Now that you have bought that furry, little bundle of joy home, there is plenty to consider as a new puppy owner - vaccinations, food, choosing a special name.
And then, there is the housebreaking! In my opinion, not only is crate training the ideal way to teach your puppy some great house-habits, it also serves to keep your puppy, and your valuable possessions, safe and sound while you're not at home.
Crate training puppies is a wonderful idea for so many reasons.
It allows you to provide a safe refuge that your puppy can retreat to when he wants to escape the noisy world around him and is infinitely more preferable than relegating your puppy to the yard while you are out.
If you want to get your relationship with your new puppy off to a fantastic start and 'by-pass' a lot of frustration, then you need to read the following...
3 Vital Tips for Crate Training Puppies! 1.
Crate Training Puppies is Not Cruel Often, when the subject of crate training puppies is mentioned, many peoples' initial reaction is to decry the inhuman treatment of keeping an animal 'penned up' in a cage.
In all reality, though, crate training provides your puppy with a natural den that they usually feel comfortable in.
In the wild, a mother coyote or wolf will prepare a safe den for her new born litter and much of the youngsters early life will be spent around this safe haven.
If done correctly, crate training puppies serves to imitate what nature cannot provide in your household...
it gives your new arrival a place they can retreat to and call their own.
When you're away from home or have gone on a trip with your dog, the crate is also a wonderful tool to have as it helps guarantee that both your home or car, and your puppy stay safe and sound.
What crate training is not, is keeping your dog confined to it's cage for 12 hours a day with complete disregard to its most basic needs.
Neglect, is abandoning you puppy or relegating him to the yard to possibly be stolen, eat something noxious or be vulnerable to nasty weather.
Crate training is, in short, the exact opposite! 2.
Crate Training Puppies...
Goes Hand-in-Hand With Housebreaking! Forget those fiddly puppy training pads and other house-training items that may actually hinder your long term house-breaking efforts! For decades, countless breeders, trainers, animal shelters, and responsible owners have been crate training puppies with tremendous success and have been using it as an excellent way to instil good house-habits.
So why does crate training puppies work so well? In short, when done properly, crate training mimics nature as a puppy will instinctively try to put off soiling it's resting place.
If left to wander the home, eventually your puppy will find a quiet room to relieve himself in.
If crated, your puppy will at least attempt to wait until he has an opportunity to leave his den before relieving himself.
This does not mean you should just lock your puppy in his crate for extended periods and expect him to "hold it.
" For crate training to be a success, it is important your puppy be allowed out every hour-straight from the crate to the garden, especially during the first few months of your puppy's life.
Another great benefit of crate training puppies is that if they do 'leave a mess' in their crate it tends to be so much easier to clean than, say, a French carpet or that favourite shirt you 'now regret leaving' on the floor! 3.
Crate Training Puppies - It's for Life! Many people who practice crate training puppies have found the method to be such a handy tool that they continue with it throughout the dog's life.
If your dog is raised with a crate he'll quickly view it as his 'safe haven' and will happily use it whenever it's available to him.
Many fully-grown dogs continue to nap in their crate (doors ajar) at night, and some dog owners still crate their dogs when they head out for an evening or take a brief trip.
But, the advantages of crate training puppies is not only confined to brief trips...
crate training also provides peace-of-mind when travelling with your dog on longer journeys as most crate trained puppies travel extremely well (and safely) by plane or car if they are securely in their crates.
Most dogs would much rather be in their crate, a home they consider their own,with a few familiar toys and a cosy blanket than they would be out in the garden, exposed to the elements and left to fend for themselves.
Occasionally, I am asked how long I would leave a dog in their crate.
Generally speaking, I would suggest taking your dog out at least every 3 hours so they can relieve themselves but if you find yourself having to crate your pet for longer periods, have a chat with a your family, a friend or neighbour and ask if they can 'pop over' and take your dog for a short walk.
As I am sure you realise by now, crate training puppies involves a great deal more than just leaving your dog in a cage and calling it "crate training".
When done properly, not only does crate training mimics nature by providing your dog with a much cherished 'security blanket', but it also preserves your home's 'sanity' and is a very effective way to raise a well adjusted dog with very little effort.