Crate Training Puppies: a Good Idea

If you've ever thought that crate training puppies might be a good idea, that's absolutely true. If you have the right training and expertise, you can teach your puppy or dog to view his or her crate as a place to be secure. For this, you need the correct approach. If you use the wrong one, this can mean disaster for your puppy and you as well.

Perhaps the first thing that's important when it comes to crate training puppies is that the crate should never be used as punishment. Gradually and gently introduce crate training to your puppy as a concept. Primarily use the crate to potty train your puppy; this process should be happy and positive for your puppy, especially if you want your puppy to think of the crate as a safe place.

Your puppy should have a nice balance between activity time and crate time because dogs require an ample amount of exercise time in order for them to continue to be healthy. This is an essential part of properly crate training your puppy and potty training him or her. Being in the crate for too long or too often can actually have a negative effect on your dog's personality and behavior as a puppy.

By the same token, if your dog is let out of the crate too often, this may give him or her a chance to get into trouble. It may also make your dog insecure or overwhelmed. When crate training puppies, here are some tips that should make the process go smoothly.

If you can't be present to supervise your puppy, make sure that the puppy is in his or her crate. The same should be true if you actually have a grown dog and not a puppy. Unless your dog is very reliable in terms of his or her potty training, limit freedom outside of the crate so that you can make sure there aren't accidents.

Choose a crate that fits your dog's size and weight. This may mean that you'll buy larger crates as your dog grows. Don't buy a crate that's too large or too small for your dog. There are crates that are adjustable, but these are not normally enclosed. They do not give your dog the same level of security that a normal training crate would provide.

If you don't know how long you should leave your dog in his or her crate at a stretch, use your dog's age to set a good time. Loosely base it on months of age to hours of time. For example, a one-month-old puppy can be crated for about an hour, while a 12-month-old puppy can be crated for much longer periods of time.

Never use your dog's crate to punish him or her. Do not bang on or shake the crate, either. The crate is meant to be a place of safety, and violating it in such a fashion can lead to other behavioral problems as your dog ages.

About the Author

Your Dog Training Diva is the author of educational articles on dog training. Click Crate Training Puppies to learn more about this subject and other dog behaviors.