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House Training a Puppy Using a
Dog Crate
House training a puppy requires time, patience and commitment. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts for patience and commitment. Time is another story.
By using a dog crate, you will not only cut down on puppy housetraining time but also minimize the damage to your household caused by young puppies.
Your ultimate goal is for a puppy to develop bladder and bowel control. A crate will help you achieve that goal.
Before I show you how crate training works, I would like to reassure you that there is nothing cruel about crates. On the contrary, if used correctly, puppies and adult dogs will enjoy the time they spend inside a crate.
How to Introduce your Puppy to his Crate
Before you begin house training a puppy using a dog crate, make sure he feels comfortable around it. You will probably need to spend 3 to 5 training sessions to do just that.
To give your puppy an incentive to come inside his crate, put some of his favorite toys inside. You can even substitute toys with food - from my experience, food works much better!
Whatever you choose, place it near the door. As your puppy enters his crate, praise him and offer lots of encouragement. With each introductory session, you can move the food or toys further inside the crate.
MIDWEST Life Stages Training and Travel Crates come complete with dividers.
After 1 or 2 introductory sessions, while your puppy is busy eating or playing inside his crate, lock the door but don't leave the room. Open the door as soon as he finishes eating or playing or if he gets anxious. Remember, at this time, you are just trying to make your puppy feel comfortable inside his crate.
Only after he is not afraid to enter and spend some time in his crate you are ready to begin house training a puppy.
Guide to House Training a Puppy
This part of training is somewhat similar to the introductory part we just covered. The only difference is that while your puppy is inside his crate, you will leave the room for a short period of time.
To make your puppy less anxious, you may leave some of his toys and food inside the crate.
After you put your puppy inside his crate and lock the door, leave the room. Wait outside and listen to what he is doing.
If he is quiet, come back in 5 minutes and let him out. If he is crying, wait until he calms down before you return and let him out.
You may praise your puppy as you let him out, but only if he was quiet the whole time he was inside his crate. You see, if you show that you feel sorry for him because he was crying, you are encouraging even more crying in the future. Just let him out as if nothing special happened.
Gradually increase the training time but, unless it night time, never confine your puppy to his crate for more than 2 hours.
It's also a good idea to take your puppy for a walk as soon as you release him from his crate.
Visit crate training for more information on house training a puppy, dog crates and crate training in general.
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