crate training

[karenann]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. Just getting ready for our new little puppy Bailey. I would like some help with information on crate training, the question i would most like to know the answer to is can the crate be used on the first night with us, and would we need to come down to the puppy for toilet reasons. would be greatful for any help on this matter.
Thank you
Karenann

[kuritsa18]

The crate can be used the first night. We did crate training for our dog and we would put her in the crate every night starting the first night.

To make it more comfortable for your new puppy make sure to put soft blankets and a toy or two in there. You might get some resistance at first untill they get used to it; some whinning or barking but that is normal. The puppy is still getting used to their new home and the first few nights can be scary. Remember though not to give attention for this (whinning/barking) and wait untill they are quiet then they won't learn that whinning/barking is rewarded and that being in the crate is good. It might be hard not to go and console them if they are crying or whinning but they need to learn that this behaviour is not rewarded and they just need time to settle in. Plus, they learn fast so they will learn right away if you go and console them or sleep with them after that if they whine you will do it and once a behaviour is learned it is much harder change after. You can practice going in the crate through out the day and give them a treat for going in or putting a treat in there for them to find so they learn it is a good place to be. We did this with our dog and at bed time as soon as she saw a treat she would go in by herself; they will associate the treat with being in the kennel

You will have to take your puppy to the bathroom every few hours; every 2-3 hours is what I read and after they go outside reward them. This might seem like a lot but crate training housebreaks dogs really fast and as they get older they will be able to hold it longer. When our dog was a puppy she started sleeping through the night in less than month and when she was still learning she would wine if she had to go to let us know.

A good tip is that if they wine take them out right away, don't say anything to them though or pay/give attention in any way other than take them to the bathroom. If they go give praise and put them back in the crate right away and leave. Do not give attention if they still wine after. If they do not go do not pay attention in any way just take them back to the crate right away and leave. This way they will learn to 'ask' to go; When I wine that means I need to go to the bathroom and it is not for attention. This worked for me and I have read on other sites to do this. I know this might be hard but it works

Also, if your puppy is in the crate and you go to let it out always take it to the bathroom right away after you take it out so they know that bathroom is outside not inside and they know what to expect; as soon as they come out they can go to bathroom outside. Of course there will still be accidents in the house untill they fully learn but this method of housetraining works fast; I know it worked really fast for me!

Hope that helps!

[Angie]

yes, just to add a few specifics to that (although excellent answer, very true in all respects!):
Make sure the crate is JUST big enough for the pup to stretch out and turn around in. Any bigger than that and a corner may be used for a temporary bathroom, which is NOT what you want. A lot of people have more success buying a crate that's big enough for the fully-grown dog, and partition off part of it while the pup grows.
Also, it's hard to overemphasize the amount of crying you'll get the first couple of nights. You really do have to steel yourself for it - some dogs will settle down after a few hours, but some will cry and whine ALL NIGHT, for at least two or three nights. Don't give in. If you do need to take the pup out, at least wait til it's been quiet for a second or two - don't take it out WHILE it's crying, or you'll reinforce the lesson that whining = attention.
Remember to take puppy to the toilet AS SOON AS it comes out of the crate, as soon as it's been fed or had anything to drink (at least within ten minutes, usually sooner), and after a play session.
Good luck - crate training really does work. Like it says in the previous answer, a lot of dogs pick it up in a matter of weeks - the less your pup has the opportunity to "go" in the house, the better.

[gibbe24]

hi im new to this forum and im a working owner as most people are. i just got my 9 wk old boxer puppy this last monday and have not got much sleep since that day. we put him in his kennel the first night and he thrashed and whined all night and the rest of the week. once the weekend got there i NEEDED sleep and slept on the floor with him a couple of nights. he does really well at sleeping on his blanket and my question is this. how would it be if at night i bought him a bed and let him sleep on it next to my bed instead of in the kennel. while sleeping w him on the floor i never had any problems w potty training bc i just set and alarm to get up after a couple of hours to take him to the bathrom. after that one potty break hes good for the rest of the night. then during the day i would keep him in his kennel and he whines some but still not as bad as he did when i kept him in there all night and all day while i was at work. and the reason i was thinking about doing this was because a: i need sleep and b: i feel as though keeping him in his kennel that much is just too much for him and i dont like having to do it. what do yall think?

[Lyka_01]

Actually putting toys inside the crate works...my 3 months old shih tzu mix is first time to be put in crate and i need to train him...I put all his toys in there then he stop crying that's really work...

[craigclemins]

Hey,

You can definitely use the crate on the first night. Just make it comfortable and not seem like a big deal. The soon your puppy gets used to the crate the better!

Good luck!

[snisharia]

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all thanks

[luvbostons]

I guess I am very fortunate that my puppy, from the first night, stayed quiet all night. He does not use his crate as a bathroom either. If he is in his crate and whines, he is ignored. I don't want to reinforce that behavior. I watch the dog whisperer, and he says, "No touch, no talk, no eye contact." This works well when the dog is in the crate. It also works when the puppy wants attention at the wrong times. Like when we are eating dinner. He will try to jump on my legs and get my attention. I just ignore him and he goes away, and he is doing that less and less as time goes on. the crate can be a wonderful tool with a puppy, and sometimes an older dog too.