Potty Training Your Puppy with a Crate

The easiest and most beneficial way to house break puppy is to use the crate training method. This method works very well and very quickly. The dog is a social gregarious animal, striving to be a part of the pack at all times. People in the family and/or home are seen as part of the pack by the dog. That being said, dogs also need a space they can call their own. Most dogs love there kennels and will often retreat into their 'cave' as a place to relax and not be bothered. A kennel can be beneficial for several reasons beyond potty training. Aside from being a dog's comfort zone for rest, this training will come in handy frequently throughout the dog's life for you and the dog.

To begin, you will need to have a crate or kennel of appropriate size. When you go to purchase the crate keep in mind how large the puppy will grow to be in it's adult life, as a dog. This way you will only have to buy one kennel for the dog. There are several types of kennel construction methods and materials. Some common types are made from metal, or a 'wire crate', plastic, cloth, and wood. While training a puppy, cleanliness is an important factor. A wire crate often comes with a plastic liner at the bottom. A plastic crate is easy to wipe down and dry. Buying a crate new at the pet store can often bee a pain in your pocketbook, with prices ranging anywhere from about $40.00 all the way to $200.00. Checking your local newspaper classifieds or craigslist may help you save a few bucks if your in a pinch. If you decide to go the pre-owned route however, be sure to adequately clean the crate with a 1:4 part bleach/water ratio mixture.

First step: Introducing Your Puppy

The objective here is to make the crate a happy place! The crate should NEVER be used as a method of punishment. If the puppy begins to associate fear or negativity with the crate, you may be creating future anxiety issues. A good way to begin is placing the food dish just inside the kennel at the time of feeding. The puppy may need encouragement at first, so your presence and positive reinforcement may be helpful. As the puppy becomes more receptive and comfortable with the crate, you can move the dish a little further inside the crate through each feeding. The amount of time it takes a dog or puppy to become comfortable with the crate is totally variable upon each dog. It may be the same day, it may be multiple days. However long, be patient.

Step Two: Getting Used to the Kennel

Once the puppy is OK with being inside the kennel, try shutting the door. Positive praise here and sometimes treats coax anxiety. Starting slowly at first, increase the amount of time while the door is closed to the kennel. Slowly work into leaving the room, again slowly at first increasing time between each time.

Step Three: Training Your Puppy

Now that your puppy is acclimated to its' new 'den', you can begin the potty training portion. Puppies naturally will steer away from soiling in their living area, but unfortunately it does happen more often than anyone would like. When a soiling does occur, just remove the bedding and clean it. If it happens more than once, you may have to refrain from placing bedding in the kennel until the puppy is a bit more potty trained. The beginning of training is much more vigorous in the beginning and gets easier as time passes by. After eating, a puppy will typically have the urge to defecate after about 20 minutes. After drinking, it may be 5 to 10 minutes. So when your puppy is at the feeding station, keep an eye on him or her until they are finished feeding. Then bring the pup directly outside using the command of your choice, like "go potty". Keep repeating the phrase until they have done the deed. Lots of positive praise should be given, and a play time of 20-30 minutes should be rewarded at this time. After play time, place the puppy in the kennel, using a treat if you feel. You can use chart as a guide on how long a puppy can be left alone in a kennel:

AGE TIME IN CRATE

9-10 Weeks Approx. 30-60 minutes

11-14 Weeks Approx. 1-3 hours

15-16 Weeks Approx. 3-4 hours

17 + Weeks Approx. 4+ (6 hours maximum)

*NOTE: Except for overnight, neither puppies nor dogs should be crated for more than 5 hours at a time. (6 hours maximum!)

Get a feel for your puppy's' potty regimen, and remember they are growing and still learning to hold it. They are prone to accidents. If the pup happens to soil the bedding in the crate, remove the bedding and clean it. Meanwhile, you may or may not replace the bedding depending on frequency of the soiling.

Always remember that positive reinforcement and much love goes very far when raising a puppy!