Crate Training Your DogAlthough many new owners may think that crate
training your dog is simply teaching your pup to remain in a dog crate while you
are gone or to keep them from going to the restroom in the house, crate training
a puppy is actually a bit more multi-dimensional than it sounds.
The main purpose of this type of training is actually to housebreak or crate train a puppy, although dog crates come in handy for many other reasons as well. While it is often suggested by experts not to confine dogs as punishment, it is great to help teach puppies their boundaries. This includes teaching them what they can and cannot chew, where to go to the restroom, where to sleep at night and where they should go when they feel overwhelmed or over excited, especially as puppies. Housebreaking The first rule to keep in mind when crate training your dog is that a puppy should not be left alone in a crate for more than 3-4 hours. This includes during the night. Their bladders are extremely small, so it will be necessary to find a way to let them out every few hours during the first weeks they are home with you. This may mean coming home for lunch breaks or having someone stop by to let them out while you are gone. Remember that it is essential when crate training your dog to use the crates consistently to housetrain a puppy or new dog in the first few weeks. This means that owners should not just place a puppy in the crate at night or when they are away during the daytime hours. Whenever you cannot keep an eye on the puppy, it is important to place them in the crate. When crate training your dog it is especially important while they are napping or playing because as soon as they wake up or stop playing they will almost always look for a place to go to the restroom. It is an instinct for the puppy not to want to go to the bathroom in their own sleeping area, so they will try their best not to go to the restroom while in the crate. Instead, they will begin learning to give you signals that they need to go to the restroom, such as barking, whining or scratching at the gate. It is also important to remember when crate training your dog to immediately take your puppy or dog outdoors after you let them out of any sort of confinement. This is a preventative method of consistency that will allow a new dog to understand that they should go outdoors to empty their bladder after being left alone, or after waking from a nap or after eating or drinking. To Limit Chewing Crate training puppy behavior such as chewing also works well if used on a consistent basis. But preventative measures will work best with this training approach because it will be difficult for a dog or puppy to understand why they are being scolded and thrown into the crate if you wait until they have chewed up shoes or a table leg in order to teach them. There really is no set training for limiting chewing, it should just be used in a preventative fashion when you will not be able to watch the dog for a short period of time and they are not yet reliable as far as chewing goes. When this is the case, it is best to provide them with a safe play toy or chew toy and place them in their dog crate. Most puppies and dogs will let you know when they have finished chewing, although this is different for different dogs. Some are satisfied just to chew a dog toy for a small time while others will chew until they fall asleep. Remember that dogs of all ages like to chew, but some will need this more than others, especially puppies. Chewing is a way to exercise their jaw muscles and to strength and clean their teeth, but if they are not properly trained to chew on appropriate items at an appropriate time, then they will find something else in the home to chew on. Do Not Use as Punishment Dog crates make an excellent place for your dog to take a nap, to remain confined when you go away or to learn housebreaking techniques, but when crate training your dog, this training tool should not be used excessively to confine a puppy or dog, as this may lead to anxious or hyper behavior. It should instead be used on a limited basis for specific training purposes. If the puppy goes to the restroom in the house, do not then throw them into the crate and scold them. They will be extremely confused by this reaction and it will not help to implement housetraining at all. Instead, use preventative methods like discussed earlier and place a puppy in their crate before a nap or before you leave the home. This way they will be more willing to hold their bladder as dogs do not like to go to the restroom in an area that they consider their own private space. Remember that crate training your dog is just one of many methods of obedience that can be used and should not be abused in any way. Leave Crate Training Your Dog and Return to Dog Training
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