How to House Train a Puppy by Crate Training

House train your puppy using a crate, consistency and a dog's natural instincts.

When it comes to puppies, housebreaking is the most immediate and important issue. Crate training is often recommended for housebreaking puppies. Dogs are instinctively den-animals. A crate acts as a den to provide your dog with a sense of security and familiarity. Dogs like to keep their sleeping and living areas relatively clean and will hold their waste for long periods of time in order to avoid soiling their den. Because of this natural instinct, a crate will help the owner control when and where the puppy potties.

Things You'll Need

• Crate
• Leash

Instructions

Establish Potty Rules

1. 

   Potty rules are needed in conjuction with crate training.

   Establish a potty area outside. This where you and your puppy go consistently, so the puppy can relieve himself. Dogs are creatures of habit and will use the same general area to eliminate waste, but only if you take them to that spot consistently.

2. Establish a routine with potty breaks, food and water. Take your puppy outside on a leash to the potty spot every time you think she is ready to go. Sniffing and spinning around in circles is a major indicator that she needs to go. Feed the recommended amount to your puppy on a set schedule. A general rule of thumb is to take your puppy out to potty 20 to 30 minutes after feeding. Provide fresh, clean water for your puppy at all times. Once your puppy gets the hang of the house breaking process, it will be able to hold water waste much longer, and trips outside for potty breaks will become less frequent.

3. Establish a command word or phrase like "potty" or "go potty." Repeat the word or phrase every time your puppy begins to relieve himself. If you do this consistently, the word or phrase will trigger the habit in your puppy and he will eventually go potty on command.

House Train Your Puppy By Crate Training

1. 

   Crate training is only effective if the crate is the correct size.

   Determine the correct crate for your puppy--one that is comfortable but not so big that the puppy will soil the other end of the crate where it doesn't have to sit or sleep. A puppy should be able to stand up straight, lie down and sit upright comfortably in the crate, as well as spin around without touching the sides of the crate.

2. Introduce the puppy to the crate by placing the crate where you are often present, with the crate door open. This should be a happy low-pressure situation for your puppy. Make the crate comfortable and inviting by placing a blanket or pet bed on the floor of the crate. If the puppy is unwilling to go into the crate alone, try throwing food, a toy, or treats into the crate to entice the puppy in. Praise your puppy every time she enters the crate.

3. Begin closing the door for short periods of time once the puppy goes into the crate willingly. Try a minute or two the first few times. If that works well, then try 10 minutes a number of times and so on. Some puppies might take to their crate very well and others not so well, so exact timing will vary.

4. Stay in the room after closing and locking the crate door. Do not pay too much attention to the puppy or open the door when the puppy whines. This will teach him that you will let him out every time he whines. If your puppy is uncomfortable, try to back up a step, but stay consistent with the positive reinforcement and low-pressure environment.

5. Begin leaving the room while leaving the puppy in the locked crate. Start with only a few minutes at a time and gradually add on minutes as you go along. If you leave the room and the puppy is comfortable, try leaving the house for an hour. Whenever you come back into the room after leaving the puppy in the crate for a period of time, calmly open the door the to the crate.

6. Open the crate and leash your puppy. Immediately take the puppy to the potty spot after you let her out of the crate. Take your dog outside each time you leave her in the crate with the door closed.

7. Increase the time your puppy stays crated gradually and according to what your dog is comfortable with. You will be able to leave your puppy crated for longer periods of time as she grows older. Stay consistent and only use positive reinforcement for desired behavior. If training goes well, your puppy will go into the crate on her own to sleep or relax. Eventually, your puppy will go into the crate on command or when she knows you are leaving the house. Your puppy will also eliminate waste outside each time you let her out, by habit.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your puppy in sight at all times so you can watch and learn her habits. Eventually you'll be able to recognize when your puppy needs to potty.

• Choose a crate with an adjustable divider so you can provide your puppy with more room as he grows.

• It is unhealthy for puppies to stay crated without waste relief for more than an hour or two. This is why many working dog owners opt to first have their very young puppies potty on puppy waste pads until the puppy is older and able to hold her waste for long periods of time. To do so, isolate your puppy in a dog pen or a bathroom with a dog gate so your puppy can see out. Put down waste pads Inside of this pen or room. A puppy pad is not a solution to house breaking but can be considered a step to house breaking and crate training your puppy.

• Accidents will happen. Remember consistency and positive reinforcement will help you achieve your training goal. Refrain from yelling, hitting or grabbing your puppy or rubbing your puppy's nose in her waste. If you realize your puppy has soiled the house, there is not much you can do to scold your puppy. She will not associate the scolding with the waste.

• Do not keep younger puppies crated for more than the recommended 3 hours' maximum. Making your puppy or dog hold waste for too long can cause health problems like urinary tract infections and bladder infections. Consider keeping your puppy in an outdoor kennel or fenced-in yard, or use puppy waste pads on a hard, sectioned-off surface until your puppy can hold his waste for longer periods of time.

References

• Perfect Paws: Crate Training a Puppy or Dog
• All About Dogs!: Crate Training Your Dog
• Training-Dogs: Crate Training Puppies and Dogs