10 Tips to Help Crate Train Your Puppy

Here at Roberts Country Kennels, we feel that crate training your new puppy is very important. Crate Training provides your pup with a safe place to go when you aren't around. Dogs naturally want to keep their living spaces clean, providing them with a crate is a safe and effective way to keep your home damage free while you aren't around to keep a hawk eye on your furry friend.

1. Choosing the Best Crate

When crate training your puppy, it is important to pick the right sized crate. It is important to pick a crate that will fit your puppies growing needs. Moving into a new home, into a new environment can make your puppy have a lot of anxiety. A crate will allow them to feel safe, while also providing you with extra potty-training help. Your new puppy will want to feel safe and protected. A huge crate will make them feel small and it will induce extra anxiety. You can fill the crate with boxes to occupy the extra space. The overall goal in crate training is to provide your puppy with a safe place to go when they are feeling uneasy. Some situations would be: When you are away and when you are having new people over to visit. The size of the crate will make a huge difference.

2. Teach Your Puppy to Love the Crate

One of the most important parts in the crate training process is providing a positive experience for your puppy. Start by creating a positive environment for your puppy. You can line the crate with blankets and place a few toys inside to make it cozy and comfortable. We like to cover the crate with blankets to provide the puppy with a “den” like environment. If you choose this route, make sure that the crate is well ventilated and not too hot. Placing a cordless fan inside of the crate will help in this situation. The first time you introduce your puppy to the crate, make it a positive experience. Offer the puppy a treat to go inside and distract him/her with toys. We like to start the pup off with small time increments and work up to longer periods of time until they are fully aware of the crates purpose and what to do. Once they are completely crate trained, you will be able to leave the crate door open, so that your puppy can go in and out if needed. When you take the puppy out of the crate, make sure to immediately take him out to use the bathroom. The puppy will then associate that he needs to use the bathroom outside instead of inside the house. Also, always remember to praise your pup and reward him with treats after he uses the bathroom outside. It’s also helpful to leave your pup in their crate overnight. They may cry at first, but don’t give in to them. If you take them out because they cry, they will associate their crying to be let out of the crate. One tip is to ignore them. Don’t talk to them. They will see that they aren’t going to be let out of the crate, so they will begin to quiet down.

3. Refrain from feeding your puppy before bed

If you feed your puppy before going to bed, he will have to use the bathroom when he is in the crate. Cut off his food and water at least an hour and a half before bed time. This will prevent him from having any unexpected bathroom visits in the middle of the night. Most puppies at the age of 4 months old can sleep through the night without having to use the bathroom.

4. Play with your puppy before bed to tire him out

Playing with your puppy before he goes to bed will tire him out and will allow him to go to sleep quicker. Puppies have lots of energy. They are like children. Many parents will tell you that their kids sleep better after a long day. It is the same with your puppy. Tire them out, and they will sleep like babies.

5. Place the Crate Near Your Bed

Puppies instinctively want to be near their owners at all times. Placing their crate near your bed will allow them to be near you and help them to fall asleep. Dogs feel as if they need to protect you. Being near you at night will help in this aspect.

6. Feed Your Puppy All of His Meals in the Crate

Another tip is to feed your puppy all his meals in the crate. In doing so, you create a positive environment where he associates the crate as a “Good” thing. After some time, he will enter his crate without any food or forcing.

7. During your puppy’s naptime, move him to the crate.

During the day when your puppy takes his nap, try moving him to his crate. Leave the crate door open, this will create a positive experience for your puppy and he will soon enter the crate on his own.

8. Lie Next to His Crate

When your puppy takes his nap, try leaving the crate door open, but lying in front of the opening as if to nap with him. In doing so, you will create a more comfortable experience and at the same time block the doorway.

9. If your puppy is in the crate and he’s not crying, praise him

If your puppy is in the crate and he’s not having a fit, Praise him. Positive reinforcement is the key in training your puppy when he is young and old. You should always praise you dog when he does something good. He will then perform the wanted action on his own.

10. Have patience

Never lose your patience. Learning takes time and effort. Owning a puppy takes a lot of patience. If you follow all the important instructions and do lots of research, you will have a crate trained puppy that will enjoy their crate for many years to come. Their may be difficult times when you feel like you just can’t take it anymore. Keep pushing through it because owning a pet is very rewarding. They will be your best friend for life.