How to Crate Train a 4 Month Old Puppy

Crate training is humane if done right.

Crate training a 4-month-old puppy is an effective way to provide for the young dog's security and your peace of mind. It humanely contributes to house training a puppy and providing for its care while you are either away from home or asleep. Three things to remember when crate training a puppy: the crate should be large enough for the puppy to turn around inside of, comfortable enough to sleep in and placed near the door the puppy will exit for elimination purposes.

Things You'll Need

• Crate
• T-shirts
• Patience

Instructions

1. Establish a regular habit. Crate training a 4-month-old puppy means putting the very cute puppy in the crate, locking the gate and heading out for the day or going to bed. Do not put the crate in your bedroom. Do not place the crate in the garage or other areas where the temperature is not controlled. The puppy should feel safe and comfortable inside the crate.

2. Allow the puppy to go to the bathroom prior to putting it into the crate. Tap the lid of the crate when it's time for the puppy to go inside. Puppies figure it out very quickly and will come to the tapping sound to be put up.

3. Do not let the puppy out just because it whimpers. Puppies are social creatures; they don't want to be alone. You may consider putting a t-shirt you've worn a couple of times into the crate when the puppy is first getting used to it. Your scent will be a comfort.

4. When the puppy is in the crate, leave the room.

5. Remember a puppy's elimination habits: it can hold the urge to urinate for roughly one hour for each month of age up to one year. This means at four months, the puppy will need to urinate in four hours. Some puppies will sleep through the night if they have no food or water in the two hours prior to bedtime and go outside to eliminate right before going to bed.

6. Never crate a dog for longer than eight hours at a time. Crate a 6-month-old puppy for a maximum of six hours. Most dogs will not soil where they sleep; however, a puppy cannot always control its need to eliminate so it is better to reinforce positive habits by not testing its bladder.

7. Be consistent. Don't change your patterns.The puppy shouldn't stay out in the yard some days and in the crate others. You shouldn't vary the times you shut the puppy up. Like potty-training a toddler, crate training a 4-month-old puppy requires regularity and routine.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider puppy training for both you and your puppy. Invest in puppy pads for accidents. Keep an enzymatic cleaner on hand to remove smells. Be consistent with the crate and your schedule. Four-month-old puppies need to go out every four hours. Add an hour for each month the puppy ages. Always be gentle with discipline.

• Clean the crate thoroughly if the puppy has an accident. Do not punish or discipline the puppy if you do not see the accident.

Resources

• Pet Smart Kennels and Crates
• Dog Obedience Training