder doesn't fully mature until they are 4-6 months old.
When you hear your puppy whining at night, get up and take them outside. Do not talk to them or play with them. Let them potty and make sure to bring them back inside and put them right back into their crate. Practicing this technique helps let your puppy know that
nighttime is strictly bedtime, not playtime.
Make sure that your furry friend also has comfort while in their new crate. Anything to make this experience more enjoyable for them will also make this experience more enjoyable for you! Things to include in the little ones crate are:
Blankets/bed/pillow
Having a soft comfort item for your pup to sleep on and cuddle up will make a world of a difference on how fast they crate train. We always makes sure we send a pup home with a blanket that has their mom and litter mates scent on it to help with this process also.
Plenty of toys!
Puppies typically have a lot of energy and want to play as much as they can. That is why having a couple toys in their crate is a great way to keep them preoccupied. Our favorite toys to use with our puppies are rubber balls, kong toys, bully sticks, Nylabones, or any other puppy toy that can handle a good chew!
We get these bully sticks from Costco! https://a.co/d/clNl4hh
What kind of crates do we recommend?
We recommend a traditional wire crate, preferably with a divider. As your puppy
grows, you can remove the divider back until it is no longer needed. Essentially, you
want enough room for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lay down
comfortably. Extra space means more space to potty. Keep the size comfortable, but
not too big.
Overall, crates are a great resource when used properly and can help reduce
accidents in the home, whether that be dangerous accident or potty accidents.
Here is one of our favorites:
I also want to make it clearly understood that when training a puppy, it is also a training session for their parents, a.k.a you and your family! Training and disciplining yourself to stick to a schedule, stay committed, and have lots of patience is the number one key to success. It will be hard, there will be sleepless nights sometimes, but all of those droopy eyelid days and over stimulated nights will all be worth it when your pup cuddles up next to you after a long day, looks at you with those puppy dog eyes, and then snuggles their head right into you and falls asleep knowing you are their person.
Let's get to training!
Step one:
Take your puppy and place them in the crate with you sitting nearby. Keep the door open
and offer treats with good behavior. The key here is building a positive relationship
with the crate instead of a negative one. So be kind and be patient with your pooch,
this can be a little scary for them at first. Continue this procedure for a few days,
each day keeping them in the crate longer and longer.
Step two:
Once they start to get used to the crate, you can start to close the door and leave
them alone. Remember, the chances of them crying or screaming the first few times
is very likely, but you have to remember to use tough love and know that in the long
run, this is for their good and safety. As you continue this routine, they will continue
to grow more fond of their crate and all of sudden, one day, you will find them
choosing to be in there on their own, taking a nap or just relaxing.
That is it! A super simple, yet effective way to crate train your puppy. If you and your family stick to these key components, you will sail right through crate training!
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