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Now that you have your crate, the other things that I would recommend to get before you start your puppy crate training are some toys, a mat for the bottom of the crate, an odor neutralizer (available at most pet stores) and some puppy treats. So your puppy feels better inside the crate, I would suggest getting some toys to put in there with it. You should never put your puppy in the crate as a punishment because you want it to enjoy being in there.

Be very careful what types of toys you put in the crate because you don’t want your puppy choking on or digesting something that they are not supposed to eat. A lot of the dog toys sold in the stores are fine such as the rubbery ones or bones that are hard pressed and won’t splinter. Don’t utilize stuffed animals, or plastic toys that squeak! These break apart very easily and are choking hazards to your puppy. A way to keep your puppy pre-occupied is to get a puppy toy that is made to place treats on the inside so that your puppy has to figure out how to get them out. This will help your puppy adjust to the new crate and help to keep them quiet in the beginning stages of puppy crate training.

Buying a mat for the bottom of the crate is just to give your puppies a soft place to relax on while inside the crate. You want something that is easy to clean, but not something that your puppy can chew apart.

The odor neutralizer is used to clean up the floor in case your puppy has an accident. The part of your rug or flooring that was used as a bathroom, can be easily cleaned by this. It will discard the scent from the puppies bowel movement so it will not be baited back to the scene of the crime. A lot of household disinfectants have ammonia in the ingredients, which is horrible to use on your puppy’s accident, and could intice your puppy to the same area as before.

You can utilize an array of different stuff as rewards for your pups. Most commercially available treat will work just fine, with organic and all natural being more readily available today I would recommend to go that route. It is healthier for your pup, specially in it’s ample growth stage. You want to start your puppy crate training by tossing a few treats in the cage and giving your puppy a command such as “Crate” or “Kennel” as it goes in after the treats. This will draw your pup into the crate and get excited for it’s prize. When your puppy starts getting excited about being in the crate, it means that it is starting to put the crate and treats together as one.

When you use a command to associate your puppy with going into the crate, your puppy will eventually learn what you want it to do when you say the command. If you use a phrase or word that means go inside the crate to your puppies, then before long they will know what you want them to do. When it’s time for your puppies to go in their crates, you can say the magic word that you have selected and they will enter on their own and wait for some puppy treats.

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When starting the process of puppy crate training you have to remember that your puppy would love to do nothing more in the world than please it’s owner, “YOU”.  You must take the proper steps in the correct order to “help” your puppy understand what you want it to do  (NOT PEE OR POOP ON YOUR CARPET!!!!).   You can’t just take a puppy outside and expect it to magically know what you want it to do.

If you teach yourself the proper training techniques, then your puppy probably will learn more in a smaller time frame than you think. Waiting unitl your puppy relieves itself on your floor and then rubbing the nose in it, is not what I mean.   You cannot and I repeat cannot correct a puppy for going to the bathroom in the house unless you catch it in the act.   Pups don’t have the mental capacity to realize what you are scolding them for that happened in the past, and you wind up confusing them. If you do not see them while they are doing it a punishment just does not have the proper effect.

Selecting A Crate

The first thing you want to do in puppy crate training is select the proper size crate.   The crate should be just big enough for the puppy to stand up and turn around in and not bigger. You might wonder if your puppy needs more space to stretch out so it doesn’t feel so enclosed. Thinking like a human again! It is fine, it’s commonplace that us humans think like that, but your dog doesn’t.

Remember how they don’t like to relieve themselves in their den??? Well if you permit your puppies to have too large of an area, they might use one side for a toilet and the other for resting.  Most of the commercially available puppy crates are sufficient for puppy crate training. I like the plain tan crates (color shouldn’t matter, people just know which ones I am referring to with this reference) with the mesh doors that have a lock on them. They are great for containing dog hair and dirt in the crate and not on your carpet. If you buy a crate that has a divider in it that will allow you to adjust the size, it will save you money by not having to keep purchasing new crate every time your puppy grows.

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This is the next step in puppy crate training.After you do this a few times and your puppies get comfortable with being in and out of the kennel, you should begin to close the door for small sections of time.  Start with staying in the room with your puppy for short periods of time while praising him for being in the crate.After that begin to leave the room and come back to place a goody through a slot in the crate to praise your pup for remaining in the crate.

You will then want to gradually extend your time out of the room to get your puppy used to you not being there.Some dogs will bark or cry when you shut the crate door, you should not be alarmed and try to ignore it.If you happen to open the kennel when your dog is making a bunch of noise, that will definitely teach them to use that technique when they want to get out.

Wait as long as it takes for your puppies o stop making noise and then let them out.Your puppies will learn to like the crate over time and begin to feel comfortable inside and stop the noise.I realize that is it difficult when your small pup is whining to get out, do your best to not give in and you’ll be happy you did.   Puppy whining is definitely one of the harder aspects of puppy crate training.

A lot of pups begin to like their crates very quickly and they will begin to go in by themselves to relax or nap.Remember that your pup’s crate should never be a place you put it after it is bad.  You always want your puppy to love their crate and feel safe and secure inside.Also, you never want to leave your puppies alone in your house for any amount of time.

Most puppies are very mischievous and will quickly start exploring things that you don’t want them to.Not only an issue for the owner of the puppy, but can also be dangerous to the puppy itself.  If you have to do something in the house and can’t keep an eye on your puppy, such as taking a shower, just put the puppy in the crate for a short period of time.

Immediatley take your puppies outside and let them use the bathroom after they have been in the crate for some time.  As soon as your puppy starts to use the bathroom outside, start praising it immediately.You want your dog to realize at this point that this is the action you want it to do.

Here you can use another command such as “Good Potty”, “Good Bathroom”, or “Good Outside”.  Your puppy will soon begin to associate this command with using the bathroom outside.Bring your pup back inside the house when it is done.Don’t forget pups can only hold it so long without going to the potty so do this process a lot………consistency counts when puppy crate training!!!

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One of the most common issues with dog owners is puppy crate training. If this is you don’t get down on yourself, give yourself some points for going the right way. It is something that they have to live with and the dog will grow out of it, is the way some dog owners feel about having a new puppy. LAZY thinking, is what I think of this! You must acquire the correct knowledge of owning a dog if you are going to be a responsible pet owner!

In today’s environment, especially with the internet, there are too many opportunities for you to acquire the knowledge of the exact ways to take care of your brand new puppy. At this time let’s just move in the correct direction. You might not do all things correct, but what is most important is that you are moving in the right direction.   Remember with learning any new skill/method, patience is key, especially with the new addition to your family.

Now, let’s get started with some basics of puppy crate training. First let’s begin with why we can and should use a kennel to crate train our puppy.   Dogs are pack animals like wolves and in the wild use a den to raise their young. Feeling safe and protected in a den is from spending the first part of their lives raised this way. As opposed to being exposed to predators at night, they natually choose a den when they get a little older.   Whether this be a cave or a whole in the bottom of a tree, it provides protection and security.

Keeping it’s den clean and not using it to potty in is your dogs natural instinct. This instinct by itself is a thing that we as men or women can use to our advantage when housebreaking a puppy.   So if you are one of the many people who “feel bad” putting your puppy in a crate, you are actually going along with mother nature in providing a safe secure den.  Puppy crate training is a safe humane way to house train your puppy quickly and effectively.

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Though, slightly harder than training a pup, crate training a dog isn’t as tough as some might assume.  If done correctly, your dog will feel at ease within his crate and not be capable of causing problems while you are not in the same room watching him.

Here are a few ideas that may help you to make crate training an acceptable experience.

*Is The Crate The Proper Size

A correctly sized crate for your dog allows him to stand, turn around, and move within the crate. If they are not able to do those types of things easily, then the crate is not big enough.

Make sure that you either purchase a comfortable cushion to place in the crate or place your dog’s favorite bed in there.

As long as you have made comfortable bedding available, having a special crate is irrelevant.  In addition, it is a great idea to look for the type of bedding that may be simply put in the washing machine.

Often times dogs can be mistreated by past owners, and if you are attempting to crate train and your dog seems afraid of the crate, it could be because it was punished or neglected in a crate in the past.  These issues will require more patience with your pet in order to successfully crate train.

How To Crate Train A Dog

*Take Your Time

Familiarize the dog with the crate gradually by first locating it in a part of the house where the dog feels happy and comfortable.  Let the crate there and the door ajar. Let your dog go inside at his own pace, don’t rush him.

To increase your dog’s interest in the crate, either place treats or toys near the door of the crate. Gradually move the treats or toys further inside the crate.

When your dog comfortably goes in of his own accord, calmly close the door.  In the beginning, for a few minutes you should leave it closed.

Eventually, you can start leaving the door closed for longer time periods.

Through time your dog will not mind if you leave the door shut for longer time periods.  Next, go out of the room for just a couple of minutes, and then slowly increase the amount of time that you are out of the room and away.

You must not progress to the next phase until your pet appears to be comfortable with the present phase.

Never use the crate as a form of punishment, that is a common mistake made by to many people.
  
You only want to use a crate in a positive manner, otherwise your dog will view his time in the crate as punishment and will not be happy or secure using it. He will fear the crate instead of viewing it as a safe place.

House Breaking Your Dog

After you have accustomed your dog to the crate, he may be left in it for a few hours.

There are those who leave their dog in a crate while they go out and pursue their occupation.  Some people crate dogs overnight.  Do not do both. 

If your dog is in the crate while you are at work and while you are asleep, then your dog will be in the crate for as long as sixteen hours in a day.  Please do not do that.

Ensuring that your dog is properly crate trained is a slow process.  Although it make take several weeks or even months, having your dog crate trained is truly worthwhile.  A crucial component of crate training is to make sure your dog learns to relate positively to the crate. 

Assist him in learning that he is in a safe place while you are gone.

Stay calm and patient and everything should work out ok.

Dog Training Advice

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