|
Crate Training Puppies: a Good Idea |
| Print |
|
E-mail |
|
Written by Dog Training Diva
|
|
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
|
If you've ever wondered if crate training puppies is a good idea, it is. If you have the right training yourself and some expertise, you can teach your dog or puppy that the crate is a secure place for him or her. However, this requires that you take the correct approach. If you take the wrong one, this can mean disaster for both you and your dog as well.
by DogTrainingDiva
If you've ever wondered if crate training puppies is a good idea, it is. If you have the right training yourself and some expertise, you can teach your dog or puppy that the crate is a secure place for him or her. However, this requires that you take the correct approach. If you take the wrong one, this can mean disaster for both you and your dog as well.
The first thing that you need to understand when it comes to Crate Training Puppies is the fact that the crate should absolutely never be used as a means of punishment. You should gradually and gently introduce the concept of crate training to your puppy. The crate should be used primarily for potty training purposes, and you should turn the potty training process into a truly happy and positive experience, at least if you want your puppy to view the crate as a good thing.
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.
If your dog is out of the crate too often, this can allow too much time for the puppy to get into trouble. It might also make your dog feel insecure or overwhelmed. When it comes to crate training puppies, the following tips should make the process a lot easier for you and puppy.
If you can't be present to keep an eye on your puppy, make sure you put the puppy the crate. This is also true if your dog is grown. Unless your dog is very reliable and completely potty trained, limit his or her freedom to make sure that you don't encounter accidents.
Make sure your crate size fits your puppy or dog. This may mean that you have to buy larger crates occasionally as your puppy grows. Don't buy a crate that's too large or too small for your dog. It's possible sometimes to find a crate that is adjustable, but these aren't normally enclosed and don't give your dog the same level of security a training crate should 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.
Your crate should absolutely never be used as a means of punishing. You should not bank on the crate or shake the crate or anything like that. Things like this can actually lead to other behavioral problems as your dog gets older.
|
