Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Posted by Anonymous at 6:05 PM Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Crate Training Miles: Part Two

Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:56 AM PDT

Dr.-Larry-with-Miles Yesterday we talked about why you might want to crate your puppy, and how to get started. Today, we're going to finish that discussion, with some help on teaching your puppy not to be afraid of the crate, and to actually like being in the crate when you're away.

Closing the door: Once your puppy is used to the crate and will go in and out without any trepidation it's time to start using the door. Hopefully they are going in on their own for naps and to eat by now. They should feel safe in the crate. Make sure that you plan to be home with them when you start closing the door and make sure that the crate is in a high traffic area where they can see and hear you. Leave them in for twenty minutes at a time and try to let them out when they are behaving. Try not to reinforce any whining at this stage by opening the door immediately. They may whine a little when they first realize they are stuck. That's OK for now. 

This is a good time to get them sleeping in the crate. This should be easy for Claire since her bedroom is the only room in the house. Putting the crate by the bed where the puppy can hear and smell you will make it easier for them. They may wake up and whine to be let out to eliminate, too. Make sure that you go straight to the door when you open the crate. Get them out fast and let them do their business. Then it's back to bed for both of you.

Leaving them on their own: This is the holy grail of crate training. You want to be able to leave them for a reasonable period of time without worrying. Young puppies shouldn't be left alone in the crate for very long periods. At ten to twelve weeks a couple of hours can be a long time. When they are around four months old you can leave them for three to four hours and wait another couple of weeks to leave them any longer than that. Six hours is max for most dogs. Crate-training
 
Try to not make a big deal out of leaving, either. You may even want to crate your puppy before you actually leave the house, say twenty minutes or so before you head out the door. And when you leave don't make a big fuss.

There are a few other rules, too. Don't use the crate as punishment. That totally defeats the purpose of the crate. Don't leave the dog in the crate too long. When you are home make sure you are interacting with your dog and make sure he gets plenty of exercise. A good walk before bedtime is always a good idea.
 
If you puppy is sick and especially if he has diarrhea, don't confine him in the crate. And with puppies make sure they've had a chance to eliminate before you leave them in for any length of time. A little common sense goes a long way.
 
Crate training can be a real plus for dog owners that work or must leave their dogs alone for periods of time for any reason. You have to be patient when you get started and follow these steps to do it right. Don't try to rush the process. You're going to have this dog for a long time and a few weeks spent on proper crate training will pay dividends for years to come.  

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