Crate Training Your New Puppy
Step 1: How to crate train- Acquaint your puppy with his new home simply start from early puppy hood and have your puppy sleep and rest in his home. Almost without trying, he will train himself to seek security and comfort inside his little "dog room."
Encourage your puppy to go into his home on his own. If necessary, toss a little treat in the home. DO NOT FORCE HIM! He may quickly back out or be shy, but that is normal. Just take it slowly. At first, do not close the door on him; let him go in and out on his own. Once he is happy and unafraid of his new home, simply restrain him at the door with your hand. Make him stay in the home for a few minutes, then gradually increase the time and be sure to praise him!
Once he is comfortable with this, (probably a few hours or days of short training sessions) simply restrain him at the door with the door—again praising him lavishly. Soon he will be secure in his home with the door closed. Slowly you can get further and further away from him, always praising his accepting behavior. Eventually, the pup will sit quietly and sleep in his home with the door closed.
Step 2: Direct his elimination- Understand that little puppies need to “go” about every 2-4 hours. On a schedule, (such as after feeding, before bedtime, first thing in morning) let your puppy out, teach him the route to the door, praise him at the door and take him out to the part of the yard you want him to use. Very quickly, you are teaching him an elimination schedule that will stay with him for the rest of his life.
As your puppy gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually leave him in his home for longer periods because he can “hold it” longer. Soon he can be home in his home all day, if necessary, until someone arrives to let him out.
Why to Crate Train Your Puppy?
Dogs in the wild live in a den, which provides protection and a great deal of psychological satisfaction. All dogs, therefore, have a strong natural tendency to seek out this type of shelter.
In your home, if your dog has no place to call his own, he will make feeble attempts to curl up under a table, a chair or some other choice location.
When you use a crate, you give your puppy a place to feel secure...something to get his back up against. He will not feel isolated because the pet home provides essential visibility & ventilation. Just like a baby in a playpen.
You will also be taking advantage of his natural instinct to keep his home clean; therefore, when he has to “go” he will try to hold it until you can take him outside to the proper area.
This will teach him a schedule and help him eliminate accidents.
With a crate, your puppy will have fewer behavioral problems like excessive barking and chewing.
However, most important point of all, you are providing him/her a safe and secure home, he will be happier and more self-confident.
Some of the DO's and DON'T’s of Crate Training
Do buy a crate large enough for your dog when he grows up. However, if the home is too big when your pup is small, he may eliminate in one corner, and then go to another corner to sleep.
Do get your pup used to his new home gradually. Do provide soft, washable bedding in the home so that it is comfortable and warm. Make the inside of the home as cozy as you can. Keep it clean and free of fleas.
Do supervise your pup anytime he is free in your home. Supervision is what allows you to direct behavior. Chewing, elimination, barking, and all other behaviors are all dependent on your direction. If allowed to be unsupervised, he will begin to direct his own behavior and schedule. DO NOT leave your very young pup in his home all day. At 6 weeks, a pup can hold his bladder about 4 hours, by 8 weeks—5 hours, by 12 weeks—6 hours and by 5-6 months a pup should be able to "hold it" for an 8 hour work day.
Do put “housebreaking pads” or newspaper in your pet’s home. We are trying to take advantage of the pup’s natural instinct NOT to go in his home. Do not let your new pup roam through your house unsupervised. Keep an eye on him so that when he sniffs and circles (an indication he is about to go) you can quickly and gently guide him to the door and outside.
Do not force your new pup into the home for the first time. Plan on taking plenty of quality time with him the first few days to get him accustomed to his new surroundings. Do not punish your pup by putting or forcing him into his home. Your pup’s home should be his secure place; it should not be associated with punishment, fear, or anything negative.
Important Tips for House Training Puppies
As with most things in life, there are hard ways and there are easy ways to get things done. Rubbing a puppy's nose in a mess is an inappropriate way to house train. Using ample amounts of supervision and positive reinforcement is the easy way. The first course of action in house training is to promote the desired behavior. You need to:
Designate an appropriate elimination area outdoors
Frequently guide your dog there to do his business
Heartily praise him when he goes
By occasionally giving a food reward immediately after your dog finishes, you can encourage him to eliminate in the desired area. The odor left from previous visits to that area will quickly mark it as the place for the pup to do his business.
~Timing Is Important~
A six- to eight-week old puppy should be taken outdoors every one to three hours. Older puppies can generally wait longer between outings. Most puppies should be taken out:
After waking in the morning,
After naps
After meals
After playing or training
After being left alone
Immediately before being put to bed
~Eliminating On Command~
To avoid spending a lot of time waiting for your puppy to get the job done, you may want to teach him to eliminate on command. Each time he is in the act of eliminating, simply repeat a unique command, such as "hurry up" or "potty", in an upbeat tone of voice. After a few weeks of training, you will notice that when you say the command your puppy will begin pre-elimination sniffing, circling, and then eliminate shortly after you give the command. Be sure to praise him for his accomplishments.
~Feeding Schedules~
Most puppies will eliminate within an hour after eating. Once you take control of your puppy's feeding schedule, you will have some control over when he needs to eliminate. Schedule your puppy's dinner times so that you will be available to let him out after eating. Avoid giving your puppy a large meal just prior to confining him or he may have to eliminate when you are not around to take him out. Schedule feeding should be three times daily on a consistent schedule. Have food available for only 30 to 40 minutes, and then remove it. The last feeding of the day should be completed several hours before he is confined for the night. By controlling the feeding schedule, exercise sessions, confinement periods, and
trips outdoors to the elimination area, your puppy will quickly develop a reliable schedule for eliminating.
~Expect Some Mistakes~
Left on his own, the untrained puppy is very likely to make a mistake. Close supervision is a very important part of training. Do not consider your puppy house trained until he has gone at least four consecutive weeks without eliminating in the house. For older dogs, this period should be even longer. Until then your puppy should constantly be within eyesight. Baby gates can be helpful to control movement throughout the house and to aid supervision. Keep him/her in the crate when unsupervised. When you are away from home, sleeping, or if you are just too busy to closely monitor your pet's activities, confine him to a small, safe area in the home.
~Nervous Wetting~
If your puppy squats and urinates when he greets you, he may have a problem called submissive urination. Dogs and puppies that urinate during greetings are very sensitive and should never be scolded when they do this, since punishment inevitably makes the problem worse. Most young puppies will grow out of this behavior if you are calm, quiet, and avoid reaching toward the head during greetings. Another helpful approach is to calmly ask your dog to sit for a very tasty treat each time someone greets him.
~Direct Him Away from Problem Areas~
Urine and fecal odor should be thoroughly removed to keep your dog from returning to areas of the home where he made a mess. Be sure to use a good commercial product manufactured specifically to clean up doggy odors. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for usage. If a carpeted area has been soaked with urine, be sure to saturate it with the clean-up product and not merely spray the surface. Rooms in the home where your dog has had frequent mistakes should be closed off for several months. He should only be allowed to enter when accompanied by a family member.
~Don't Make Things Worse~
It is normal for a puppy once house trained will have an occasional accident, so you need to be ready to handle the inevitable problems. Do not rely on harsh punishment to correct mistakes. This approach usually does not work, and may actually delay training. An appropriate correction consists of simply providing a moderate, startling distraction. You should only do this when you see your dog in the act of eliminating in the wrong place. A sharp noise, such as a loud "No" or a quick stomp on the floor, is all that is usually needed to stop the behavior. Just do not be too loud or your pet may learn to avoid eliminating in front of you, even outdoors.
~Practice Patience~
Do not continue to scold or correct your dog after he has stopped soiling. When he stops, quickly take him outdoors to realize this is the appropriate spot to go potty and or to finish going potty. Do not forget to praise your puppy for going potty outdoors. Never rub your dog's nose in a mess. There is absolutely no way this will help training, and may actually make him afraid of you.
~Success~
The basic principles of house training are simple, but a fair amount of patience is required. The most challenging part is always keeping an eye on your active dog or puppy. If you maintain control, take your dog outdoors frequently, and consistently praise the desirable behavior, soon you should have a house trained canine companion.
Step 1: How to crate train- Acquaint your puppy with his new home simply start from early puppy hood and have your puppy sleep and rest in his home. Almost without trying, he will train himself to seek security and comfort inside his little "dog room."
Encourage your puppy to go into his home on his own. If necessary, toss a little treat in the home. DO NOT FORCE HIM! He may quickly back out or be shy, but that is normal. Just take it slowly. At first, do not close the door on him; let him go in and out on his own. Once he is happy and unafraid of his new home, simply restrain him at the door with your hand. Make him stay in the home for a few minutes, then gradually increase the time and be sure to praise him!
Once he is comfortable with this, (probably a few hours or days of short training sessions) simply restrain him at the door with the door—again praising him lavishly. Soon he will be secure in his home with the door closed. Slowly you can get further and further away from him, always praising his accepting behavior. Eventually, the pup will sit quietly and sleep in his home with the door closed.
Step 2: Direct his elimination- Understand that little puppies need to “go” about every 2-4 hours. On a schedule, (such as after feeding, before bedtime, first thing in morning) let your puppy out, teach him the route to the door, praise him at the door and take him out to the part of the yard you want him to use. Very quickly, you are teaching him an elimination schedule that will stay with him for the rest of his life.
As your puppy gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually leave him in his home for longer periods because he can “hold it” longer. Soon he can be home in his home all day, if necessary, until someone arrives to let him out.
Why to Crate Train Your Puppy?
Dogs in the wild live in a den, which provides protection and a great deal of psychological satisfaction. All dogs, therefore, have a strong natural tendency to seek out this type of shelter.
In your home, if your dog has no place to call his own, he will make feeble attempts to curl up under a table, a chair or some other choice location.
When you use a crate, you give your puppy a place to feel secure...something to get his back up against. He will not feel isolated because the pet home provides essential visibility & ventilation. Just like a baby in a playpen.
You will also be taking advantage of his natural instinct to keep his home clean; therefore, when he has to “go” he will try to hold it until you can take him outside to the proper area.
This will teach him a schedule and help him eliminate accidents.
With a crate, your puppy will have fewer behavioral problems like excessive barking and chewing.
However, most important point of all, you are providing him/her a safe and secure home, he will be happier and more self-confident.
Some of the DO's and DON'T’s of Crate Training
Do buy a crate large enough for your dog when he grows up. However, if the home is too big when your pup is small, he may eliminate in one corner, and then go to another corner to sleep.
Do get your pup used to his new home gradually. Do provide soft, washable bedding in the home so that it is comfortable and warm. Make the inside of the home as cozy as you can. Keep it clean and free of fleas.
Do supervise your pup anytime he is free in your home. Supervision is what allows you to direct behavior. Chewing, elimination, barking, and all other behaviors are all dependent on your direction. If allowed to be unsupervised, he will begin to direct his own behavior and schedule. DO NOT leave your very young pup in his home all day. At 6 weeks, a pup can hold his bladder about 4 hours, by 8 weeks—5 hours, by 12 weeks—6 hours and by 5-6 months a pup should be able to "hold it" for an 8 hour work day.
Do put “housebreaking pads” or newspaper in your pet’s home. We are trying to take advantage of the pup’s natural instinct NOT to go in his home. Do not let your new pup roam through your house unsupervised. Keep an eye on him so that when he sniffs and circles (an indication he is about to go) you can quickly and gently guide him to the door and outside.
Do not force your new pup into the home for the first time. Plan on taking plenty of quality time with him the first few days to get him accustomed to his new surroundings. Do not punish your pup by putting or forcing him into his home. Your pup’s home should be his secure place; it should not be associated with punishment, fear, or anything negative.
Important Tips for House Training Puppies
As with most things in life, there are hard ways and there are easy ways to get things done. Rubbing a puppy's nose in a mess is an inappropriate way to house train. Using ample amounts of supervision and positive reinforcement is the easy way. The first course of action in house training is to promote the desired behavior. You need to:
Designate an appropriate elimination area outdoors
Frequently guide your dog there to do his business
Heartily praise him when he goes
By occasionally giving a food reward immediately after your dog finishes, you can encourage him to eliminate in the desired area. The odor left from previous visits to that area will quickly mark it as the place for the pup to do his business.
~Timing Is Important~
A six- to eight-week old puppy should be taken outdoors every one to three hours. Older puppies can generally wait longer between outings. Most puppies should be taken out:
After waking in the morning,
After naps
After meals
After playing or training
After being left alone
Immediately before being put to bed
~Eliminating On Command~
To avoid spending a lot of time waiting for your puppy to get the job done, you may want to teach him to eliminate on command. Each time he is in the act of eliminating, simply repeat a unique command, such as "hurry up" or "potty", in an upbeat tone of voice. After a few weeks of training, you will notice that when you say the command your puppy will begin pre-elimination sniffing, circling, and then eliminate shortly after you give the command. Be sure to praise him for his accomplishments.
~Feeding Schedules~
Most puppies will eliminate within an hour after eating. Once you take control of your puppy's feeding schedule, you will have some control over when he needs to eliminate. Schedule your puppy's dinner times so that you will be available to let him out after eating. Avoid giving your puppy a large meal just prior to confining him or he may have to eliminate when you are not around to take him out. Schedule feeding should be three times daily on a consistent schedule. Have food available for only 30 to 40 minutes, and then remove it. The last feeding of the day should be completed several hours before he is confined for the night. By controlling the feeding schedule, exercise sessions, confinement periods, and
trips outdoors to the elimination area, your puppy will quickly develop a reliable schedule for eliminating.
~Expect Some Mistakes~
Left on his own, the untrained puppy is very likely to make a mistake. Close supervision is a very important part of training. Do not consider your puppy house trained until he has gone at least four consecutive weeks without eliminating in the house. For older dogs, this period should be even longer. Until then your puppy should constantly be within eyesight. Baby gates can be helpful to control movement throughout the house and to aid supervision. Keep him/her in the crate when unsupervised. When you are away from home, sleeping, or if you are just too busy to closely monitor your pet's activities, confine him to a small, safe area in the home.
~Nervous Wetting~
If your puppy squats and urinates when he greets you, he may have a problem called submissive urination. Dogs and puppies that urinate during greetings are very sensitive and should never be scolded when they do this, since punishment inevitably makes the problem worse. Most young puppies will grow out of this behavior if you are calm, quiet, and avoid reaching toward the head during greetings. Another helpful approach is to calmly ask your dog to sit for a very tasty treat each time someone greets him.
~Direct Him Away from Problem Areas~
Urine and fecal odor should be thoroughly removed to keep your dog from returning to areas of the home where he made a mess. Be sure to use a good commercial product manufactured specifically to clean up doggy odors. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for usage. If a carpeted area has been soaked with urine, be sure to saturate it with the clean-up product and not merely spray the surface. Rooms in the home where your dog has had frequent mistakes should be closed off for several months. He should only be allowed to enter when accompanied by a family member.
~Don't Make Things Worse~
It is normal for a puppy once house trained will have an occasional accident, so you need to be ready to handle the inevitable problems. Do not rely on harsh punishment to correct mistakes. This approach usually does not work, and may actually delay training. An appropriate correction consists of simply providing a moderate, startling distraction. You should only do this when you see your dog in the act of eliminating in the wrong place. A sharp noise, such as a loud "No" or a quick stomp on the floor, is all that is usually needed to stop the behavior. Just do not be too loud or your pet may learn to avoid eliminating in front of you, even outdoors.
~Practice Patience~
Do not continue to scold or correct your dog after he has stopped soiling. When he stops, quickly take him outdoors to realize this is the appropriate spot to go potty and or to finish going potty. Do not forget to praise your puppy for going potty outdoors. Never rub your dog's nose in a mess. There is absolutely no way this will help training, and may actually make him afraid of you.
~Success~
The basic principles of house training are simple, but a fair amount of patience is required. The most challenging part is always keeping an eye on your active dog or puppy. If you maintain control, take your dog outdoors frequently, and consistently praise the desirable behavior, soon you should have a house trained canine companion.