Crate training is an easy, safe, effective way to get your puppy ready for house training. The crate will quickly become a safe haven for your puppy. Somewhere he can go to be alone and rest. Puppies have a natural instinct for cleanliness. They enjoy a safe, secure, clean environment and a crate is a perfect place to introduce them to that. Please do not confuse confinement with crate training. By placing your puppy in a small area, such as a bathroom or laundry room, your puppy will NOT hold himself. He will not learn that eliminating in the house is unacceptable. If you want to successfully create healthy habits for your puppy, crate him!
As I stated before, a crate is a safe haven, not a place for you to put your puppy as punishment. A crating your puppy should NEVER be used as punishment. By crating your puppy when you are away from home assures you that your puppy is safe and insures that he does not get into any trouble when you are not there to tend to him.
I highly recommend the crate method until your puppy learns the house rules. When you enforce the rules REGULARLY, your puppy will quickly learn the do's and don'ts of your home. You must do it with patience and love. Your puppy will learn more quickly from kindness than harshness.
Five Easy Steps to Successful Training:
1. I would recommend starting out by crating for two-hour intervals. Yes...this includes waking up in the middle of the night. Once your puppy has accomplished keeping his crate clean, increase it to 3 hour intervals and so on. It goes with out saying, but I will say it anyway. You want your puppy to feel comfortable in his crate. So, make sure he has soft absorbent bedding, and if you have old towels that you don't mine washing daily, you can add them in too. Also, you want your puppy to have something he can play with for entertainment.
2. When you take your puppy out of his crate, immediately take him outside to a designated area were he can relieve himself. You should bring him to potty at the same place every time you bring him outside. He will quickly learn what that area is for and what you expect him to do. Make sure that when you bring him outside that he is on a leash and that you use a specific command, such as "potty" (every time). If you use the same command he will learn its meaning quicker too. If you use the command it must mean that you are there every time he goes outside to relieve himself. Yep...that's right rain, sleet, shine or snow. It is you and him together. As soon as successfully eliminates him self, immediately praise him (a lot). Then, take him back in the house. If your puppy does not eliminate within 15 minutes, bring him back in and immediately crate him. Bring him back outside after another 15 minutes has passed. Keep doing this until he eliminates.
3. I recommend that you feed your puppy in his crate as well. His crate is his space. He can eat comfortably with out having to rush. This is an especially good idea if there are other animals in the home. Remove any uneaten food after approximately 20 minutes, and throw it away. You will give him fresh food at supper-time. It is important that you lay out a meal schedule for him. Having regulated meals at the same time everyday is good for him and it will help keep his bowel movements regulated as well.
4. Within 10 minutes after your puppy eats, grab your leash and him and bring him outside. They are usually like clockwork regarding bowel movements. If you put them on a meal schedule it will make it easier for you to judge how many bowel movements they will have and when.
5. Your puppy should NEVER be punished for a mistake. Remember that you are the teacher and he is the student. Clean up the mess and write it off as an accident.
Housetraining:
� Housetraining is finding a means of preventing your puppy from doing his duties in the house and giving him only an opportunity to do it outside. Dogs are strong creatures of habit and because he learns by association will soon understand that the only place to relieve himself is outside.
� Crate training is the first step in housetraining. By crating your puppy you take advantage of his natural instinct, to keep his sleeping quarters clean.
� Once your puppy masters the art of crate training, you should bring him outside to do his duties before bedtime, first thing in the morning, after naps, and after meals.
� While house training, your puppy should get some freedom in the house. Just designate an area such as the kitchen, and/or living room. Before you give him free run of the house make sure he has recently eliminated, this will prevent the likelihood of an accident occurring. He needs and deserves your human interaction. So take the time to join him in his playing.
� Stick with the crate training for at least 2 weeks, giving him his playtime during the daytime hours, and crating him at night or when you are away.
� You will gradually increase his freedom over the months to come. As he becomes more and more reliable, you can start introducing him to other rooms of the house, but under strict supervision.
� Do not give him any food after 6:00 p.m. It takes a dog about 6 hours to digest his food and have an elimination. Any food after 6:00 p.m. may give him an unexpected urge after he is put to bed.
� You have been working really hard over the last few weeks, and your puppy is surely learning the rules of the house by now. Now, if he has an accident, and you catch him in the act, with a loud "NO" put him outside at once. This applies whether the mistake is messing on the floor or chewing on your favorite shoes.
� During periods of freedom watch for any circling around, sudden loss of interest in a toy, or going toward the door. These are signs that he needs to go out.
Housetraining takes lots of encouragement, praise and patience on your part. Just keep in mind that you can do it!!