Dogs are den-dwelling animals. With that being the case, you can understand why a dog would find comfort and safety in a crate or small kennel. Puppies and dogs enjoy having a place to themselves where they know nothing can get at them, or is expected of them. Let’s take a look at the following information to find out why you would want to consider crate training your puppy, and how you would proceed.

What is Crate Training?

Crate training is the process of getting a puppy comfortable with staying in a crate as a means of security and a safe retreat. That’s why crate training is not cruel, but is quite the opposite, providing comfort and safety. Crate training may also be used to potty train a small puppy.

Some experts say that crate training is the basis for all further training. It sets the stage for good puppy behavior and gives them a level of confidence they may miss without crate training.  Another advantage of being crate trained early on is it can help reduce anxiety in the event puppy needs to be crated, such as at an overnight stay at your veterinarian’s clinic or hospital.

Choosing the Crate

When buying a crate for puppy, you’ll want to consider their size. The crate needs to be big enough for puppy to be comfortable but not too big that puppy no longer sees it as a den. If you get a crate that is small enough, puppy will greatly resist using part of it as a potty place, as they see their crate as their den and want to keep it clean. If you get a crate too large, puppy may use one side as their den, and the other for a potty.

Resist the temptation to save money by buying one crate for the life of the puppy. The crate you use to train your puppy should fit your puppy’s size. Then, if you choose to have a crate for your full-grown dog, buy a new one to fit your puppy’s adult size later. Some crates and kennels take this into consideration and offer a divider so you can section off a larger crate into a smaller den for your puppy.

There are many types of crates, some designed for stationary use and some designed for travel. Some crates are designed to be mini-kennels, with features like quick breakdown and folding easily for transporting. You’ll find wire crates and plastic crates. Decide where you will be putting the crate and how you will be using it before you choose one.

Crate Training Basics

Once you have a crate that is the proper size, you’ll need to begin to get your puppy used to going in it. Here are a few tips for getting puppy to explore and enjoy the new crate:

• Leave the Door Open – Place the crate in a central location where you spend time and are close by. Then tie the door back so it’s open and your puppy can go in and out. This will allow puppy to explore without feeling separated from you or trapped. Puppy won’t understand at first that the door opens as well as closes, but will after further exploration and training.
• Drop in a Few Treats – As puppy explores, the little treats you’ve left inside the crate will delight and encourage more exploration. This will allow puppy to associate happy feelings with the crate and become attached to using it quickly.
• Make Crate Comfortable – Add some comfortable bedding or towels for puppy to lie on. You can also put puppy’s favorite toys in there. Give puppy all the comforts of home in the little den.
• Short Intervals Only – Once you start closing the door, be sure to keep puppy’s time in the crate short. Younger puppies cannot hold their bladder for very long so don’t leave them in the crate too long or your crate training will backfire. Over time you can increase the intervals. Try crating puppy after a potty break for about 15 or 20 minutes. Set a timer and release your puppy when the time is up. And don’t forget to praise puppy for the good work.
• Crate Train Only While at Home – When you leave for a few hours at a time, section off a safe area of the house for puppy to stay while you are away. Set the crate in the safe area with the door propped securely open so puppy can use it as a resting area within the play area. Closing a puppy in a crate while you are gone for a long period of time may cause puppy to form an aversion to the crate if associated with you being gone.
• Crate Use For Potty Training – Once puppy is familiar with the crate, you can start potty training with the crate for short periods of time. As soon as you take puppy out of the crate, go right outside to the potty spot. If puppy goes potty, make sure you praise, offer treats, and play. If puppy doesn’t go potty, then back to the crate for another short interval. Repeat this routine several times a day and puppy will soon understand and get to know his crate and his potty spot. Remember to be consistent if you choose this method.

If you stay the course with crate training you’ll find the rewards are great. Puppy will love the comfort of ‘home’ and become more and more capable of controlling the urges to potty wherever and whenever. Puppy will also appreciate you for being such a determined and solid puppy parent when guidance is needed most.

Puppies really are great fun.

Puppies, they’re cute and cuddly, they’re playful and friendly. There must be very few people who can resist the charms of puppy. In fact, this new family member is so cute and loveable it is possible you can might forget one of the biggest challenges that you will face when that little puppy first arrives home – the potty training.

Puppy potty training, also known as housebreaking your puppy, is rarely easy, the fact is potty training can be downright frustrating even upsetting at times. There are though ways to make sure that you get through the process successfully. Let’s start with some tips to get you and your puppy off on the right foot (or paw):

Know Your Puppy’s Potty Dance.

You will want to catch your puppy in the act of potty dancing when possible, so you can teach them the correct way to go potty. Start watching your puppy for the signs of a ‘potty dance.’ These signs usually come right after they have eaten or had a drink and also very often after some playful activity. So, after you have fed your puppy, watch for the signs; sniffing, circling, cocking a leg or squatting. Also, after playing, watch to see if puppy is showing any of these same kinds of ‘looking for a place to piddle or poop’ signs.

Assign a Potty Spot.

Once you see puppy getting ready to go you will need to show them where to go to potty. If at all possible the best thing to do is to take puppy straight outside in order to help train them that the inside of the house is not a potty spot. If it’s not possible to take puppy outside because they are too little to wait until you can get them outside to the potty spot, then you will likely need to paper-train puppy first with a spot in the house. As the puppy gets older they will be able to hold on for longer and longer as time goes by thereby making it possible to plan an outdoor excursion to their potty spot.

Always Try to Reward Good Behavior.

If your puppy goes potty in the right spot, a reward is definitely in order. This can be either be your praise and affection or it could be a special treat reserved just for potty time. It is also best to use a mixture of treats, praise and playtime as that works very well in potty training puppies. Because puppy wants only to please you and only to play with you, your praise and play means everything to them and they will do anything to get it – including go potty in the right place.

Schedule Potty Time.

Since you have been vigilant with your puppy and learnt the ‘potty dance’ signs and understand the potty habits, you can now begin setting up a schedule so that you don’t have to watch puppy quite so closely. Typically speaking, most puppies will want to go potty about 30 to 40 minutes after they have eaten, or after waking up from a nap, or after they have played hard. Bearing this in mind, you are now ready to schedule these times to suit yourself and your puppy. So, feed puppy at a time when you know that you have the time in 30 minutes or so to take puppy for a potty run. Set up your playtime in the same fashion and include that 30 to 40 minute time at the end for potty time. If you stay consistent with your schedule, you will soon hopefully be able to relax a bit.

Consistency is the Key.

Speaking of consistency, it bears repeating you must keep consistent with your puppy. If you are not totally dedicated to the training you can expect it to fail. Puppies are a creature of habit. Therefore, if you are providing treats as a reward during potty training, have the treat prepared to give them immediately. If potty time is 30 minutes after they have eaten, then make sure to get puppy out ready at the potty spot after 30 minutes and remember, if you are not consistent, it is your failure, not the puppy’s failure.

Give it Time.

Puppy will have accidents. On occasions there will be times when puppy will happily go outside to the potty spot, only to look at you with a puzzled expression then just as you are returning to the house, puppy will suddenly understand and go potty where they are. You have to be prepared for this and mustn’t get stressed by it. You are looking for improvement over time and it does take time but as long as there is a forward progression, you should have nothing to worry about. Patience will be your best friend while housebreaking your puppy.

Limit Food and Drink at Bedtime.

When a puppy is very little, you cannot expect them to have more than approximately one hour of sleep for every month old they are. So, if you bring home a three month old puppy you can expect to set the alarm for about every three hours during the night, else you will probably wake up to a puddle or pile. In order to stretch this time out while waiting for growth and nature to take its course, it is a good idea to limit food and drink from three hours before bedtime. Try to schedule your puppy’s feedings earlier in the day to help you and your puppy to get a full night’s rest.

Being prepared with this type of information can help you get through puppy potty training smoothly without too much stress. Remember, consistency is the key. If you stick with it, your new puppy will be happily house-trained in no time at all.

So you’ve decided to bring a puppy into your family. Congratulations! Now that the celebration is out of the way… do you really know what you are getting into? Are you prepared for the lack of sleep, the constant attention, the misunderstandings, the persistent chewing, the messes on the floor, and all that goes with having a new little out-of-control furry creature in your life?

Don’t worry! It’s not all bad.

Actually it’s all very good, and puppy parenting can be extremely rewarding. However, it can also be mentally and physically draining if you don’t take time for yourself while raising a puppy. Here are a few tips on how to get your breaks and keep your sanity.

Routine

Life might seem chaotic right now with your puppy going a mile a minute, around and around in circles, up and over in a whirlwind of activity. In reality, your puppy really wants and needs routine. In many ways, puppies are like children.
Children need rules and routine in order to feel safe. Puppies need rules and routine for the very same reason. Getting puppy on a routine is going to help you both. Start by creating a schedule. Choose feeding times, potty times, play times, nap times, and bed time. Then stick to it.

Of course, you may need to adjust the schedules in order to keep puppy on track, especially with potty training. But, as you work this out, puppy will quickly learn the schedule and you’ll be able to relax a bit.

Remove

If you have things you don’t want destroyed, do yourself a favor and save your sanity by putting them out of reach. Puppy is too young to understand all the things that can and cannot be chewed on or played with. And, if you have to be constantly vigilant and always yelling ‘no!’ you are not going to remain sane for long, or enjoy your puppy.

As a reminder, shoes make wonderful chew toys, in the eyes of a puppy. Keep all shoes hidden behind closet doors. This will remove the temptation and frustration. Safety issues also come into play here. Tape up or otherwise corral electrical cords. Plants can be either a mess waiting to happen or worse; there are many poisonous plants to be aware of. To be safe, remove them all out of puppy’s reach. Also, put breakables away. In other words, clear the decks! You have a puppy on board.

Distract

There are so many great toys on the market today for puppies. Look for appropriate squeaky toys, chew toys, rawhide bones, ropes, and more. Use these to distract and keep puppy busy while you go about your day.

Be sure to keep a bucket of these ‘distractions’ handy at all times. Anytime puppy goes after something to chew on that you would prefer puppy leave alone, like your arm or the sofa, pull out a distraction. Puppies need to chew and they need to play, so make a good toy available at all times.

Help

Of course there are going to be times when you just need a break. Maybe you want to get away, or maybe you just want to stay home and take a nice, long, completely uninterrupted nap.

Ask for help! Maybe a family member or friend can help. If this is not an option, schedule time to get out and about to local dog parks or pet clubs where you can meet other pet owners. You may be able to make some mutually beneficial relationships where you both help each other out with your energetic puppies.

Puppies might just be the cutest little things on earth. With all the power their cuteness holds, you may be tempted to forget to take care of yourself. Don’t do it!  Find ways to make puppy happy while taking little breaks so you can be the very best puppy parent you can be. Then you’ll both be happy, healthy and ready to enjoy each other.