Crate Training Puppies - Is it a great idea?

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.

Perhaps the first thing that’s important when it comes to crate training puppies is that the crate should never be used as punishment. Gradually and gently introduce crate training to your puppy as a concept. Primarily use the crate to potty train your puppy; this process should be happy and positive for your puppy, especially if you want your puppy to think of the crate as a safe place.

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.

Likewise, if your dog is loose too often, this will allow him or her enough of a chance to get into trouble. It may also allow your dog to harbor feelings of insecurity or overwhelming feelings. Here are some tips for Crate Training Puppies that should make the entire process a lot smoother for you.

If you are not present to supervise your puppy, you should make sure that your puppy is in his or her crate. This is just the same for if your puppy is actually a grown dog. Unless your dog is quite reliable with every stage of the entire puppy potty training process, you should limit freedom to make sure that there are not accidents.

It is vital that you make sure that the crate you choose is the right size for the size and the weight of your puppy or dog. This may mean buying larger crates as your dog grows. You do not want a crate that is too large or too small for your dog. You could possibly find a crate that is adjustable, but these are not normally enclosed and do not create the same level of security that a normal dog training crate would 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.

Never use your dog’s crate to punish him or her. Do not bang on or shake the crate, either. The crate is meant to be a place of safety, and violating it in such a fashion can lead to other behavioral problems as your dog ages.

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