| Crate Training |
| Crate training is the most talked about new method of training. More and more dog owners and their pets are learning the benefits of starting puppies on crate training. Crate training is the use of a plastic airline crate or a wire cage to confine a puppy when the family is not home or is unable to supervise the puppy's activities. The crate in effect, becomes the puppies bed. Other terms used interchangeably with crate training are den and kennel. You may feel that it is cruel to confine a dog to a crate. It would be cruel to just enclose the pup in the crate and leave. But if you introduce him to the crate properly, you will find that your puppy will quickly come to prefer it for sleeping and quiet time. To many dogs are surrendered to animal shelters because of the damage done while the pup was unattended. Since over 85% of these puppies are euthanized, it is kind, NOT cruel, to crate train a puppy to prevent behavioral and housebreaking problems. |
| Why You Should Crate Train Your Puppy |
| Dogs in the wild live in dens. The den provides protection from predators as well as the elements, and it allows for a feeling of security. That's why you often find dogs curling up under the table, chair or bed. By giving dogs a secure place that is all their own, pet owner can take advantage of a dogs natural instincts to help the dog feel safe, thus reducing isolation-induced stress. Crate training, if done correctly, is a wonderful training tool with many benefits. Apart from the obvious uses for transporting dogs, a crate can be used for short-time confinement-to keep your puppy out of mischief so he does not develop bad habits when you can not give his your undivided attention. A crate can also be used to develop good habits--to house train your puppy, to establish a chew-toy habit and to reduce inappropriate barking and digging. And, if your dog ever injures itself or ever becomes ill, the crate will be invaluable during recovery. If you move, your dogs adjustment to a new home will be quicker and less stressful if it is crate trained. If you stay in motels or visit relatives, your dog will be "damage-proof" if it travels in it's crate. If you travel by car, placing the dog in the crate will keep them out from under your feet, away from the driver and more safe in case of an accident. |
| Who Should Crate Train |
| All puppies and adult dogs with destruction and/or housebreaking problems should be crate trained. The only time crate training would not be advisable is in a situation where a puppy will be left alone for an extended period of time and a family member cannot come home and let the puppy out during the day. It is a dogs natural instinct to keep their crate/home clean, so they will "hold it" as long as they can before going to the bathroom in their crate. The maximum time an 8 week old puppy should be in a crate without a break is 4 hours. Puppies younger then 8 weeks have to "go" about every 2-3 hours so they should be given a crate-break at those intervals. Except for overnight sleeping, crate confinement approaching 8 hours is strongly discouraged. As the puppy gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually leave them in their crate for longer periods of time, but you should never exceed 8 hours for any dog. If a family member is unable to come home midday to let the puppy out, there are a couple of alternatives. The most desirable would be a pet-sitter, relative or neighbor to come by the house and let the puppy out while he is young. If this is not an option, leave the puppy in a confined area with his crate with the crate door open. This way it can sleep in the crate and come out of the crate to use the bathroom. A collapsible wire barrier called an "exercise pen" (or X-pen) can be used to create a damage-proof, safe inside area or a small bathroom can be used. However, using this type of setup will lengthen the housebreaking process because the puppy will be learning to go to the bathroom in the house. Also, puppies can quickly learn to climb out of the X-pen.. |
| When Should You Crate Train |
| Owners of all age puppies and dogs can start crate training at anytime. It is best to start puppies immediately, so they do not have the opportunity to develop bad habits. Most adult dogs can be taught to like using their crates if they are introduced to it properly. In most cases, it will take an adult dog longer to adjust to a crate than it will a puppy. The key is to let the dog get comfortable going in and out of the crate on its own. Never force the dog into the crate. To get your canine interested to the crate, you can put its food dish inside so he had to go in and eat. Also, you can make going to the crate a game by throwing treats or its favorite toy into the crate for it to retrieve. |
| What Size Crate |
| The ideal situation for housebreaking is to use a size crate that is two times the body length and big enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down in. However, for most people, it is not feasible to purchase new crates as the puppy grows. The best alternative is to buy a crate that will be large enough for your dog when he grows up. As an adult, the dog should be able to lie down comfortable of its side as well as stand, sit and turn around without difficulty. For housebreaking a puppy, the crate can be made smaller by using a partition(made of a safe substance) or a divider panel to limit space. If the puppy has to much room, it will go to the bathroom in one area of the crate and sleep in another, thus increases the time it takes to housebreak your puppy. |
| What Type Crate |
| There are two basic types of crates: a plastic "airline kennel" and a wire cage. Each has certain advantages. The plastic crates are usually more portable then the wire cages and are more "cozy" for the animal, while the wire cages typically have more width and height space than the plastic kennel of approximately the same size. The angled design of the plastic kennel makes their width, at the base, more narrow then the box design of the wire cages. You can buy wire cages that are easily collapsible and can be carried like a suitcase, which is helpful when traveling. Most wire cages have removable pans that can slide out for easy cleaning. If you select a wire cage, cover the top and back completely and the sides half way down with a towel to create a den-like atmosphere. If you do not cover a portion of the crate, the dog may not feel safe and secure because of the openness of the crate. |
| Where Do You Put The Crate |
| Dogs are pack animals and prefer to be with their pack/family, so keep the crate in a live-in part of a house. A bedroom, kitchen or family room is good--never a garage or unused basement! When the puppy is young it is recommended to have the crate near the door that it will be using to go out to use the bathroom. Having the crate close to the door will prevent any accidents as the puppy leaves the crate and heads for the door to go out. |
| How Do You Crate Train |
| Your dog should thoroughly enjoy spending time in its crate. This can be accomplished by introducing it to the crate properly, making it comfortable and fun to go into the crate, and by giving your puppy something entertaining to do in the crate. Below is a step-by-step outline of the recommended process: SET UP 1. Set up the crate with the puppy out of the room, so as not to startle him. 2. Use old blankets, towels or sheets as bedding. Do not make the bedding material too absorbent because the puppy needs to be severely inconvenienced if it urinates in the crate. *NOTE* Many puppies will chew bedding which can be very dangerous so take time to observe if it is trying to chew the bedding. 3. DO NOT use housebreaking pads in the crate because this will attract and encourage the puppy to urinate in the crate. 4. DO NOT put a water bowl inside the crate because it will spill and wet the bedding. Your puppy will also continue to drink and make more pressure on it's bladder, which will make it harder for your puppy to hold it. 5. Put one or two safe chew toys in the crate with the puppy so it has something to occupy its time -- DO NOT leave puppy alone with a toy that can splinter or break off in small pieces, such as rib or rawhide bones as these can cause the puppy to choke. |
| Introduction and Use of the Crate |
| When Problems Arise |
| Barking in the Crate |
| Puppies may bark when they are first put into the crate. In most cases, if you ignore the barking, the puppy will stop because its not getting what it wants--attention. Do not allow family members to let the puppy out of the crate when he barks. If you do, you run the risk of training the puppy to bark so he will be let out. If the barking persists over days or weeks, you can try covering the entire crate with a blanket or sheet. You can also try leaving a radio playing to mask sounds to keep the puppy company when you are away. Surprisingly, yelling "be quiet" at a barking dog may actually reinforce its barking behavior. For many dogs any type of attention is rewarding--even reprimands |
| Going to the bathroom in the crate can be due to a number of causes: 1. The puppy could have been crated for longer than it was able to "hold it" 2. The puppy could have drank an excessive amount of water before being crated 3. The pup wasn't taken out to go to the bathroom before it was crated 4. The crate may be to big, enabling the puppy to get away from the mess 5. The material might be to absorbing that it absorbs the mess so it is not severely inconvenienced when he goes to the bathroom in the crate 6. Never rule out medical problems when your pet's habits seem to change. Some dogs and breeds are easier to crate train, than others, so keep trying and don't get discouraged if there are occasional mess-ups. |
| 1. When it is time for the puppies meal, place the bowl just inside of the crate so the puppy has to stick its head inside the crate to eat 2. Between feedings, you can make going into the crate a game by tossing in treats or toys. DO NOT force the puppy into the crate. 3. When the puppy goes in the crate on its own or because there are treats inside, this is your cue to start associating a command with the action. You can use statements such as "kennel up" or "got to bed". The most important thing to remember in giving commands is to be brief and consistent. 4. Always leave the crate door open when your puppy is out of the crate so it can get in it when it wants. 5. When you are home, make going into the crate a game. Give your chosen command, such as "kennel-up," and throw a treat or toy into the crate. Let your puppy walk in and out of the crate at its own will. Whenever your puppy goes into the crate on its own, lavish it with praise. 6. Each time the puppy enters its crate for confinement, give him a tasty treat. 7. ALWAYS use your chosen command when calling your dog to its crate for confinement. DO NOT simply call it to you, as it may become wary of approaching you when called. 8. NEVER USE THE CRATE AS PUNISHMENT! Your dog will pick up "vines" from you if you put it in the crate when you are angry. The puppies crate should be its secure place. It should not be associated with punishment, fear, or anything negative. It you treat the crate as a wonderful, gentle, lifesaving tool to prevent accidents, destruction, and behavior problems, your puppy will feel positive about the crate too. 9. Every time you let your puppy out of the crate, even if it had only been confined for 30 minutes, take it straight outside to its "potty" spot and give it the command "go potty." Praise it when it goes "potty" outside. If your puppy doesn't go "potty" within five minutes, and you know it is time for it to do so, put it back into the crate. Wait approximately 30 minutes and then take it outside again. In the morning, be sure to take it out the minute you hear that it is awake. 10. If your puppy goes to the bathroom in its crate, clean it up immediately and thoroughly. After cleaning up the urine, wipe the bottom of the crate with pet oder eliminating product or a solution of vinegar and water. It is necessary to clean up the oder completely so the puppy does not smell it later and urinate there again. 11. During all unsupervised times, the puppy should be in its crate with the door closed. Normal, healthy puppies will generally et into mischief if unattended. The tendency of puppies to "learn" about their surroundings is too strong for them to control--learning means chewing, scratching and digging. If the puppy is unable to get into trouble, destruction habits will not be formed. 12. As your puppy gets older(probably closer to 1 year old) you can start leaving it out of the crate unattended for a short period of time. When you first let your puppy unattended and out of the crate, restrict him to one or two rooms in the house. If your puppy behaves in your absence, gradually increase the time out of the crate with ultimate goal of never having to it in the crate. However, it should still have access to its crate whenever it wants. If your puppy gets into mischief in your absence, begin to crate it again whenever it is unsupervised and try again later. |
