The Crate Method of Training a Puppy
One of the major challenges of dog ownership (particularly for first-time owners) is the issue of house training. If you equip yourself with some rudimentary knowledge and a positive attitude, though, it’s a lot easier than most people make it out to be.
Among the various house training programs available, one method stands out above the rest. It’s known as the crate method. This method has been proven to be the easiest and most effective means of potty training a puppy in the shortest period of time. Basically, what this method consists of is confining your puppy in a small indoor kennel, known as the crate, when she is not involved with other family fun activities.
Dogs, like all animals, have certain built-in instincts. One of those is that in most cases they refuse to soil the area where they normally sleep. Since your puppy will be spending a large portion of her early life inside the crate, she’ll by nature “hold it in”, and not go to the bathroom until she’s been let out of the crate (and placed outside).
When choosing a crate, make sure you get one that will allow your new puppy to grow to her full size without having to replace the crate. Be sure it has enough space for your dog to easily stand up and move around a bit. As the dog gets bigger, you don’t want her being housed in a crate that’s too confining.
Because the adult dog is likely to be considerably larger than the puppy, it’ll most likely be necessary for you to use a barrier to reduce the internal size of the crate. A wire grille or board will do just fine. Alternatively, you can use a cheap crate (or even make one yourself) and replace it with a larger model as your puppy grows.
Crate training works like this: your puppy is in that crate at all times unless she’s sleeping, eating, outside with you going to the toilet, or being played with (active supervision). You’ll need to be consistent, or else it won’t work: you can’t let your puppy wander off through the house unless you’re focusing your complete attention on her. If you allow her access to the house before she’s thoroughly house trained, you’re basically encouraging her to relieve herself inside – and remember, each time she does this, it’ll be easier for her to do it again (and again and again ).
This doesn’t mean that you should keep your puppy in her crate all day long. She should be taken out every two to three hours to stretch her legs, and given the opportunity to go to the bathroom. At night time, however, you’ll find that your puppy will usually sleep through the night no problem. Just keep an ear open for her. If you hear her whining, put her outside quickly.
Training a puppy using the crate training method is not an overnight solution. It can take up to two months maximum, usually less, for this process to work. But that a short time considering the number of years she’ll be part of your family. As you progress with your crate training, you can begin to reduce the amount of time the puppy is in the crate, but make sure you continue to monitor her while she’s not in the crate. After all that hard work, you’d hate to start back one square one again because she starts going to the bathroom in the house.
Guide To Responsible Pet Ownership
