Crate Training

Your puppy should be in the crate or in a small area with a washable surface, puppy pens are great, as the crate can be too confining if you are gone long hours during the day.  A small puppy needs to have time to exercise and play, not just be confined for the entire night and day in his kennel.  Use loads of common sense, young children and young puppies both need to use up their energy to be healthy and happy, while you are at work, sleeping, or anytime you are not able to watch him, keep your puppy in his kennel at night, and in a slightly larger area during the day, either a laundry room with a baby gate, set the open crate on one side, along with toys and water dish, puppy pads or paper a few feet away if you are going to be gone more than 2 hours. The crate is fine again, for overnight, and up to 2 hours at a time during the day.  Remember, too much crate time though is not a good thing!

Dogs are den animals, so being in a crate is natural for them. Puppies will cry and want to be released at first, but be patient; it will get used to being in the crate and come to enjoy it. Make the crate a happy place, not a punishment. Teach your puppy a command when going in the crate, for example, kennel or go to your room; this will make it easier than trying to force or push the dog into the crate later. Also, dogs are pack animals so it’s helpful if you keep the crate in the bedroom where the rest of the “pack” is sleeping. This is a tough one in the beginning because the puppy will cry and you will be tempted to let it out. Tough love, if the puppy is loose in the house then it will have the opportunity to potty anywhere it pleases. Keep the puppy crated at night until it can be trusted in the house. You may have to let the pup outside during the night and during your lunch break during the day. Be prepared to lose some sleep, like I said, it’s like having a new baby.

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