Crate Training Puppies

Why Crate your puppy?

Many people believe that crating your dog or puppy is cruel, not so! A dog like people needs a safe place to retreat to when things "get to much" and a crate is the perfect den and "safe place" for a dog. Just ensure any crate you buy is big and strong enough to take your fully grown dog not just the puppy.

The main advantages of crating your puppy are: 

• It keeps him out of trouble
• Allows him to rest undisturbed
• He is safe from harm
• It speeds up house training (a dog will try to move as far away from his sleeping place as possible to go to the toilet, a crate is to small)
• If your dog is traveling by air its mandatory
• It prevents your puppy from wrecking your house
• A crate can be used in the car when traveling with your dog, keeping you safe and undisturbed while driving
  

Types of crate

Crates come in two main types plastic and wire mesh. The wire mesh type allow your dog to see what's going on around him whereas the plastic crate tends just to have a grill just at the front. If you ever intend to travel with your puppy by air I suggest you start with the plastic variety as they are the ones used by airlines. Make sure any crate you buy can be securely latched, you don't want your puppy learning he can escape from his crate!

How to introduce the crate to your puppy

Your puppy will at first be very unhappy about being crated, after all he is used to having the freedom to wander wherever and whenever he feels like. So be gentle but firm about crating him, you are the leader remember, your new puppy should be following your lead! To make the transition to the crate more enjoyable for him consider the following points.

• Start feeding your puppy in his crate
• Leave a dog treat in his crate for him to find later. This will reinforce his positive association with the crate. (it would work for me!)
  
• Put some toys in the crate for him to play with (make sure they can not be easily destroyed by chewing off large lumps, we don't want a trip to the vet!)
• Give your puppy a treat every time you put him in the crate
• Make his crate nice and comfy with some clean bedding (if he has recently arrived from his breeder place an item that came with him into the crate. The familiar scent will reassure him)
• Make entering the crate an upbeat and rewarding experience
• If he whine's or bark's ignore him
• Don't leave puppy in the crate for long periods at first start with 10-15 min's and then increase the length of stay gradually.
  

Watch Points

Remember dogs are social animals who in the wild would live in a pack. By all means place your puppy / dog in his crate when you need him safely out of the way for a short while, or overnight while you sleep. If on the other hand you are going to crate your dog for 8 hours at a time to "keep him out of the way" you might want to consider why you got the dog / puppy in the first place. Crating dogs for long periods at a time will make them very unhappy, just think what you would feel like if someone did it to you?

Some final points for you to consider.

• Remove collar and lead before placing puppy in cage
• Make sure any toys you place in cage are tough enough
• Don't leave puppy in crate for long periods
• Remember to place fresh water in crate if leaving overnight
• Although a dog will not normaly soil in his crate if he is left to long or is ill then he will
• Always make sure your puppy has relieved himself before crating
  

Finally, enjoy your new puppy, spend some time with him and bond. Although "puppy" days can be a challenge the rewards of having a well behaved dog in the home are many. Enjoy your lives together he'll be with you for a long time, have fun!

All the best,

Laura