Crate Training a Puppy.

kennel training a puppy makes all following steps in dog’s training so much easier, much like a solid foundation makes for a superior wall.

Establishing you as the Alpha member of his “pack” is one very good reason for starting your puppy in a kennel when he is very young.

A further reason for crate training is that dogs need predictability.

To know what is going to happen in any given situation makes him/her happy, and more apt to be the best-behaved dog s/he can possibly be.

A strong crate is the foundation of good puppy training. A wire crate with a lock is the best kind.  Check that it is large enough for him/her to stand up and turn around. But it shouldn’t be so large that it may enable he/she to roam and wander around. A too-large crate will inhibit house breaking.

A crate that is just the adequate size will be perceived as his/her “nest”, where puppies never “go potty”. They will learn to hold it if you don’t turn it into a prison.

Do not leave a puppy under 8 weeks, for more than one hour in his/her crate. He/She will make it itws own, after struggling and moaning as long as he can.

Put a nice pad in there with a bone. Start with placing a tasty treat in there, he/she will go in and get it. Do this repeatedly for some time without closing the door, let it come in and out freely for about an hour. Compliment it each time s/he goes in making it all quite pleasant.

Then when its attention is on its treat, close the door. Praise it quietly, “What a good boy/girl, it’s ok, such a good boy/girl!” In 10 or 20 seconds, no longer, let it out without praising, just a pat.Do this for increasingly longer intervals, but do not give him/her a chance to get upset. This can be done several times the very first day.

Make sure every training session ends on a happy note; this is essential.

Once it sees the crate is its own private territory, it will get in there on his/her own, expecting treats and your attention. When it does, say, “Wanna crate?” with a happy face while offering its treats. Start leaving it in there on its own as from 2 minutes, increasing the time gradually. When you return, don’t make a fuss, just walk over and open the crate. In 3 days it will be officially crate-trained, ready to be left alone for an hour, no longer at first. Leave it gradually for longer intervals, slowly and carefully.

  Why do I want a crate for my puppy? The best reason is because they love it.

They feel very safe and confident in there.

When you leave a puppy alone, |it[he/she] always has some measure of separation anxiety. This may lead ithim to any behavior that brings him/her comfort like chewing, digging, or when it is severe, voiding its bowels.

When placed in a crate, he/she will feel safe because nothing can get to him/her, nothing can harm him/her. He/She will sleep and chew and wait for you to come back. When leaving him/her overnight at the vet, if your dog is not crate trained he/she will cry the entire time, feeling lost and abandoned.

If your dog is crate trained, it is confident that you will return, you always do. The vet’s office is strange and will cause him/her some anxiety, but nothing like the pure terror it will feel without experience in being locked in.

While crate training your puppy, do not make a prison of its crate.Do not use it as punishment. Don’t leave it there for more than 2 hours, just time for a long puppy nap and some chew time.   After that, it will cry. Do not remove him/her while he is crying. This will make it think he has to cry to get out. No matter what, make sure it is being good when you open the door. It will learn it that crying won’t get itout.Do not make a fuss when you are letting it out, just quietly open the door and take it out to potty.   When it potties, praise it to high heaven! Dogs naturally do not go where they nest, but sometimes it happens.  Don’t scold, just clean it out with a bland face. He/She will have learnt the lesson. If possible, try to clean it while he/she is outside so it returns to a clean crate.

crate training your puppyis crucial for a dog’s well-being.