How To Train A Puppy

Even though crate training puppies might look like a jail to you, for a dog that has been crate trained from puppyhood to use it, a crate becomes a favorite place, the dog’s own secure haven. Learning how to crate train a puppy is very easy – as with all aspects of puppy training, it just takes consistency and effort on your behalf. Crate training a puppy should be a pleasant experience and should never be used for discipline. Puppy crate training encourages house training, reduces potentially destructive behavior, and eases travelling with your dog.

Crate Training Puppies For Personal Transport

Problems with travelling are eased if you have a crate trained puppy. When confined to its own crate, this puppy feels secure in the car.

Puppy Crate Training Is Not For Punishment

Never send a dog to its crate in response to some misdemeanor as you might send a child to his room. A dog’s attitude to its crate must always be positive.

Crate Size

Crates should be big enough for the puppy to stand up and turn around, but not so big that it might use one end as a toilet. Most puppies do not soil their own bedding, so when crate training puppies you need to incorporate plenty of toileting breaks, which also helps with house training.

How To Crate Train A Puppy

Before starting crate training a puppy, place soft bedding, a bowl of water, and an interesting toy inside the crate. Using a tasty snack and the verbal command “Go to your crate”, entice the puppy into its new home. Ensure that the door remains open so that the puppy can leave the crate at any time.

Once the puppy has become accustomed to the crate, it will continue to use it without any prompting from you. While the puppy plays contentedly, close the crate door for a few minutes. Keep the crate in a busy place like the kitchen.

Having become accustomed to its crate, this puppy is content to be confined to a playpen.
Some dogs, especially rescued ones, will not tolerate crate confinement, but this rarely happens with puppies. Eventually the relaxed puppy will fall asleep in the security of its crate. However, when crate training puppies, your puppy should not be left in crates for more than two hours during the day, and they should always be exercised before confinement. If the playpen is lined with newspaper, their puppy crate training experience will be a happy one, and puppies can meet and play without causing havoc in your home.

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