Crate Training Puppies

Crate training puppies is an important element of training if you plan on being gone from home for hours at a time. A crate can also be a good place for your puppy or dog to sleep in at night. Dogs are actually den animals and a crate can provide your puppy with a sense of comfort and security.

Crating your puppy can also keep your puppy safe from electrical cords and other potentially dangerous items and can protect your furniture and household items as well from chewing, urinating and other potentially destructive behavior.

Another important benefit to crate training puppies is that dogs do not like to soil the places where they sleep. Therefore, crate training and house training can work hand in hand.

Click Here for the Ultimate Guide to Training Your Puppy

Some people think crating a puppy or dog is cruel, but that is not true as long as your puppy has plenty of water and is not left in the crate too long. Crate training puppies involves creating a safe, comfortable and enjoyable place for your puppy to be. Place a towel or blanket in the crate so that it is comfortable. Also make sure your puppy has plenty of water when crated.

Getting Started With Crate Training Puppies

Gradually introduce your puppy to the crate. Do not force him in, but instead induce him with treats and toys. Place them at the far end of the door so he will need to enter in order to get to the treats and toys. Praise him when he goes into his crate.

The crate should not be used as a means of punishing a puppy or dog. In addition, if at all possible you should place the crate in an area near you or the family. Puppies and dogs are social creatures and do not like to be isolated. When you are first crate training puppies, you should leave your puppy in the crate while you are at home for a few hours at a time. This way your puppy does not associate the crate with being left alone.

Things to Remember When Crate Training Puppies

There are some important reminders that you should keep in mind when crate training puppies. First of all do not leave your puppy in the crate with his collar on unless it is a safety break way collar. Otherwise the collar could potentially get stuck on the wire mesh or bars of the crate. Also do not crate a dog or puppy without adequate water or in hot or cold temperatures. Finally, make sure your puppy has recently eliminated before being crated so they he will not soil his crate.

As mentioned previously, if a dogs do not like to dirty the place they sleep in. If your puppy continues to eliminate in his crate there could be several reasons causing this. If he is a very young puppy he may not have enough bladder control. Your puppy may also have drank too much water or not been taken out right before crating. It could also be a sign that your puppy has worms or a health condition such as a bladder infection. Finally if your puppy came from a pet store he may have been forced to urinate in his cage or crate and therefore may take additional training to wean him from that habit.

Crate training puppies is usually not too difficult, given that dogs are den animals. If you make the crate a comfortable, enjoyable and safe place for your puppy to be, he should adapt to it without a lot of difficulty. Just be sure to not make going into the crate a form of punishment or isolation from you and the rest of the family.