I have owned dogs all my life, and one thing that I have recently learned that crate training puppies can be really helpful, and save a lot of stress when you are housebreaking your puppy.
When you decide you are going to crate train your puppy you need to make sure that you buy the correct size crate - he needs to be able to stand up in it (at adult size) and move around. The metal crates are the best.
One thing that you need to make sure of is that you buy the right size crate for your puppy. He must have enough room to stand up and to move around. The metal crates with a door at one side are the best ones to go for - they are nice and strong.
So to get your puppy used to a crate you need to put in a treat and let him walk in and investigate it. Do this a few times, and then when he seems quite happy walking in and out, and he is concentrating on his treat, you need to close the door. This is just for a few seconds the first time, then open it again.
When he is totally relaxed with this you need to move onto the next stage which is closing the door for a few seconds. So when his attention is on the treat, close the door whilst praising him quietly. No more than 20 seconds though. Let him out and give him a pat, no praise, just a little pat. Repeat this often and gradually increase the length of time the crate is closed. Don't do it for so long that he gets upset though.
To start off with crate training your puppy, put a treat into his crate and praise him when he goes in to the crate to investigate. Do this several times, always praising him. Then you need to close the door for a few seconds - telling him quietly that he is a good boy while you are doing it. It's probably best to do this while his attention is on the treat. Gradually increase the length of time that the door is closed, but always stay next to it at this stage of crate training.
In no time at all your puppy will be totally used to going into his crate, and you will be able to leave him in there for upto an hour if you need to go out without him.
Try not to leave a puppy any longer than this, as their bladders are not very strong when they are young, and you don't want him to make a mess in his crate. As he gets older and is properly house-trained, you will be able to increase this time a little.
Your puppy will love his crate and feel totally safe and secure in it. An added advantage of having a crate trained puppy is that is you do need to go out you can be sure that he will be relaxed and happy in his crate, so long as he has a blanket or bed and a few toys to amuse him. Often when a puppy is left alone he will become anxious and this is when he is likely to start chewing, barking and making a nuisance of himself. So if you don't want to come home to a destroyed house (it's surprising how much damage a small puppy can do when he is stressed), then all of your crate training will be a real asset, as he just will not feel anxious or stressed because he knows you will be coming back to him, as you always do. - 29895
When you decide you are going to crate train your puppy you need to make sure that you buy the correct size crate - he needs to be able to stand up in it (at adult size) and move around. The metal crates are the best.
One thing that you need to make sure of is that you buy the right size crate for your puppy. He must have enough room to stand up and to move around. The metal crates with a door at one side are the best ones to go for - they are nice and strong.
So to get your puppy used to a crate you need to put in a treat and let him walk in and investigate it. Do this a few times, and then when he seems quite happy walking in and out, and he is concentrating on his treat, you need to close the door. This is just for a few seconds the first time, then open it again.
When he is totally relaxed with this you need to move onto the next stage which is closing the door for a few seconds. So when his attention is on the treat, close the door whilst praising him quietly. No more than 20 seconds though. Let him out and give him a pat, no praise, just a little pat. Repeat this often and gradually increase the length of time the crate is closed. Don't do it for so long that he gets upset though.
To start off with crate training your puppy, put a treat into his crate and praise him when he goes in to the crate to investigate. Do this several times, always praising him. Then you need to close the door for a few seconds - telling him quietly that he is a good boy while you are doing it. It's probably best to do this while his attention is on the treat. Gradually increase the length of time that the door is closed, but always stay next to it at this stage of crate training.
In no time at all your puppy will be totally used to going into his crate, and you will be able to leave him in there for upto an hour if you need to go out without him.
Try not to leave a puppy any longer than this, as their bladders are not very strong when they are young, and you don't want him to make a mess in his crate. As he gets older and is properly house-trained, you will be able to increase this time a little.
Your puppy will love his crate and feel totally safe and secure in it. An added advantage of having a crate trained puppy is that is you do need to go out you can be sure that he will be relaxed and happy in his crate, so long as he has a blanket or bed and a few toys to amuse him. Often when a puppy is left alone he will become anxious and this is when he is likely to start chewing, barking and making a nuisance of himself. So if you don't want to come home to a destroyed house (it's surprising how much damage a small puppy can do when he is stressed), then all of your crate training will be a real asset, as he just will not feel anxious or stressed because he knows you will be coming back to him, as you always do. - 29895
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