Puppy Crate Training Made Easy

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     Before you bring your puppy home, take some time to learn more about crate training. Puppy crate training can help your dog be happier, feel safer and more comfortable. It can also end up protecting your furniture, carpets, clothes and shoes.

If you have been planning getting a dog for some time, you already know what kind of dog you want. Be sure, before you bring the dog home, to have a good quality crate ready for them. A comfortable dog crate will allow it to grow to its full size and to be able to turn around. To make the crate more comfortable for your beloved pet, cushion the crate with a towel or blanket that carries your scent.

When you first bring that puppy home, it is quite frightened out in the open areas of your home. Before you ever leave it alone for any period of time, make sure that you spend time on the floor with it, letting it explore the different sections of your house. Introduce them to the crate, being certain to give them praise for checking it out. Make happy noises at them and let them know that the crate is their place. Leave the door open for them to explore and come back to you. In this way, the crate becomes their "den", their safe place when they are afraid, scared, lonely or just needing a rest.

There are many varieties of crates. Each one offers different features that can benefit you and your dog. If you have a very furry dog, you will probably not want a crate that is completely enclosed in the heat of summer. If you have a chihuahua, you will probably not want a wire cage outside in winter. Choose the type of crate that best suits your dog's needs either inside or outside.

Crates make it easier for you to potty train your pet. As most dogs despise soiling their sleeping quarters, you can help your puppy learn how to go outside quickly by using crate training at night and immediately letting them out to do their business in the morning. Make sure that you praise their success, and reward them appropriately. This will help them to identify that they need to go outside rather than inside on the floor, carpet or in your shoe.

You can also discourage bad behaviour by using the crate as a place for short time outs. This is especially helpful when you are having to deal with the disaster in the living room upon coming home. Or, it can be used to stop the dog from yapping incessantly at the letter carrier.

Bedtime can be a good time for your dog if you use a crate. Rather than having to deal with a dog that constantly jumps up on the bed and steals the sheets, you can get a good nights' sleep. Make sure that the crate is comfortable for your pet and offer them an incentive to go in at night. Praise them for being quiet, and be quick to let them out in the morning so that they do not spend too long in the crate overall.