Box Training Your Puppy

Box training your puppy, early in life, is the best way to start what will be a long period of training, as he grows up to adulthood. It is the best way to start his training, and will make the rest of the process much easier. It is the basis for all the rest of his training.

Starting your puppy in box training when he is young will put you in the position of pack leader. Box training also benefits the pup, because he gets to know the routine and loves to have a schedule which he understands. He knows what is happening and that it is predictable, which he loves. This also produces a really well behaved pup.

You will need a good strong box or better still a metal dog carrier type cage. The metal cage can't be chewed which gives it an advantage over wood. A dog transportation cage with a lock on the door is ideal. It must be large enough so that the pup can stand up and move around a little. Anything bigger is not suitable as the puppy will be able to wander around which makes house training more difficult.

A correctly sized box becomes the pups bed where he will not mess. He learns to hold it until he gets out, which you must make sure is not more than an hour or so, when he is under two months old. If left too long he will have to go and will mess in the box because he has no other option. As he gets older he will be able to stay in the box longer without problems.

Make the box a pleasant experience for him. Give him a sleeping pad and a treat such as a few dog biscuits or a bone when he goes in there. In fact placing a treat in there is a good way to introduce him to the box. He can go in himself to get the treat. Don't close the door the first few times, let him wander freely for some time.

When he goes in the box praise him and make it really pleasant for him. Then start shutting the door and continue to praise him and talk quietly to him. In 20 seconds or so, let him out again and just give him a pat. Leave the door closed for gradually longer periods, but not long enough to upset him.

For the first day do this a number of times. Every training period should be a happy and pleasant experience for him. When he realises that the box is his private place, he will enter it on his own, with the expectation that he will get attention and a treat. When he goes in talk to him, while offering him his treat. Soon you can start to leave the room when he is in there, for a couple of minutes, and gradually increase the time. When you come back, don't fuss over him, just walk in and open the box. It should take about 3 days to complete this training to the point where you can leave him for an hour or so. Slowly make the time longer and he will finally be fully box trained.

Your puppy will love his box and will feel very safe in it. If you leave your puppy alone, he will quite naturally experience some separation anxiety. This can cause bad behavioral traits such as chewing things around the house or messing. When in his box, he has a sense of safety because nothing can harm him in there. He will just go to sleep or chew his treat while waiting for you to come back.

If he has to be left at the vet, if not box trained he will be very anxious and will cry. He feels lost and alone. If he is box trained, he knows you will come back as always so he is not troubled nearly as much.

The box must always be associated with good pleasant things. It must never be used to punish the animal. Don't leave the puppy in there for more than 2 hours or so, just enough time for a sleep and a bit of treat chewing. If left too long he will cry and you must not let him out not when he is crying. He will think he has to cry to get out. Be sure he is being well behaved when you open the box. This way he learns to be quiet to get out of the box.

Don't make a fuss when you let him out, just open the door and take him out to mess. Give him lots of praise and petting when he messes. Dogs will not go where they sleep which is in the box, but it may happen if there is no other option. Certainly you must not scold him. Clean out the box quietly while he is outside and he will learn to do things the right way. Box training in this manner is by far the best thing you can do for your puppy and will have a positive influence on him for the rest of his life.

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