Crate training is absolutely, without exception, the best way to
housebreak a puppy. The "crate" is actually a wire or fiberglass
kennel, which becomes the pup’s own little home.
Dogs that are crate-trained have less behavior problems, are more
secure and confident, easier to obedience train and stay calm when they
must be boarded. They are less susceptible to nervousness and anxiety,
which cause behavior problems.
Giving Your Puppy A "Den" Of His Own
Dogs in the wild live in dens. Dens offer protection from the cold, the
heat, and predators. It vies the wild dog a sense of security and well
being. Domestic dogs also have a strong natural tendency to seek out a
"den", a small place to curl up and get their backs up against
something in order to feel safe and secure. Using a crate, we can actually
simulate the dog’s den.
In nature, a dog does not defecate or urinate in its den.
Therefore, a puppy will try to keep his "den" clean. He will
naturally hold his bowels and bladder while his is in his crate. In most
homes, it is difficult for a dog to find a place of his own where he can
retreat to be by himself, out of the traffic and activity of the home.
By giving a dog his own "den" in your home, you can take
advantage of mother nature to quickly housebreak a puppy, control
destructive puppy problems, and raise a more well-adjusted dog. Once a dog
is an adult, the door to his crate can be left open and h e can have
access to his crate whenever he is tired or wants to be alone.
What Kind of Crate
Buy a crate that is large enough so that the puppy will be able to stand
up and turn around when he is adult-sized, roughly 1½ times the size of
the dog as an adult.
It is a mistake to buy too big of a crate because the puppy may fail to
see it as a "den". However, when buying a crate for a Bull
Terrier, it will be necessary to buy a fairly large crate. The crate can
be partitioned off while the puppy is very small and then opened up as the
puppy gets larger.
A wire crate is strongly recommended, rather than a fiberglass
travel-type kennel because a puppy can see out of a wire crate easily and
won’t feel isolated. It’s just like putting a human baby in a playpen.
The crate should have some soft, washable bedding to make it warm and
comfortable.
Introducing
the Puppy to the Crate
Start from the beginning having your puppy sleep and rest in his crate.
Without any training, he will naturally begin to seek the security and
safety of his little "dog room" when he is sleepy or wants to be
off by himself.
When first introducing the puppy to the crate, toss in a little treat to
get the puppy to go inside, don’t force him in. Coax him with food and
reward him with praise. At first, he may back quickly out, that’s
normal. Take it slow and encourage him to go in on his own.
The puppy should be allowed to get used to his new home slowly,
never just put in the crate and left. It’s best to put the pup in his
crate for very short periods of time at first, gradually increasing the
time as the pup gets used to being in it.
How to Crate Train
The puppy should be in his crate during all unsupervised times. The crate
should be placed where the pup can see you: in the kitchen during meals
and in the bedroom for the night. This way, your puppy won’t feel lonely
and when he needs to "go", you can hear the whimper and take him
out.
During times when you can watch him carefully, let him out to play
and explore, but keep your eye on him. The goal is to prevent any
accidents, but owners need to be realistic and realize that some accidents
will happen.
Watch for sniffing and circling. This is an indication that your
puppy is about to "go". Quickly and gently guide him to the
door, praise him at the door and take him outside to the chosen spot. Stay
with your puppy until he goes. When he does, it is important to get very
excited and really praise your puppy. This is the only way he knows that
he has pleased you by "going" outside. Give him time to defecate
as well as urinate. He will probably walk around a little and pick another
spot.
Accidents in the Crate
Your puppy may have an accident or two in the crate at first, especially
if you are not good about taking him out often enough. The puppy should
not be scolded for eliminating in the crate. These accidents should be
ignored, cleaned up, and closer attention paid to the puppy’s schedule
for the next few days.
Schedule
Schedule is vital in housetraining. At first, your puppy should be
taken out every 2 hours. Young puppies, 6-7 weeks old, have to empty their
bladders at least every 2 hours. Puppies 8-10 weeks old still need to
"go" about every 3-4 hours. As the pup gets older and is able to
"hold it longer", the time intervals between going out can be
gradually increased. There are certain times that your puppy will always
need an opportunity to eliminate.
Your puppy will need to "go":
Just a few minutes after eating and drinking.
After vigorous playing and chewing.
After waking up.
By following a strict schedule, your puppy learns to hold his
bowels and bladder until he is taken outside. This schedule will stay with
him his whole life.
How Long Can Your Puppy Stay in his Crate?
By the time your puppy is 6-8 months old, he will probably be able to hold
his bowels and bladder for eight hours. That is a long time, however for a
puppy to be in a crate.
If you work during the day, I recommend someone come home at lunch and let
the puppy out to give him some attention as well as letting him eliminate.
If you can’t do that yourself, try to get a neighbor or friend to go
over once during the day to let him out.
If you have a safe, enclosed yard, I recommend letting the pup be
in the yard during the day while you’re gone. That way he can eliminate
as he needs to and can be inside with the family in the evening and can
sleep in his crate at night.
Crate Training to Prevent Chewing Problems
Crate training is also the best way to prevent destructive chewing
problems and to focus a puppy’s chewing on approved objects.
When you can’t supervise your puppy, he should be in his crate
and should always have a couple of chew toys. Not only can your pup not
destroy shoes and furniture while in his crate, he will feel more secure
in his little "doggie den" while you are gone and so will have
less anxiety.
When out of the kennel, the puppy should be watched carefully so that you
will be able to interrupt, and redirect, any unapproved chewing before
your puppy does any damage.
When Can Your Puppy Be Left Free In the House Alone?
By about 6 months of age, most puppies, who have been crate trained, are
reliably trained enough to be left in the house unattended.
This should be done gradually, leaving the dog alone for only 5
minutes at first and praising good behavior when you return. The time the
pup is left alone should be gradually increased.
If the pup does any "unapproved chewing" or has any accidents,
while you are gone, go back to kennel training and try again in a couple
of weeks. A puppy or dog should never be punished for any accidents or
chewing done while the owner is gone. The dog will not understand why he
is being punished and it will on increase his anxiety the next time he is
left alone.
