In part ONE of "Crate or No Crate, we discussed basics of dog crating & reasons why it is a good idea for you AND your dog...
Dogs are den animals & will grow to love their crate
Dogs are kept safe from a potentially dangerous environment
A crate is an invaluable tool when housebreaking
Let's Continue ...
CRATE TRAINING YOUR PUPPY OR ADULT DOG
In the wild and domestically, dogs naturally den. It's an invaluable tool in housetraining.Puppies learn from their mother that they shouldn't soil their sleeping area. When they are still in the whelping box, pups crawl away to an area they chose as the potty area & eliminate there. They are already innately trained not to soil the area where they sleep.
Setting The Rules From The Beginning
If your puppy whines when first put in his crate it's because he would rather be snuggled up close to you the way he was with his litter mates. If you allow this, it's harder to break over time. Think of what the adult size of your dog will be & decide if you have room in your lap, bed, etc.. You must decide before you bring the puppy home what the "rules" will be & then stick to them.
Help From the Breeder
If you're lucky, the breeder began to crate train the puppies while they are still in the whelping box. If so, allow the pup to get used to it's new crate, it's smells and your home... your job will go much faster. Try to get a familiar piece of bedding from the breeder, one which has the smells of the litter. Place this in the crate along with the other pads or towels. This will help the pup feel at home.
Positive Associations
*Crate training should be positive with no negative associations.
*Have the crate ready with a towel or a washable pad , possibly a pillow.
*Add a small treat (a carrot or piece of his dry food) and allow the puppy to sniff it, luring him in.
*Use a word association - Mine is "kennel in". I use the word association AS I'm putting the treat into the crate & the puppy is following it in. Do this about five times & then quit for awhile. Repeat often, the first day.
*Leave the door open during exploration & let him come out as he wishes. Don't force the pup in & don't make him stay in there the first several times.
Closing The Crate Door
*When the pup is entering with ease, has played & piddled & is ready to nap, lure him in like before, but close the door. You may want to now add a new toy-something new & interesting.
*Sit on the floor in front of the crate & talk to him. If he whines, put your fingers through the grate to reassure. Stay until the whining subsides & the puppy calms down & then open the crate door- 5-10 minutes usually. If the pup falls asleep, let him sleep in the crate until he wakes up & then it's right outside to go potty.
*Don't praise when opening the crate door so he doesn't get the impression that getting out is much more fun than being in. DO NOT let him out until he is quiet!
The First Night At Home
*If you haven't yet had time for the above training, play with the puppy until he's tired.
*After you wake, be sure he has pottied outside, place the crate with pad and towels etc. on a chair or table next to your bed where you can reach.
*Place the pup in the crate. Go to bed & turn out lights. If the puppy whines, place your fingers in the grate & talk softly until he falls asleep.
***You may lose a little sleep but DO NOT open the door for the puppy for at least four hours. Don't get angry or yell.
*As soon as the puppy whines after waking up, take him outside. Carry the pup from crate to potty area immediately, praise softly and gently for a job well done, bring him back in and without play or snuggling, return him to his crate, turn the lights out & go back to sleep.
*Repeat steps as necessary.
*It is your responsibility to get the puppy out BEFORE he has soiled his den. Clean it up using a light vinegar and water mix. Put clean towels or pads in the crate and return to your routine. Set an alarm clock if you have to.
*Later on, after the puppy is used to it's routine & after he no longer needs to go out every four hours, you can put the crate on the floor of your bedroom or somewhere else in the house.
Crating When You Leave The House
He's made it through the night. He is familiar with his crate.
*Make sure he has been exercised, pottied & is tired.
*Take off his collar & remove unsafe toys. Lure him in with a treat and your association word.
*Close the door & leave the house - no talking to him. He may whine a little.
*Return after an hour or two. If you have to go to work, arrange to come home at lunch to feed, exercise & potty the puppy during your break or have a pet sitter do this for you. A puppy cannot be expected to go longer than four hours without a potty break & it is very hard to retrain a puppy that is used to soiling his crate.
A Place To Get Away From It All
After the puppy has grown a bit & is used to being put into his crate, you will see something interesting happen. He will go to his crate to rest. Leave crate doors open & dogs frequently go there to nap on their own volition.
REASONS TO CRATE TRAIN EARLY
Flying
Dogs must be crated for this. Flying is stressful enough for the dog. The less stress, the better.
Boarding at the Vet
It is always best to hire a pet sitter to care for your pets at home. However, your pet may have to stay at the Vet. If he is use to crates, that removes some stress.
Crating In The Car
Keeping your dog safe in the car is another reason to crate train. Car doors can fly open. If crated when in an accident, the crate can protect him. If you are hurt, emergency services people are more likely keep your dog safe & contained if the dog is in a crate and they can easily transport the dog to a safe area.
*Follow all puppy steps.
*When the dog will readily go in the crate, make him lie down while you sit on the floor in front him for a few seconds. Then let him come out. Again, don't praise. Keep this up for several days or until he's comfortable.
*Keep doing this without any negativity until he's comfortable in the crate for longer periods.
*Most dogs can be crate trained using this method no matter how old they are. Keep it positive but don't give in! Try to build time gradually.
*If you need to crate train your dog to fly, try & give yourself as much time as possible. A month or more is optimal. If you don't have that much time, try to do as many repetitions as you can during the time you have.
*Wait an hour or so in between training sessions. The more you repeat, the less stress for you and your dog.
DO'S & DON'TS
*Never crate a dog with a choke collar on. Dogs can choke themselves to death. Remove any collar while crating.
*Never crate a dog with a leash attached! Same reason.
* Kongs. Made of hard rubber that is almost impossible to destroy. Some people put a little peanut butter inside and that gives the pup/dog something do for awhile after you leave. Not alot of peanut butter, just enough to keep them interested.
Thank you and best of luck crating your dogs. They WILL love you for it!
See you in a couple of weeks with new info.
Until then, enjoy your pet friends!
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