CrateTraining

Dogs in the wild live in a den. Although your dog and his breed are centuries removed from being wild, a "den" can still make him feel safe and secure. In your home, you need to choose what his den will be. A shipping kennel, usually referred to as a crate, is a good option for this, but it will take some training for both of you.

Crate training begins right when you bring your puppy home. You should encourage him to sleep and rest in the crate. But remember that he should be coaxed in, not forced. Use a small treat and always give him lots of praise. At first, he may try to back out, or become very timid. It's OK. Just give him a little time, and he'll eventually go in on his own.

In the beginning, don't close the door to the crate. Let him go in and out as he pleases, until he's comfortable with this situation. Once he appears to be comfortable, you can restrain him with your hand in the doorway. Eventually, he will feel comfortable enough to have the door closed.

Although a puppy instinctively knows not to "mess" in the crate, he/she does need to go out every 2-4 hours while young. Take him out frequently, and this will help get him on a schedule. Another side benefit of the crate is that he will not be able to destroy things, when unsupervised. However, puppies still need to chew on something at times-even if your shoes aren't the best choice. Put a chew toy in the crate with him, then he can satisfy his need to chew without costing you a pair of shoes. With a little patience, praise, and training your puppy will learn to use the crate as his den. As your puppy grows up, he/she will enjoy going to this safe haven to rest or take a break from a rough day of play.

A crate gives you a place to keep your dog when you are away from home, and it also greatly helps with housetraining the puppy. You need to get a dog crate that matches the adult size of your dog, not the puppy size. Place a towel or rug inside the crate along with a small bowl of water and food. This introduces your dog to the crate in a non-threatening manner, allowing him to enter and leave as he pleases.

While training, never just lock your puppy in the crate. This will cause him to panic and the crate training process will be set back months. As your puppy becomes more comfortable with the crate, begin closing the door when he goes in. You should try doing this for short periods of time only, and be sure to praise him while he is inside. When he begins to get upset, just open the door and let him leave. Once your dog is comfortable with the crate, he will think of it as his den and will actually want to go inside.

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