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Using Dog Crates to Housebreak Puppies
Dog crates can help you potty train puppies in the shortest period of time. To succeed, you need to learn what makes crates so effective and avoid some common crate training mistakes.
Many people feel that confining puppy to a crate is cruel. This thinking is not only wrong but is also counterproductive when it comes to potty training a puppy.
Fortunately, puppies don't think like us!
By nature, dogs are den animals. Puppy crates provide them with the same feeling of comfort and security a wild dog or a wolf finds in a den.
When you use it correctly, a dog crate will not only accelerate puppy potty training, but it will also prevent other unwanted behaviors, such as dog separation anxiety .
What Makes Dog Crates So Effective?
Remember I mentioned that dogs are den animals? Well, like all den animals, dogs don't like to eliminate in close proximity to where they sleep and eat.
When you confine your puppy to his crate for short periods of time, you are helping to build his bladder control.
On the other hand, if you lock your puppy in his crate before you go to work and let him out when you come back, well, he'll do what he needs to do… right inside his crate. Even if he doesn't like doing it, your puppy has no choice. And once this happens, you will have much harder time housetraining your puppy.
How to Use Puppy Crates
Just because your puppy is a den animal (what? that cute little thing?!) and will learn to like his crate, it does not mean he will like it immediately.
Your first goal is to just make your puppy feel comfortable around his crate.
How?
- Leave some of his favorite toys inside the crate
- Give him his food and water only in his crate
- Allow him to explore it with you nearby
At first, leave toys, food and water near the entrance and as your puppy becomes more comfortable, move them further inside the crate. At first, leave the dog crate door open.
Start with very short training sessions, but only when your puppy is comfortable enough to stay in his crate. Three to five minutes is a good start. Try to make that experience as pleasurable as possible for him.
Did he just enter his crate for the first time? Give him a treat or two as a reward. Did he spend some time alone in his crate? I think he deserves some kind of a reward for that too!
To provide your puppy with comfort and make his crating experience more pleasant, I suggest you get him a crate mattress and a cover.
I used to line Bo's crate with Cratewear Pet Dreams
3-Piece Complete Crate Bed Set.
It's machine washable and includes…
- A mattress (for comfort)
- Padded bumper (to prevent an injury)
- Crate cover (for a sense of security)
Oh, it also includes a crate training brochure endorsed by top veterinarians and trainers!
Visit puppy crate training for detailed instructions on introducing puppies to dog crates.
What About a Dog Crate Size?
Glad you asked!
Make sure a dog crate is large enough for your puppy to walk in, turn around and lay down, without feeling cramped.
At the same time, keep a crate small enough to prevent your puppy from getting away too far from his mess. This is very important when housebreaking a puppy.
Use the following chart to evaluate dog crates for your puppy…
Adult Dog Weight |
Depth of Crate |
|
|---|---|---|
Up to 25 lbs |
24" |
|
Up to 40 lbs |
30" |
|
Up to 70 lbs |
36" |
|
Up to 90 lbs |
42" |
|
Up to 110 lbs |
48" |
|
Above 110 lbs |
54" |
For smaller breeds, once you buy a crate, you can use the same one for as long as required.
For larger breeds, I prefer adult-sized dog crates that come with divider panels. At first, provide your puppy with the smallest area and remove panels as your puppy grows.
MIDWEST Life Stages Training and Travel Crates come complete with dividers.
For more information on
- Dog crates
- Crate training
- Choosing the right crate for your dog
…visit crate training and puppy crates pages.
Here are some additional products you may find useful…
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