Training a puppy to be comfortable in a crate is a popular way to provide safe confinement during housetraining. The majority of puppies will rapidly accept crate confinement when you make the introduction fun.
Since it is important to associate favorable things with the area where your puppy is confined, it is a good idea to play with him there, or simply spend some time reading or watching television nearby as he relaxes with a favorite chew toy. If he is only in the area when you leave, it becomes a social isolation area that he eventually may resist entering.
A good time to start crate puppy training is at dinner time. Feed your puppy his dinner, one piece at a time, by tossing pieces of kibble into the crate for him to chase and eat. This way, you can make a game out of training.
I have found that it is faster to housetrain a pup using the crate method. I do not believe in first paper training (teaching them to go to the bathroom on newspapers). That is a very hard habit to break, and it is very confusing to later try to teach the pup that you no longer want him to potty on your Sunday paper. So start it out right from the beginning. Take your pup to the same section of the yard frequently. Stay out with him until he goes. When he does, immediately reward him with: “What a good boy, you are such a good dog. You went ‘potty outside.’” A love pat and treat with the praise will positively reinforce this good behavior. Your puppy is going to have accidents in the house. That is a fact. If you don’t have the patience to deal with it, don’t get a puppy. He doesn’t mean to displease you, he simply doesn’t know what you want yet. So when he does have an accident, it is better to say, “No, bad puppy,” and take him outside for a bit if you catch him in the act. Obviously if he’s already gone, so there’s not much point in staying outside. You just want him to associate going potty with outside. He will soon get the idea if you consistently and frequently give him the opportunity to go outside, and you reward him with praise and a special treat.
What is a Dog Crate ?
A dog “crate” is the general term referring to a rectangular enclosure consisting of a top, a floor, 3 sides, and a door. Crates can be constructed of wire, wood, metal, molded plastic or a combination of these materials. The purpose of a crate is to provide a secure short-term confinement area for safety, housebreaking, protection of household goods, travel, illness, or general control.
Veterinarians, dog show exhibitors, obedience and field trial competitors, trainers, breeders, groomers, and anyone who regularly handles dogs have accepted, trusted, and routinely used dog crates since their inception. It is the individual pet owners, who for the most part, have rejected the idea of using a dog crate. Most consider the use of a crate as unfair confinement, or even harmful to the dog.
USE a Crate – Don’t ABUSE a Crate
A dog crate is not recommended for a dog that will routinely left alone all day. If long term crating is to be attempted, the dog must be well exercised both before and after crating, the dog will also need lots of personal attention, and should be allowed freedom at night (even sleeping near his owner). It is also critical that the crate be large enough to enable the dog to fully stretch out and freedom of movement. The crate must have a clip-on water dish. Under ideal circumstances, if you can arrange to have someone provide an exercise and attention period during the day; the crate retains it’s “den” attributes as opposed to solitary confinement.
Regarding puppies, a crate must be strictly used as a “play-pen” for general confinement. It must have adequate space for a sleeping area at one end and potty papers at the other. The crate should also be equipped with a clip-on water dish and dry food bowl. A puppy can be raised in this manner, but be sure that the puppy has a great deal of human contact, frequent breaks from confinement (for more than just outside to potty).
To be well adjusted family member a dog needs human contact, whether the animal is crated or not, your dog needs play time, training time, and a time to simply relax in the company of the family to which he is a part (his pack).
