How to Use Puppy Crate Training

Puppy crate training can be one of the best things you do for your dog. When you get a new dog, you may hear a number of different dog training tips. However, only crate training a dog can help with both housebreaking, destructive behavior and separation anxiety. By using puppy crate training, you can curb bad behavior before you start and have a much happier pup.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog crate
• Puppy

1. Get a crate. Puppy crate training requires you to have the appropriate dog crate. When deciding to crate train your puppy, you need to think both about the size your dog is now and the size your dog will become. You do not want the crate to be large enough that your dog can go to the bathroom on one side and sleep on the other. However, you don't want the crate to be so small your pup will outgrow it. One of the best dog training tips when using puppy crate training is to get a crate with an adjustable, removable piece.

2. Slowly introduce your pup to the crate. Puppy crate training involves making the crate seem like a safe and comfortable place. You never want to force your dog when crate training your puppy. Instead, encourage your dog to go in the crate for brief periods of time. Crate training a dog is much easier if your dog associates the crate with positive things. You can feed your dog in the crate, or let your dog rest in their with the door open while crate training a puppy.

3. Slowly begin to close the crate door with your puppy inside. Your dog should be able to come and go freely during the first several days when puppy crate training. However, once our dog associates the crate with positive things, you can begin to close the door for brief periods of time. When puppy crate training, you should do this when you are in the room at first. Crate training puppies should not involve leaving your dog alone for hours at a time until he is used to the crate. If your dog is just left, puppy crate training will become a negative experience instead of a positive experience.

4. Once your dog is used to the crate, you can leave your dog unattended in the crate for periods of a few hours. Your dog can also spend the night sleeping in his crate. Puppy crate training is useful because your dog becomes comfortable in the crate. Most dog training tips involve using ideas from nature, and the crate is an idea from nature: the crate becomes your dogs den.

Tips & Warnings

• Puppy crate training should be done slowly over time, from the day you bring your puppy home
• Keeping your puppies crate in your bedroom while you sleep can help make your puppy feel more comfortable during the puppy crate training process.
• Put a towel or item that smells like you in the crate. This will make your dog feel more secure in the crate during puppy crate training
• Although puppy crate training can help with housebreaking because your dog won't use the bathroom in his dog crate, you need to be careful. A young pup cannot hold it for too long, so when puppy crate training you do not want to leave your dog in the crate for too long so your dog has to use the crate as a bathroom. If your dog uses the crate as a bathroom, puppy crate training will become ineffective.