Learning How To Train A Puppy – Part 2 – Puppy Crate Training

In ‘How to train a puppy - Part 1′ we discussed the importance of reward based training.

In this installment we will be introducing the Crate.

Why early lessons in your puppies life are so important in the crate training process.

Most puppies given the option don’t want to eliminate near where they eat or sleep, however there maybe underlying reasons why they do… 

If your puppy (before you got him) was left to eliminate in his crate at a particularly impressionable age he will undoubtedly continue this into adulthood.

This is a very important fact.

If your puppy was taken from his mother too early then he has missed out on a very early lesson – no-one taught him to be nice and clean – from an early age a puppy is licked by his mother so that they learn to keep clean. Consequently, if no-one has taught him to be clean then he may think it is acceptable to be messy and to live in a messy environment. 

Lets start from the beginning…

Introducing the crate.

The crate should be big enough for your puppy/dog to stand, stretch and turn around – don’ buy anything bigger otherwise he may eliminate in his crate knowing that he can stay dry and comfortable. As your puppy grows either get a new crate for every stage of his development or use dividers. I have to emphasis this… It’s very important that the crate is not too big – this may seem a harsh but as your puppy/dog earns more privileges (including space) the more he will know you are in charge and what YOU want. You can use either plastic or wire crates – it comes down to your own preference. However… If your puppy/dog is reactive to his environment and barks at everything he sees then a plastic crate (they normally obstruct the dog’s view) would be more appropriate.

Where do I put the crate? 

Keep the crate where the family are – if you isolate your puppy/dog he may develop behavior problems due to a lack of socialization. Don’t keep chopping and changing where you put the crate. Remember that introducing the crate is all part of the training process-be consistent or you will confuse him. 

Crate training a puppy

The crate is a wonderful housetraining tool for your puppy/dog – don’t use it as a punishment – otherwise he will associate the crate with bad things and bad memories. Put the crate where your puppy/dog is near the family – this is very important as your puppy/dog needs to feel part of the family not as someone sitting on the outside of the family. Decide what you are going to use as the cue word for putting the dog in his crate and use this cue EVERY-TIME. Use something like “go to crate” or “go to kennel” or “go to bed”. It doesn’t matter what cue you and your family use but agree on a cue and everyone should use the same cue every single time. Keep the cue word short and to the point. When you can’t watch your dog he should then be in his crate… Going to work – crate your puppy/dog. Going out – Crate. Preparing dinner – Crate. Get the idea. It may seem like allot of time your puppy/dog is spending in his crate but as he gains better control the more time he can spend out of his crate. Make sure that the crate is safe. Don’t leave any choking hazards or a collar on him in a wire crate or anything that it could get caught on..

I want to keep these ‘How to train a Puppy’ articles relatively short and digestible so will continue the crate training process in more detail in Part 3.

If you would like more information on how to train a puppy, you may find these tips useful.

Related Posts

1. Learning How To Train A Puppy – Part 3 – Puppy Crate Training Continued
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3. Puppy Crate Training the Easy Way to House Train Your Puppy
4. Train A Puppy To Love Their Crate
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