Did you know that the vast majority of purebred dog breeders recommend that you buy a crate for your new puppy? The crates are controversial in doggy circles. Sometimes they are known as cages, which brings to mind nasty discomforts as prisoners in zoos or laboratories. The carte is the preferred term, and also the best of all possible crates is the wire crate, although some dogs prefer the confinement of a traveling crate.
A crate is a very important training tool and, when used correctly, it can become a second home for your dog. Let’s think of the crate as an improvised den. In the wild, dogs live in dens. Think of the crate as a condominium for your puppy. It is the only real place he can call his own.
Where Should You Keep The Crate?
The carte should be kept in the central area where the puppy stays. This is where he will sleep at night and at various intervals during the day when you don’t want it under your feet. Regardless of your prejudice against the crates, you will find that your dog really likes his crate. Leave the crate open during the day and when he is not busy eating, playing or being a puppy, he will return to his crate. That his crate will not be invaded is very important to him. Its security and privacy as well.
And its safety. Like any owner concerned about the wellbeing of his puppy, you should consider that your puppy is always safer when he is in his crate and does not eat house plants, knocking appliances on himself, chewing electrical wires and the like. Do not put the puppy in his crate with a loose collar. He could very well get caught in the latch, panic and hurt himself. A small nylon collar that fits shouldn’t be problematic.
How To Start Crate Training A Puppy?
Crates are the most successful way to train a puppy. Ideally, a dog will not dirty its den, that’s where he sleeps, not where he eliminates. Puppies inherit these instincts and, therefore, they will never dirty their crates. Keep in mind that the crate should not be too large or the puppy may decide to mess in the ‘far corner’ where he does not sleep. The crate should be large enough for the puppy to lie down and relax. If you have selected a large breed, you can divide part of the crate with a crate divider. In the long run, it is cheaper than buying a second larger crate.
Do not place the puppy in the crate for long periods during the day. He simply does not have the body control to retain water all day. Until he is 6 months old, he cannot hold for several hours. You cannot expect any dog to last your 8-hour workday.
If you are committing to train the puppy in winter, or if you live in a colder environment, you may decide to put a towel or blanket in the crate so he can snuggle up and stay warm. However, it is a possibility that you may piddle in the towel and crumple it on the far side of his crate and stay dry on the other side. Puppies are not dumb, you know. This can only happen in a serious situation. The cold surface at the bottom of the crate would be more attractive to the puppy in the warmer months.
Consider leaving the radio on for the puppy while he is in its crate. The sounds of the human voice are reassuring to him, even if they are not yours. Choose any classical or easy-to-listen music station. You want your puppy to grow up to have a taste and be discerning in all aspects of life. In addition, constant electric drums and guitars are not good for his ears or his peaceful mindset.
Trainers do not recommend using the crate as a means of discipline. Although putting the puppy in its crate after misbehaving probably will not have any long-term detrimental effect on the puppy, nor will it be as effective as sending a child to his room or a third-grader to the corner. Dogs do not understand punishment. They live for the moment and have no regrets, in the human sense, that is. He will not hate his crate if he is placed thereafter he has done something wrong. Putting it in his crate will probably make you feel better for a while and give you a break from your laborious and mischievous charge.
Early Training On Paper
Puppy training means teaching him not to eliminate or urinate inside the house. Many people over the years have recommended the use of newspapers to train a puppy. This method is not ideal unless you want the dog to use the paper throughout its life. If you have to leave a dog for very long days (up to 10 hours), you may have no choice but to train on paper. You can consider hiring a puppy visitor or a nanny or not having a dog if you really have so little time. Dogs do not enjoy being alone because they essentially pack animals. It’s not fun when the leader of your pack leaves you stranded all day.
As a training method, paper training is less effective than the crate. Consistency is the key to training. Your consistency, not that of the puppy. Keep this in mind during the period, if the puppy does not respond in the desired way to training, ask yourself: “What am I doing wrong?”. It is you who is trying to accomplish this feat, not the puppy. He does not know that it is bad taste to urinate in the kitchen or in your new Aztec or Persian carpets.
By the way, smart puppy owners should avoid investing in new carpets for at least a year or more.
While paper training is not anyone’s favorite training method, in some situations it is simply inevitable. For the person who works outside the city all day, the puppy simply cannot hold himself for 10 hours! The usual objection to paper training is that it codes a dog to believe that it is okay to relieve himself indoors. While an adult dog can hold himself for more than 6 hours, he is not happy, but he can do it. But a puppy can’t. Eventually, your puppy can hold for more than 6 hours, and by then it is already programmed to eliminate inside.
A concept of paper training is to align an area of the puppy’s room with newspapers (6 or 7 sheets) ideally near a door that leads to the ‘outside’ and teaches the puppy that it is okay to eliminate on the papers. When the puppy goes on the newspapers, congratulate him like he’s himself making the headlines. Clean up his mess and replace it with clean papers. There are a number of wonderful anti-dog-odor products available in pet stores or online.
Be sure to clean the area well, otherwise, your kitchen or bathroom will not be available, or at least it cannot be visited. You don’t want children to say, “We don’t want to play with the puppy, because it stinks!” Keep the room and the puppy smelling good. Be sure to leave a small piece of peed paper on the new paper so that the puppy recognizes its smell and receives the clue that he is going to the right place.
By lining the area in front of the door with newspapers, you can eventually place some paper outside the door and let the puppy realize the intended direction. You may have to pick up the puppy and take him outside when you detect he is about to go. Talk him through it, rub his tummy. When he goes outside, praise him until you gush..
If you expect your puppy to eliminate outside like a big boy, you should make an extra effort throughout the paper training process to let him go outside so that the puppy knows that this is also an option. Some puppies never catch that, and it is a real dilemma for the dog that tries to endure it during his hour-long walk through the park. In all likelihood, however, he will smell the trees, bushes, fire hydrants, and park benches and discover that some silly dog has been there before even though there is no newspaper sign. It must be fine, at least I hope that’s how your puppy will think.
Training With A Crate
We will establish a specific schedule to train with a crate and not stary from it. This is not as easy as it sounds. Especially in the middle of a winter night, when your feet with fuzzy slippers freeze in the slush and you are waiting for your dizzying puppy to stop building snow dunes and just pee. Even then, you must do to. Skipping a potty visit here and there can make the training an endless, desperate and smelly job.
The punishment has no place in puppy training. Accept this fact and get out of your frustrations in the gym, on the tennis court or on the golf course, not in your adorable puppy. Be consistent and praise the puppy every time he does well.
- Early in the morning when the puppy wakes up, take him out of his crate and walk with him. He should be relieved before he starts his day. Offer the puppy a small breakfast and water and then take him outside once more to play and to relax.
- It is important to take the puppy outside after being in the crate and after each meal. It may not be desirable to have a bowl of water available at all times during the training process. You can offer water with each meal and among them too. let’s not forget, what comes in must go out sooner or later, probably sooner.
- Put the puppy in the carate for a couple of hours in the morning. Early in the afternoon, walk with him again and offer him his lunch. Let your puppy rest in the crate in the afternoon after playing for a while.
At the end of the afternoon, you should take the puppy out of the crate, let him walk immediately and play with him again. Introduce training concepts or simply pal around. Feed the puppy right after this. Again let him walk after dinner and then let him rest for a while. - In the mid-evening, you should take him out and give him some attention, maybe grooming time or a brief training session This is a good time to place him on a table if he is going to be a show puppy. Before retiring at night, walk the puppy one more time and return him to his crate at night.
- The first night the puppy will probably cry. Some breeders recommend putting the crate in your room so you can comfort him when he cries. Unless you plan to be there night after night, week after week, year after year, don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Put the puppy to crate with his favorite safe chew toy. Crate blankets or throws for crates are available at pet stores and online. These items are ideal to make the box comfortable. Be prepared to wash them if the puppy has an accident. Unless he doesn’t feel well, this should not happen frequently. For the second or third night, he should sleep through the night and not cry when put to bed.
The process should continue until the puppy is 6 months old. If you stop paying attention before that, you’ll find presents in the house that you were not expecting.
Things To Keep In Mind While Crate Training Your Puppy
Keep in mind that every time the puppy goofs, it’s your fault. Let’s stop and consider the many mistakes you can make during training.
- Young puppies should walk 4 to 5 times a day. So don’t skip a walk.
- You trade a walk for a freestyle around the yard. Do not assume that your puppy took care of his business, he may have spent time looking at the neighbor’s cat, chasing a beetle or sniffing around. Walk with him and you will know if Mother Nature calls or not.
- Do not leave him in a crate for too long during the day.
- You sleep on Saturdays and Sundays. don’t do it, get your eight hours and get going. Your puppy really needs to get out of his crate, his legs have been crossed for an hour already and he wants so much to feel good!
- Don’t overdo the treats or handouts. This can interrupt the puppy’s body clock. The crate is helping set up this clock, so don’t confuse things.
- Do not leave the water bowl out for too long. A young puppy will piddle every hour if given the opportunity. Unless you want to walk around the block every hour, don’t give him freedom.
- Always look at the puppy for ‘signs’. If he’s sniffing around, scratching the door, he’s trying to tell you something. Forget the umbrella and take him outside.
No matter how wonderful and intelligent your puppy is, training will generally take no less than 6 months. Congratulations to you and yours if you can do it for 3 to 4 months, you are exceptional. If you become lazy or overconfident about your little friend’s control over his body, you are taking foolish steps.