Dog Crate training tips for your new Puppy

Crate Training can be such a lifesaver when it comes to all the different stages of your puppies life. Not only does the Dog Crate provide a secure place for him to sleep and grow, but a much needed quiet place when your puppy needs a rest, or a safe place to go when the family is busy or unable to watch puppy closely for a time. Dog Crates are a great tool for house-training because dogs don't like to potty where they sleep and eat. And, when traveling within the car or for pups that have to fly on a plane, inside a dog crate is probably the safest place to ride. The crate provides your puppy with the sense of home, safety and security.

Making Pups Comfortable With the Dog Crate

- It is important to start out early when establishing the dog crate in your puppies life. He should be sleeping in his dog crate on the first day he arrives home with the family. Line the crate with a soft blanket, put in some small treats, and then show the puppy how to get in.

-Once your puppy has figured out how to go in and out of his crate, and has satisfied his curiosity about it, use a cue word, such as "kennel," as he moves toward it, and hand him a treat as soon as he enters. You may have to place puppy in the dog crate while saying the cue word for the first few weeks. Then, when he is a little older and is used to hearing this word, he will begin to go in the dog crate when told to. At the early stages it is important to use the dog crate only for napping/ sleeping and short intervals of leaving puppy alone while you leave the house. The more interaction you have while puppy is awake, the easier it is to potty train him, or aversion train him (when chewing on something he isn't supposed to), because you will be right there to stop or correct the behavior right away.

-Your puppy WILL cry and bark in the beginning of Crate training. This is NORMAL. The best and quickest way to stop this behavior is to ignore it. Puppies are very smart, if you respond to their cries right away, they learn to cry more. If you can ignore the noise, and only open the dog crate after puppy has stopped crying- you are already half way through successful crate training. This does not cause the puppy any distress or hurt, in fact it will help him to feel safer and secure in his new home. Then the Dog Crate becomes his own little house right within your home.

-Once your puppy is willing to rest in the crate, you can start confining him for varying periods of time, and at different times of the day, while you're at home. The more random and persistent you are, the less he will worry when you do have to leave the house. With this kind of routine, your puppy will learn to feel at home, relaxed and comfortable in his own little den.

*Important note- if your puppy is a mini or small breed, weighing less than 2 lbs. It is important to feed them every 2-3 hours until they are capable of free feeding on their own. The controversy of not putting food or water in the dog crate does not apply to these tiny dogs. The risk of low blood sugar and life threatening complications far outweigh the possibility of the puppy messing in his dog crate.*

If you suspect that your puppy is having any problems controlling his eliminations, then please have him seen as soon as possible by your Veterinarian: To rule out any possibility of a urinary tract infection or parasites.

"A great source for Dog Crates and Dog Kennels to use during puppy training is our own site: KennelsnCrates.com!"