Crate Training A Puppy – Top Tips
March 14, 2010 by Dog Trainer Filed under Crate Training
How to Succeed
Stage 1
Put the crate somewhere where your puppy will feel part of the family – don’t hide him away in another room – you don’t want him to feel like an outsider. Decide on a cue phrase that you are going to use every-time you want your puppy to go in his crate – something like “go into kennel” or “kennel time”. Use something short and sharp – but make sure all the family use the same cue every-time. When you are not able to watch or supervise your puppy – this is the time he should be in his crate – preparing lunch – crate time – popping out – crate time – It may seem like he is spending allot of time in his crate to start with but the more that your puppy starts to be able to control his bladder – the longer he will be able to stay out of his crate. Make sure that the crate is safe – don’t leave any loose wires around – Only leave safe toys for him to play with.
Stage 2
Start slowly and build up the time he spends in his crate slowly. Don’t just throw him in his crate and leave him. This will make him fear his crate and that will bring it’s own problems. Leave the crate door open – and throw some treats into the crate – let him go in after the treats – when he goes in after the treats, really praise him but – DO NOT shut the crate door yet. When it is meal time put his meal inside the crate and shut the door – (with your puppy outside of the crate.) This is the point where your puppy is getting excited because he can see his meal inside the crate – when he has really built up the anticipation – open the crate door and use the cue word that you decided on – “go to kennel” or whatever you have chosen. Let him go in the crate on your cue so that he can eat his food but still do not shut the crate door.
Stage 3
If your puppy is starting to go in his crate quite happily you are ready for the next stage – if however he is still a little hesitant about going into the crate then repeat stage 3. Put a treat in your hand and show it to your dog – now give your cue – “go to kennel” or whatever you decided and use the treat in your hand to lure him into his crate. When he follows your hand and the treat into the crate – give him the treat and praise him – do this routine several times a day. Now that your puppy is starting to happily go into his crate – start shutting the door for a few minutes and then letting him out. Only let him out of his crate if he is behaving. Don’t let him out if he is barking whining or pawing the ground. If you do then your puppy will automatically associate bad behavior with getting what he wants. If your puppy is whining or barking in his crate – wait until he is quiet and then let him out – this way he will learn that good behavior gets good rewards. Start to increase the time he spends in his crate – start with a few minutes then increase – make sure that he gets lots of potty breaks though. Put him in the crate when you are home and when you are going out – this will vary the routine and will stop your puppy only associating the crate with bad things i.e. when you are going out.
If you follow this exact process you should not have any problems with puppy crate training If however you find a particular stage isn’t going very well – go back a stage and repeat that stage until your puppy is completely competent.
Tobias Charles writes on all aspects of dog and puppy training.
You can view his site on dog and puppy training tips here for more information.
