The 3 Keys To Crate Training Puppies

Crate training puppies is such a great idea. Helping your dog become accustomed to a crate while he is young will make his life so much easier down the road. He will come to think of his crate as a safe haven away from noise and chaos. It will be his den of comfort in his first few lonely nights on his own, he will enjoy travelling better if he can travel in his crate and sleep there when he is on the road. But perhaps the biggest advantage of crate training puppies is that it will help dramatically with their housebreaking.

How can you start crate training puppies?

It's really very simple, they key is to introduce your dog to his crate gently and over the course of a few hours, rather than rushing him into it.

Start out by getting a crate that is large enough for your dog. Ideally, for housebreaking purposes, the crate should not be too big... just large enough for your dog to stand up, lie down and turn around in. You don't want him to be able to relieve himself in one corner and rest peacefully in the other.

Practically speaking though, if your dog is a member of a larger breed, it probably makes economic sense to just buy one larger crate for him. It's something that he'll grow into over time. However, if you have a number of crate sizes to choose from, start with a smaller crate for your dog.

Introducing your puppy to his crate.

I think you should introduce your puppy to the crate the first day he arrives in your new home. However, any day thereafter is an option as well. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks, so introducing the crate as soon as is convenient is what makes sense.

Start out by putting the crate in a room where you or other family members gather. keep the door open and put a favorite toy or piece of kibble inside. Let your pup go in and out and explore at his own pace. If he's busy playing, let him play and don't force him into the crate. Likewise, if he's getting tired, encourage him to nap in his new bed.

The goal is to have the puppy accustomed to the crate by nightfall, so when evening comes you can shut the door and he will be comfortable there. I encourage you to keep the crate in your room the first couple of nights.

Crate Training Puppies: The first night

If its his first night away from his family, expect to hear some crying for the first 30 minutes or so. It will sound bleak and mournful, but the weaning process must take place. Just let the dog know you're in the room. He will be able to see you and smell you. Don't go over and comfort him or he will just be reinforced to do more of the unwanted behavior.

This is a good time to read a book or watch TV in the bedroom. If your spouse is the grumpy type that might not enjoy the experience of crate training puppies, tell him/her to follow you to bed 45 minutes after you and the puppy turn the lights out. Chances are the pup will have wound down, by then.

After the howling stops and you fall asleep, get ready to wake up again! My guess is that your young puppy will not be able to sleep through the night without going to the bathroom. Be prepared to wake up once or twice to take him outside. Having his crate near your bed makes it easy to hear him when he wakes up.

After a few days, this night time crate training routine will be easy for you and your dog. After a few weeks, he will sleep through the night comfortably in his crate.

The final step in crate training puppies is recognizing when to use the crate during the day.

I recommend using the crate A LOT during the day when the puppy is very young. Not only will this prevent housebreaking accidents, but it will keep your dog from developing bad habits like chewing on the furniture or expecting to get his way all the time. The great thing about crate training puppies is ending up with an adult dog who is comfortable in the crate whenever you need her to go there.

Even as an "older pup" - I don't know that Kera ever struck me as an "adult" - Kera would happily stay in her crate while I was out during the day. She was comfortable there with her toys and I was content, knowing that she wasn't getting into mischeif while I was out.

Crates are a wonderful and humane dog training aid. I strongly encourage you to begin crate training puppies from day one. It will help your dogs quickly learn what is expected of them in terms of bathroom behavior, and it will teach them that there crate is a safe and comfortable retreat which they can return to day after day.

Click here for a detailed Potty Training Schedule for your new puppy!