Puppy Crate Training

Crate Training Puppies in a Few Easy to Follow Steps

Puppy crate training will be easier if you firstly understand your dog. Dogs being pack animals love a den, and a 'crate' makes a great den where your puppy feels happy and secure. A crate offers many benefits to your puppy, not only somewhere to sleep, but a secure environment that is essentially 'his' alone. This will make crate training puppy easier as it is his personal environment.

Crates are great for travelling in too. Visits to the vet or taking your dog on holiday. Your puppy will feel less anxious because he is in his 'den'.

Crate training for puppies requires you firstly to purchase a suitable crate for your puppy. There are various types of crates.
Whichever crate you choose, you should initially leave the door off, or tie it up so that the entrance is open.

Bedding is very important when puppy crate training. He will enjoy a soft blanket or towel placed in the bottom of the crate. This is not always the case however. Some puppies will prefer a flat hard surface. You will know this if your puppy starts to paw his blanket and push it into a corner of the crate.

Crate training puppies can be frustrating. Some puppies will urinate on the bedding. If this occurs, just remove the bedding until he stops this practice.

When your puppy is young, it is a good idea to keep some water in his crate. Putting a bowl in will lead to disaster. When crate training puppy, I suggest you attach a water drip feeder to the side (the type used in a hamster cage). He will be able to drink at will without upsetting the water in his crate.

Toys and their favourite treats are a great way to encourage your puppy when crate training. They should be placed in the far side of the crate. The main thing you need to bear in mind is that if your puppy's toy is too small, he may choke on it. Always use oversized toys and balls to avoid this.

The location of the crate when puppy crate training is really important. Your puppy needs to feel secure, so it is always best to keep the crate at a close distance to where you spend most of your time.

Time to start your puppy crate training.

The first thing is to praise and encourage your puppy when he enters the crate. Never force him to go in and NEVER use his crate as a form of punishment. Occasionally dropping doggie biscuits or treats into the crate will entice him in. This will also give him positive associations with his new crate.

When you first start crate training puppies, you shouldn't overdo it. Short periods is all he will need.
It is also important that you are in the room with him. This way, he will not form a bad association with his crate when you are not there.

Only start to crate train your puppy when they have reached 9-10 weeks old. This is mainly due to the fact that they have to eliminate 8-14 times a day. Their bladder and bowel control grows rapidly after this period.

Crate training for puppies can be a really effective housebreaking tool as well. Dogs have a natural instinct not to soil the area that they sleep in.

   For other related puppy obedience training advice, please read the articles below.

Puppy leash training   Puppy housebreaking    Puppy nipping  Puppy chewing 

Aggressive puppy   Puppy training pads