Puppy crate training is a very effective way of puppy potty training if you know what you are doing. Crate training can even work if you are trying to potty train an older dog.
One of the advantages of crate training is that you do not need to be fully focused on the puppy at all times. If you can’t get time off work or have busy family crate training may be best for you.
Why Puppy Crate Training Works
Crate training works because dogs are smart, they don’t like to soil their beds, and they would rather soil your floor! Because the puppy does not want to soil the crate it learns it can control itself. Even though the puppy wants to go it soon realises it can hold it in.
When choosing a crate it’s important to choose one that is reasonably small it should be just big enough to lay down in. If you get a large crate the puppy will soil one end and sleep at the other. These days you can get adjustable crates so it can grow with the puppy.
Crate Training Warning
Bigger crates can lead to serious problems. The puppy will do their business away from where they sleep but will eventually step in it and walk it around the crate. This leads to long term behavioural problems as they get used to being covered in excrement. This is something you want to avoid at all costs.
During the potty training period the puppy is placed in the crate whenever you can’t keep a close eye on it. Before you put them in the crate it’s important you use the “outside” command and take them outside. When you take them out of the crate also take them outside immediately.
Remember if they succeed when they are outside give them instant praise, reinforcing the good behaviour.
When the puppy is in the crate don’t put any food or water in the crate, just give them a blanket and perhaps a toy.
At night time the puppy goes back in the crate. When they are young puppies you will have to take them out of the crate 2 or 3 times a night to go outside.
If during the puppy crate training the dog does go in the crate you must make sure you clean it thoroughly and make sure no odour remains. As you have probably noticed dogs tend to go in spots that have already been marked with odour, we don’t want the crate to be one of those places.
I have only covered the basics of crate training here but I hope it shows you how effective puppy crate training can be. If you’re serious about puppy toilet training I would recommend you get some local advice or check out the program that helped me train my puppies so quickly, you can visit their website by CLICKING HERE.
