Crate Training a Puppy - Puppy Crate Training At Its Best

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Crate Training a Puppy - Puppy Crate Training is Quick and Easy

Here are some crate training tips to help you do it right from the start.  After all, there's an awful lot involved in crate training a puppy!  Selecting a crate, setting it up properly, making your puppy comfortable with it, helping her to stay quiet in it while you are gone, and more.  What does the crate mean to her?  Can you use it as a form of discipline?  Get all this and more.

Selecting Your Puppy Crate 

Make sure that the puppy crate is big enough for the puppy to turn around in it and stand up completely. If you have a puppy that will become large, purchase a large dog kennel and ask for the boards with it that reduce space. As the puppy grows, adjust them until finally it is time to take them away completely.

The puppy does not need any extra space whatsoever in the early stages. Many puppies go potty in the crate with extra space. They don't mess where they sleep, but they sure will where they don't!

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This is my personal favorite. Mr. Herzher's Pet Residence is the ultimate in luxury, style and comfort, and is a true treat for your pup. Quality materials combine with excellent craftsmanship and gorgeous design to create the greatest dog crates anywhere!

Where Should The Puppy Crate Go? 

The first step in crate training a puppy is to find the right location for it.. out of the way so no one trips over it at night, and also where there is not too much constant noise and activity.

You need to be able to reach your puppy's cage quickly so that you can whisk her out during the night for potty needs.

She also needs to be able to get in the crate at any time. You don't want to close her out. After all, it's her den... and dens don't have doors!

What Should Go In The Puppy Crate? 

The selection of items for the puppy crate (and limitation) is very important!

What should you place in the puppy crate?

Put a comfortable blanket on the bottom of the cage. Make sure it is washable!

Add at least two, no more than three of the puppy's favorite toys.

Be sure at all times, that she has a non-tip bowl of water in there. Puppies drink all the time and get very sick if they become dehydrated.

Cover the crate for her. That makes it feel secure, like a den.

How Do You Make The Puppy Comfortable In The Puppy Crate? 

Put some kibble at the back of the puppy crate and let her eat with the door open. Put in a little kibble at a time. Eating is something a dog can only do when she is relaxed.

Let the puppy go in and out freely for at least a half hour. Next, take her by the scruff of her neck and place her in matter of factly, as her mother would. (Mom just says, "We're going somewhere." She doesn't ask, and doesn't make a big to-do about it. She just DOES it.) Repeat this several times until it is second nature to both of you.

Now put her in and block her with your arm. Repeat the blocking process until she relaxes completely and sees it only as a boundary instead of a concern. (Block with the forearm with your arm bent, like an unmovable boundary. You don't push her. If you extend the arm, the puppy will just go right over it.)

Then close the door for three seconds, then open the crate door but don't let her out. Then close the door for five seconds, then ten, then twenty. If at any time she cries, give her a firm one word correction. Open the door only when she is quiet.

Never open the door when she is crying unless something is clearly wrong - or you will be reinforcing crying. Also, she is never to come out uninvited! Otherwise, she will come barreling excitedly out of the crate!

Crate Training Your Puppy Video 

Dog Training - Crate Training Your Puppy

A crate is an excellent tool to help manage your young puppy or dog's behavior. They also speed up the housetraining process. Don't forget to rate this video, leave comments and subscribe to my channel. You can also get my FREE ebook "101 Ways To Improve Your Dog's Behavior" at: http://www.amazingdogtrainingman.com/

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Avoid Separation Anxiety - Prepare Your Puppy For When You Leave 

It's important to prepare your puppy for your leaving in order to avoid the problems of separation anxiety. Here's how.

Several times a day, practice the steady exercise of in-and-out of the puppy crate at random - mama dog's way (by the scruff, matter-of-factly) - with blocks and closed door, for a little bit longer each time.

After a couple of days, put the puppy in the crate and walk out the front door. If she cries, immediately come in, correct (with your one word, same firm tone always), and walk back out.

For bad behaviors, give correction only. No attention, not even negative attention. Puppies will take what they can get. And they use it all!

Big Controversy - Should The Crate Be Used As A Form Of Discipline? 

My answer to any technique is: "Do not use anything that you do not know how to do!"

The damage is sometimes irreversible. Young puppies are easily scarred - more so than older dogs.

If you choose to use a puppy crate as a form of discipline, grab the pup's scruff in the same matter-of-fact way you always do. Do not do that in anger, or she will start to bite at you out of fear when you pick her up.

Scold the bad thing, not making eye contact with her at all. Do not raise your voice to a shout. Keep it firm.

You also can NOT pull her out of the crate if she runs in there when you scold her. It's her secure place. She's not ignoring the punishment. She's accepting it right away. Just shut the door and leave her alone. It's like a child turning his rear end to his mother, accepting the spanking.

If you don't feel you can abide by those rules for kennel discipline, don't do it. You will make the puppy hate the crate, and you may even make her aggressive.

Some Grown Dogs Really Love Their Crates 

Hammered Pewter Finish Wire Homes by Doskocil

Hammered Pewter Finish Wire Homes by Doskocil 30D x 25.5H x 21WPuppy crate your dog will still love when he is grown

These deluxe wire homes have a unique hammered pewter finish that adds to their attractiveness and durability. Several sizes are available. Your dog will love it - at any age - if properly crate trained from the beginning. Mine does! (But mine likes the coziness of three sides covered, and that makes it attractive for my environment, too!)

When Do I Get Rid Of My Dog Kennel? 

The truth is, some dogs WANT to have a dog kennel all their lives. They have learned to love the comfort and security of their den. So don't take it away if your puppy especially loves it, even when he's grown up.

If your pup merely accepts the dog crate, make sure she has finished her chewing stage, and that any other destructive behaviors are completely resolved before you retire her crate. Your wall, your floor, your furniture, your rugs, your clothes, and anything else of yours say, "Thank you! We don't want to be eaten!"

Puppy Crates and Dog Kennels on eBay 

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Puppy Training Help 

Dog Whisper With Rena - Speak Your Puppy's Dog Language
Start off right with your puppy by communicating in ways he instinctively understands.
Your puppy is eager to please. Avoid confusing him, and puppy training will be fun and fast. Rena will show you how.
Puppy Training Help - Get A Consultation With Rena
Need more help? A telephone consultation with Rena will get all your questions answered fast - for fastest results with your puppy crate training, puppy house training, basic obedience, and solving any dog behavior issues. (Hey, they've all got some!) Then you can enjoy the feisty little darling to the fullest!
Puppy Training and Dog Behavior Articles
This "Platinum Expert Author" a/k/a DogWhisperWoman is known for clear, understandable language and real examples with all her dog and puppy training articles - So you know exactly what to do. Not only that, but Rena explains fully the "why" and "how" of everything, so you can get the puppy training right from the start. With dogs, you never have a second chance to nake a first impression!
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If you are still in the puppy planning stage, you have time to make sure you do this one right. How you introduce your new puppy to your home, family, and other pets will greatly impact critical relationships and the ease - or difficulty - of puppy training. Don't blow it!
Best Dog Food - All Natural Dog Food Fot A Healthy Pup
What you feed your puppy DOES matter! Many dog behavior problems, psychological problems, and health issues stem from commercial (even premium) grade dog food and puppy chow. We've found a cost effective, easy solution that is safe (no pet food recalls here!), super nutritious, and yummy for dogs and puppies. It's what we feed our own! Read all about it on this lens, so you can have a healthy, happy, easily trained puppy.

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