Crate training your puppy
I meet with new puppy owners all the time who feel incredibly overwhelmed because their puppy is constantly having accidents in the home, destroying their belongings, and disrupting their routine. While raising a puppy will definitely modify your routine, you do not have to compromise your quality of life or feel stuck at home just because you got a new puppy!
Crate training is one of the most useful practices you can invest in when raising your new puppy. A puppy who is properly crate trained is less destructive in your house, becomes potty trained more quickly, and is less likely to have separation anxiety. And you are more likely to get a good nights sleep, and maintain your normal life activities without too much disruption.
So, how do you begin? Let me simplify crate training for you by giving you some simple “Do’s” and “Don’ts".
Do:
Buy a crate that is adjustable in size — some puppies need crates that they can just enter and turn around in, because if there is too much space in the crate, they will potty in it.
Cover your crate — puppies who can’t see out of the crate usually feel more secure. Make sure that you’re using a cover that securely fits the crate and or cannot be pulled inside—some puppies like to pull blankets inside which can be a hazard if they tear it up and want to consume it.
Practice when your puppy is sleepy — putting a super wound up puppy in the crate can make your job a lot harder—that is, unless your puppy is wild because they are cranky and need a nap!
Make going in the crate a positive experience — Throw treats in when you’re putting your puppy in there, and give them high value treats and chews in there
Put the crate in a quiet part of the house, or use a little white noise machine next to it if you can’t. Trust me, this helps A LOT!
Put your puppy in the crate when unsupervised, unless you know they have thoroughly gone to the bathroom and you have a secure space for them where they can’t get into trouble, like a puppy pen or penned in part of the house.
Use the crate if you just want a break, or are not in the mood to supervise or play with your puppy! It’s a lot better to put your puppy away with a nice bone or toy rather than keep them out and lose your temper with them.
Take them potty before and after using the crate
Don’t
Angrily put your puppy in their crate — the crate is not punishment! Even if your puppy is on your last nerve, take a deep breath, throw some treats in, and put them in the crate.
Use really expensive bedding for new puppies — some puppies can’t have any bedding at all, because they will tear it up or go to the bathroom on it. “Primo Pads” make crate pads that can fit precisely in crates and even be secured so that they can’t be chewed up
Let your puppy out if they are crying or barking if you have just taken them potty. While I do want puppies to be able to communicate when they need to be let out to go potty, if I know they have just gone to the bathroom, I don’t want to let them out when they cry or bark, because I don’t want to teach them that crying or barking always lets them out.
