CRATE TRAINING YOUR NEW PUPPY

"Crate Training, the NEW PUPPY
for Safety and Security for Your Pet"
by . Altan

Crate training can provide your dog with its own “Den”, giving your pet its own area of security and privacy when it becomes tired or anxious. Crate training can also provide the owner with peace of mind knowing your dog can’t damage your home while you are away.
Before you begin your training you and your family should decide what the “rules of the house” are going to be for you and your new pet. If you allow a puppy on your sofa now, it will be harder to break your pet from wanting up with you when it becomes full grown. Keep in mind the adult size your puppy will become, and consider any behaviors that are cute in a little puppy may be hard to break in your adult dog.
A new puppy should be familiarized with its crate with the door open. Keep in mind that a puppy younger than three or four months, needs to go to the bathroom frequently, and you don’t want to teach them to go where they sleep and eat. So set your crate (door open) in a small area of a room like a kitchen or bathroom, with food near the crate and newspapers or puppy pads nearby for elimination purposes. Make the inside of the crate comfortable with a soft towel or blanket, and a few toys to help keep your puppy occupied.
As your puppy's attention span lengthens, and you begin to understand his habits of eating and relieving itself, you can begin to schedule feeding time that fit into your families schedule ( keeping water available during the day), and can begin training your dog to relieve itself outside. By the time a puppy is four months old, it should be able to stay in its crate with the door closed for three to four hours before needing a “potty” break during the day, and overnight soon after that.
Remember dogs are social animals, and you are the leader of its’ “pack”. The closer your dogs’ crate is to where your family gathers, the more included and happy your pet will be.
**Never use the crate as a punishment. Crate your dog if you anticipate behavioral problems. Example: the dog becomes too excited when company comes, to prevent jumping on guests or small children.
Don’t leave meals in the crate, and don’t feed your pet immediately before placing him in the crate.
Crate training with consistency and patience can give you long-term results that with be rewarding and beneficial for you and your pet.
This article is meant as a guide only, if you have any questions about crate training your new puppy or dog, please consult your veterinarian

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