Do you want to make raising your new puppy safer, and easier? Well, the best way to accomplish this is to crate train you puppy. No, it isn’t mean, or cruel. It could save your pups life!
Your pup is a den animal, it will take to the crate rather quickly, if you start using it right away. It will give you someplace safe to put your pup when you can’t watch him or have to leave the house. It will help to keep bad behaviors like chewing, or soiling in the house, jumping on guest or you when you first come home, or getting into trouble or dangerous situations from happening.
Crate training will also help to eliminate stress if your pup has to stay at the vets, because it will be crated or confined in some manner. The same if you ever have to board your pup, even when it is older. The dog won’t have another trauma added on top of being left. He will at least feel comfortable and safe in the familiar crate.
A friend of mine refused to use a crate with her new pup, no matter what I said, because she thought it was cruel. After a month or so she called all frantic because her pup had electrocuted itself and was at the vets. The pup would be alright in a few days. She wanted to know where and how to get a crate so she could have it home by the time she could bring her puppy home. She then said that she was so sorry that she didn’t listen to me sooner.
A FEW SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE A PUP TO A CRATE.
Feed you pup in it’s crate, it’s a pleasant experience, which will be associated with the crate.
Give your pup a small treat when you put him into the crate at other times.
Have an very interesting chew toy in the crate that the pup doesn’t get any other time.
Put the crate in a quiet area, out of the way, but not isolated, remember it’s a pack animal.
Only give the pup enough room in the crate to lay down and turn around comfortably, to avoid soiling in the crate.
Give the pup plenty of exercise and attention through out the day so it will look forward to taking a nap, in the crate.
Don’t take the pup out of the crate if it barks or cries to get out (unless you know it has to go outside to go potty, but you should avoid this issue as much as possible) because the only thing you will be teaching the pup is how to get you to take it out of the crate. It will also teach the pup that he can control you, so you are NOT the leader. Ignore the barking and crying, if you don’t pay it any attention it will stop.
HERE IS A TRAINING TIP: If you can’t stand the barking or crying, get a small spray bottle and fill it with a solution of 50% water and 50% lemon juice. When the pup is driving you crazy with barking and or crying just spray the pup, shoot for the face, you don’t have to say anything, just spray the pup, once, twice, three times or whatever it takes. When the pup is quiet you stop spraying. After the pup is quiet for a few seconds you can then drop a treat into the crate, if you like, to reward good behavior, being quiet. Only take the pup out of the crate when he is quiet. So don’t wait until the pup needs to go outside to potty, be aware, and take him out before he gets uncomfortable. I hope this helps. Good Luck!
Here’s to your successful Puppy training!
