Crate Training A Puppy?....... all the puppy crate training advice you need!Do you have questions about crate training a puppy? Do you have vague doubts about whether it's 'cruel' or not? Are you looking for a straightforward 'how-to' guide on puppy crate training (or dog crate training)?
If so, this guide to crate training puppies is for you! If there's one thing I've learned over the years of raising puppies, it's that crate training a puppy is one of the best decisions you can make. In fact, crate training a dog of any age is the best way to ensure that your four-legged friend is a pleasure to have around, and that your home stays clean and sweet smelling.So, on that note....crate training a puppy, here we come! A dog crate is an amazingly versatile piece of equipment. It'll help you and little Fido in more ways than you might think. Crate training a puppy can :-
Which crate ? What size?When crate training a puppy you have 2 basic types of crate to choose from.The fiberglass crate This kind of dog crate provides a securely, enclosed space which resembles the natural den. It's strong and durable and is the only crate recommended (or allowed) to be used for dogs who travel by air. It's main drawbacks are that it does limit little Fido's view of what's going on around him and can get hot inside on a warm day. The wire crate If your puppy craves more seclusion but you have a wire crate, throw an old blanket or table-cloth over it. Don't use your best stuff though, even if it looks better, as that little chewing machine will probably nibble on (or even devour)whatever piece of blanket he can grab. Crate Size You need the crate to be just big enough for your puppy to stand up, sit down, turn around and lie down in, without touching the sides. If it's any bigger, chances are good that Fido will designate part of it as a sleeping area, and part as a bathroom - not what you want. Introducing the crateFido will most likely not have spent much time in a crate before he comes to live with you (except perhaps being shipped by air from the breeder)so crate training will be new to him.
When you're crate training a puppy it makes the whole process a bit easier if you let little Fido get used to the crate, and feel comfortable around it, before he has to spend much time actually inside it. Something worth mentioning here is that you should never use the crate as punishment. Fido needs to think of his crate as a safe, happy place where he gets the chance to chew on his very favorite toys! Putting him in his crate as a punishment or when you're angry with him will undo all the hard work you invested in the first place. Here are some basic rules of crate training and a few ideas for ways in which you can help Fido get accustomed to his new crate and learn that it's a fun place to spend time -
Crate Training Puppies ....... let's get startedWhen you think Fido's ready to spend some time with the door closed start with very short periods and work up. Here are some more rules of crate training and a couple of pointers to make this part of crate training a puppy a bit less stressful for you both :Take a potty break first. Put his favorite toy in with him. 
Don't shut him in and then leave the room. Young puppies want to be with their people at all times and if you disappear from sight he'll be scared, and you don't want him to make those kind of associations with his crate. Ignore initial 'fussing'. There's one caveat here. Occasionally you'll find a puppy who is particularly highly strung and nervous who may suffer from severe separation anxiety when put in his crate. If your puppy appears 'hysterical' (whining, barking, scratching, throwing himself around, has a bowel movement or is panting heavily) it's best to let him out and consult your veterinarian or an experienced dog trained for advice on how best to handle that. It may be that he has a tendency towards anxious behavior, such as separation anxiety But don't be fooled too easily. Fido may act like a crazy dog for a few minutes but then settle down to the occasional whine. If he's generally not an anxious, highly nervous dog he's unlikely to develop raging anxiety issues because of his crate
The freedom bell rings!Wait for quiet before letting him out.Whether your puppy is in his crate for 5 mins or 30, never open the door and let him out while he's crying and complaining. Wait for a lull first or he'll think he's getting out because he's making such a fuss. Don't fuss over him when time is up. When you begin crate training a puppy you'll need to start with short periods of crating and work your way up. Here's a general guide to the length of time your puppy can spend in his crate - 9 - 10 weeks old - 30 mins 
The exception to this is overnight crating. Try to put your puppy in his crate beside your bed at night, or at least somewhere you can hear him (although you may wish you couldn't hear him at 2am). Remember, he's still a baby and as such will need to go out to 'potty' at least once during the night.Crate training a puppy at night time is easier if you make sure he's had a potty break and hasn't had access to drinking water after, say 8pm. That way he'll most likely go to sleep for several hours before needing to go out. Don't ignore his crying at that point as he won't be able to hold it in and if forced to potty in his crate it'll make housebreaking him much more difficult. This stage of crate training a puppy only lasts a short while and you'll be glad you persevered when you have a clean, housebroken dog.
What if he 'goes' in his crate?As I explained earlier, crate training a puppy works because dogs are den animals by nature and will try very hard not not to mess where they sleep. If little Fido regularly eliminates in his dog crate the answer may lie in the following check list -
This is another one. Puppies bought from pet shops often come from puppy mills where they are forced to live, eat, play, sleep and eliminate in tiny, filthy pens. When brought up in these conditions a puppy's natural instincts are overpowered and a pet shop pup will most likely have no problem with pottying in his crate. This can make housebreaking a bigger challenge for both of you. No matter what reason your pup has for messing in his crate, do be certain to clean the crate thoroughly, so that the scent of his 'accident' doesn't encourage him to get in the habit of re-soiling over and over. The best type of cleaners to use when you're crate training a puppy, are the enzymatic ones, which totally break down and destroy the odors associated with urine, feces and vomit. Nature's Miracle There are also a host of other dog urine cleaning products on the market, click here to see a full list of the ones that we recommend.
Safety issues when crate training puppies and dogsNow, one of the reasons for crate training a puppy is that it helps to keep him safe - but there are a few things you need to do to make sure he stays that way.
His crate is meant to be your puppy's safe haven and as such he has a right to some peace and quiet and to feel safe when he's inside.
Housebreaking and crate training a puppy is one of the biggest early challenges you'll experience as a new 'parent'...but some basic knowledge and a positive attitude can get you a long way...I love the '...For Dummies' series of dog training books, and have several of them on my bookshelves. This is another '.. for Dummies' book that hits the spot! The very words 'house-training' can strike fear into the heart of puppy owners everywhere! But you won't need to panic if you have this book in your own, personal collection. Written with a good dose of humor, this puppy training book is packed with practical tips and information to help you tackle the challenges of housetraining with confidence. Topics covered include :
Whether you're a newbie, or an experienced puppy parent...if you have a puppy, you need this book!
And for more of the best, up to date information on other aspects of puppy training, you can find the very best books on dog training on our Dog Training Books page. We have the cream of the crop, personal reviews, even a link to allow you to purchase the book of your choice right away....we told you we'd make this puppy parenting stuff easier didn't we :)
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If you're crate training a puppy there's an important issue I'd like to mention at this point. On various other pages in this site we've indicated that buying a puppy from a pet shop is not a good idea for many reasons.
