Housetrain Your Dog with Crate Training

By Ken Charles
Crate Training can be used as an adjunct to House Training puppies. By instinct, most dogs do not want to defecate or urinate in their den -- in this case, the crate.

The puppy will stay in the crate while he is not being fed or watched but each stay in the crate should be of short duration. When the puppy needs to go, take him to his usual area and give him the same command every time. Make a great fuss of the dog when he has completed his toilet.

Until housebroken, the puppy is either in the crate or is closely supervised.

Before the puppy goes in the crate, give him plenty of attention and play (and time for toilet), so that he is ready to rest and take it easy and goes into his crate willingly.

For maximum effectiveness, the crate must be just large enough for the puppy to be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. If there is too much space, the puppy might use the unoccupied end as a bathroom.

Crates can be either metal or plastic. A nervous or apprehensive puppy will likely be more settled in his crate if he can see all that's going on around him. A plastic crate is easier to clean and keep sterile - this is also a requirement for airplane travel.

As an owner, you must pay careful attention to the frequency of your puppy's need to go outside, so that you can anticipate his next visit. Even a confined puppy has a difficult time controlling its urination and defecation. Control gets better as the puppy gets older, but it is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the puppy has ample opportunities to eliminate outside the crate.

Toys and soft material for bedding in the crate make it more comforting for a dog or puppy. Crate Training must not be a stressful experience for the dog.

Even an adult dog, when ill or affected by certain medications, can end up soiling the crate, making the dog uncomfortable both physically and mentally, if the owner isn't vigilant and aware of the dog's needs.

It is important not to misuse the crate by turning it into a prison. There is some disagreement among trainers regarding when the door of the crate should be closed. Some trainers advocate only closing the crate when the owner is in the house but others disagree.

Simple confinement is not the same as crate training. Sometimes the puppy has to be kept in his crate if he is not yet house -broken.

The crate is not designed for locking the dog in and leaving him for extended periods; if the dog isn't let out when it needs to relieve itself the training will be set back weeks or even months. To avoid this, make a diary of your puppy's frequency of toiletting

When not confined, then make sure he is taken from his crate to your designated toilet area at these intervals. Being in a crate will not mean he needs to toilet less frequently!

No dog should ever be confined to a crate for a longer period than their owner can 'hang on' without needing to use the lavatory.

Ken's website has free information on Dog Training, Dog Breeds, Dog Food and Dog Health. Find more useful links at => http://allabout-dogs.co.uk/crate-training

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