Teaching your puppy crate training is a great way to give him a good start, install positive habits early, and bond with your new pet. Puppy crate training is a very effective way to housebreak your new puppy, and also teach basic manners. Here are some concepts that will get you off to the right start.
Keep in mind that crate training should be a positive experience for both you and your puppy. Many people believe that crate training is cruel, and refuse to consider it as a training method. Dogs, however, enjoy having a den-like environment that feels save and secure to them, and crate training, used properly, focuses on rewarding experiences and positive reinforcement, not pain or punishment.
Crate training involves keeping the puppy inside the crate for a certain length of time, and then removing the dog to an established toilet area, where he can relieve himself. The reason that crate training works so well for housebreaking your puppy is that it encourages him to 'hold' it, and associate emptying his bladder outside the crate. The puppy won't want to soil its den, as that is where he lives and sleeps.
When first beginning crate training, the puppy may protest at first by whining or barking. Eventually, he will be able to stay comfortably in the crate for longer and longer periods of time. Start with 10 minutes at a time, and eventually, you can gradually increase up to two hours. However, a puppy should not be left in the crate for an extended amount of time, usually no more than three to four hours.
Once you get started, there may be occasionally accidents, and it very important not to punish the puppy or dog when it makes a mistake during the crate training process. You will also be more successful if you keep a diary of when your puppy eats, and when he requires a bathroom break when training. This will help you anticipate your puppy's needs on a regular basis.
A strong crate is the very basis of good puppy training. The crate should be large enough that your pup or dog can stand up in and turn. You can get a large crate, and then make partitions, creating a larger space as your puppy gets bigger. Or, you can start with a smaller crate, and then move up to a large size over time. It is important the crate be comfortable and long-lasting.
Once you've house-trained your puppy with crate-training, you've gone a long way toward creating a positive bond with your dog, and have instilled the habits that should stay with him for a lifetime. Crate training may take some time and focus at first, but, it solves the housebreaking problem, and helps to prevent accidents in the future. This investment goes a long way toward a happy household for you and your dog.
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