Pampered Dog Blog

Crate training, also called kennel training, teaches a dog to spend time in a plastic, wooden or wire enclosure called a dog crate. A common misconception is that this is cruel, when in fact dogs actually love the security of the crate.

The crate is just a way of recreating what wild dogs have always done – seek out a warm, secure den in which to curl up.

When should you start crate training? On the first night you bring your pup home. You should of course have already bought a crate, and hopefully you got one with a sliding panel. Adjust the panel so that you give the puppy just enough space to lie down and turn around. Don’t be tempted to give the pup more space than that.

Don’t put a blanket and pillow in the crate, rather use a soft towel which is better at absorbing any spills.If you bought your puppy from a breeder try to get a strip of blanket with the mother’s scent on it. This will be a comfort to your puppy as she settles in.

Often dog owners put the crate in some secluded corner of the house – this is a mistake. Remember that dogs are social animals and thrive on interaction. Pick a spot where there are plenty of comings and goings, so the puppy doesn’t feel left out.

At night you should put the crate in your bedroom – at least in the early weeks. The puppy will kick up a fuss at first. This is only to be expected, as she’ll be frightened by her new surroundings and most likely missing her mom and littermates.

Don’t pander to every cry though, or you will be up half the night once she figures out that you come running every time she cries.

Within a day or two, your pup will be used to the crate and within a few weeks you can move her out of the bedroom. She’ll probably kick up a fuss again, but provided you don’t respond to her cries, she will get used to the idea quite quickly.

Soon the crate will be her favorite spot in to whole house, and you’ll find it’s where she prefers sleeping.

Another benefit of crate training is that it makes potty training so much easier. Dogs are hygienic animals. They will not ‘go’ in their sleeping area. So crate training teaches your puppy to ‘hold it in’, from an early age.

Bear in mind that she won’t be able to control her bladder like an adult dog, so don’t leave her unattended in the crate for longer than a hour.

When she kicks up a fuss take her outside straight away. You’ll reap the benefits when you start potty training later on.

If you want to discover more about crate training puppies, dog care, types of dogs and other interesting dog information visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com