How to Crate Train your Puppy
The following are general guidelines in crate training your puppy. Each pet is different and may require different techniques, but these guidelines should help to get you started with crate training your puppy.
INTRODUCE YOUR PUPPY TO THE CRATE
Introduce your puppy from the start to his new “home”. Almost without trying he will train himself to seek security and comfort inside his little “dog room”. Encourage your puppy to go into his home on his own. If necessary, toss a little treat in the home. DON’T FORCE HIM! He may quickly back out or be shy, but that is normal. Just take it slowly. At first don’t close the door on him, let him go in and out on his own. Once he is happy and unafraid of his new home, simply restrain him at the door with your hand. Make him stay in the home for a few minutes, then gradually increase the time and be sure to praise him! Once he is comfortable with this (probably a few hours or days of short training sessions), simply restrain him at the door with the door–again giving him a lot of praise. Soon he will be secure in his home with the door closed. Slowly you can get further and further away from him, always praising his accepting behavior. Eventually the puppy will sit quietly and sleep in his home with the door closed. Sometimes it is helpful to have his favorite toy or special pillow/blanket in with him.
NOTE: When selecting a crate, be sure to select a crate that will grow with your puppy. You can purchase divider panels if your puppy will grow to be a large adult. This way your puppy can feel safe and secure in one part of the crate and not eliminate in his area.
POTTY BREAKS
Understand that little puppies need to “go” about every 2-4 hours. On a schedule (such as after feeding, before bedtime, first thing in the morning) let your puppy out, teach him the way to the door, praise him at the door, and take him out to the part of the yard you want him to use. Very quickly, you are teaching him an elimination schedule that will stay with him for the rest of his life.
As your puppy gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually leave him in his home for longer periods of time because he can “hold it” longer. Sooner he can be home in his home all day, if necessary, until someone arrives to let him out.
David
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-crate-train-your-puppy-59158.html
How do you crate train your puppy? What is crate training?
First of all, what is crate training? Then how do you crate train a puppy? How is it useful? I know i can just search this on internet, but i find it easier to understand and more helpful from answers from yahoo answers, because there are varieties of answers from different ppl’s view and opinion.
Crate training is getting a cage, or "crate" and putting the puppy in it when you are not able to physically watch him. Crate training takes advantage of a dogs natural den instincts. They don’t want to pee or poop in their "dens", so they try to hold it as long as possible. You need to remember that:
1. Crates are a safe place, not a place of punishment. Crates are not a "jail".
2. Crates are a training tool only, and not a place for the puppy to live in 24/7. The puppy should be out of the crate as much as possible, but in order for him to learn, you must keep your eye on him at all times.
3. Be fair. Take the puppy out frequently and have lots of play and exercise time.
4. Make the crate a happy place where the puppy has special chew toys and treats.
5. Don’t leave young puppies in the crate for more than 3-4 hours at a time.
6. Crates also prevent destructive chewing–they can’t physically chew the wrong things when you aren’t there to watch.
7. As the pup matures, teach him to be well behaved outside the crate, and begin to trust him a little bit at a time.
More info here:
http://www.siriuspup.com/behavior_problems.html
References :
Lots of experience training many dogs
The crate is mostly used to keep the dog in overnight, during the day when you are at work, or when no one is able to supervise your dog. It helps prevents accidents all over the house and keeps your do safe (from roaming free and getting into trouble, chewing on things, etc). You need to get your puppy use to the crate by putting it in it often. Usually playing with the dog while in it will help it know that that is its area. You could also throw treats in there as well. If you notice your dog is sleepy and about to fall asleep, this is a good time to put them in the kennel. If you sufficiently train your dog he/she will love its crate and eventually go in on its own when it is tired or wants to be alone.
References :
When you crate train your dog, you are basically leaving him in a crate to help house break him. Your puppy should be left in the crate unless you are actively playing with him or taking him out to do his business. If your puppy has an accident, it’s in the crate, so it’s relatively easy to clean. It also gives him a safe place to be when you are gone where you know he can’t get into any trouble or into anything that will hurt him.
Some people think it’s cruel to leave them there, but it’s really not a bad thing. We crate trained our older dog, and he loved his crate. Even as he got older, he would go to his crate when he was tired or just wanted to get away from our daughter. We’d tell him to "go to his room" and he’d run in. Our younger dog was a rescue and was already house broken, but we would put him in the crate while we weren’t home for the first couple months until he got used to the house rules. Just make sure they have plenty of water and a soft blanket or mattress to sleep on.
References :
hi,i have used a crate for all 3 of my puppies,two of them are full grown now and have 1 puppy that is 6 months old.i had my babies in the crate at night,somtimes in my bedroom and sometimes in the living room.when you go to bed at night and if you have a clothes dryer,put in some towels or whatever and put it on the longest time setting(don’t forget to turn off the buzzer),puppies like the sound and vibrations of the dryer and they will sleep all night.you will need to feed your baby in the crate until they get used to staying focused on eating in the morning and not wanting to play,after they eat,time to go outside and go wet,back in the crate while your at work,put in a towel and water,after a awhile they say to themselves,i have to eat and sleep here,i don’t want to go wet in here,but this does not mean you can be gone for 12 hours,more like 8 to 10 hours max! once you get home at night,its’ time to go wet outside,remember to say go wet all the time and go out the same door all of the time. when you feed at night,do so in the crate until they can stay focused on eating and not wanting to play.i am sure that you have found out by now that your baby will pee after eating and alittle of playing,so you have to ever watchful.good luck with your baby. mark
References :
I just wanted to add to some of the answers you received, you should not leave water in the crate with your puppy. The puppy will drink all the water and have to go to the bathroom. They can be left without water in the crate for a few hours at a time till they are housebroken. It makes it easier on them to hold it if they do not have as much to hold. This is not a cruel practice and I have crate trained many dogs over the years.
References :
worked in a pet store and owned a pet store for over 12 years