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How to Crate Train a Puppy
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Each
year,
thousands of potentially good dogs
are abandoned by their owners
who were
unable to deal with the behavior problems of their pets. Most
of these owners had
good intentions but
did not have the right tools to effectively train their puppy. Used
correctly, a dog crate is an excellent tool that will give your dog and
optimal opportunity to become house trained.
Crate
train a puppy – an act of
responsibility and kindness, not cruelty |
Some pet
owners see the crate as a “jail” for
pets. As humans who value
freedom, a dog owner might
see the crates as
inhumane and do not want to subject their puppy to this “act
of cruelty”. What these owners should
ask themselves is what would you do with your child if he or she
didn’t have a playpen or a baby crib to sleep in? Professional
dog trainers, exhibitors, breeder and anyone else that handles dogs on
a
regular basis, are using crates to effectively and humanely train their
dogs.
Even the dogs
themselves see the
crate as a place they can call their own.
A crate is a place where the puppy can
go when
they just don’t want to
be bothered and want to rest. Dogs
naturally have a den instinct and the crate will satisfy this instinct
for your
puppy while also serving an awesome purpose when it comes to training. To you, it might
seem like prison but to
your dog, it’s her home.
The
difference between using and
abusing a crate
Now it’s
important to understand that a crate should only be used in a proper
situation. It is
not to be used for a
dog that is going to be left alone everyday for hours.
Crate Location
The
crate
should be in or as close as possible to his human companions. You can place the crate in
the kitchen or
family room and it should be in
a corner to give the puppy a sense of
security
just like he would have in a den with his mother.
If the corner is not possible, then
place
some towels on the sides and back (not front) of the crate. Make sure that the area is
free from cold
drafts or near a heat source that can get your puppy ill.
How to crate train a
puppy
A young
puppy will usually adjust well to a crate and will see it as his own
place
where he can get some rest. Once
you have
the crate in its location, you need to provide bedding.
Use a towel or a small blanket which you
can
wash should an accident occur.
Also
consider placing an old article of clothing that has your scent on it
as this
will help familiarize the puppy with your scent. Do not place
food or water in the crate. Remember the crate is his
bedroom and you do
not eat in bed. Remember
to remove his
collar as it can get stuck on bars of the crate.
If you
have children in the home, you have to make it clear to them that the
crate is
not a play area and when the puppy is in there, he or she should be
left
alone. What you
will want to do however,
is show your puppy that it is OK for people to reach in the crate at
any time so
the puppy does not become over protective of the crate.
Establish
a crate routine as soon as possible.
You
can place the puppy in the crate for 1 – 2 hour intervals. The best way to know when
to place your dog
in the crate is by letting her nap times guide you in establishing the
routine. By
crating your puppy when she is about
to sleep, you will get her accustomed to her crate much faster than if
you
would if
your puppy is hyper and wants to play.
How to Crate Train a Puppy - Crate
train
puppy success
Remember that
your puppy might not be comfortable the first few days or weeks in the
crate
and you have to be consistent in order to see results. While not every
dog will
accept a crate, success rates are much better with puppies. If you stick with a crate
training routine and
despite all your consistent and firm effort still find that your puppy
is not happy,
then you should not force the dog into the crate.
How to Crate Train a Puppy
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