What? You? Dog lover extraordinaire, put your puppy in a…in a…cage? Perish the thought!
A crate may look like a cage, but these handy housetraining tools don’t feel like confinement to puppies—they feel like home. "Denning" is an instinctual drive in dogs, inherited from their ancestors in the wild.
Cushion the bottom of the crate with a properly sized crate pad, or with a large towel or old blanket, or even a dog bed that fits inside the crate. You want something that provides comfort and warmth, but a material that can be easily laundered if puppy has an accident. (Never put newspaper in the bottom of the crate – it may encourage your puppy to eliminate there, and who wants to nap on newspaper?)
No dog would dash into a den without being a little bit careful first, so don’t toss your new puppy into her crate and shut the door. Let her investigate at her own pace. Put her in front of the crate with the door open, and see what she does. You can toss a treat or a toy inside to coax her in. If she steps in, or even sniffs inside the crate, praise her and encourage her.
If she goes inside to retrieve the treat or toy, do not close the door. Allow her to turn around and come out, if she wants to. It may take a few repetitions before she will enter the crate and lie down. Or, she might do it on the first visit.
Once she seems comfortable in the crate, shut the door, but remain beside the crate where she can see you. Speak to her quietly, praising her. Keep the first session to just a few minutes. If she objects, don’t open the door until she settles down.
Gradually increase the amount of time you leave puppy in the crate. Be sure to provide a chew toy or two so she can entertain herself while in the crate. Every single time you let your puppy out of her crate, take her immediately outdoors to her toileting area. (Remember that puppies don’t yet have complete control over bodily functions and need to be taken outside to eliminate often, especially after eating and napping.)
If you want puppy to view the crate positively, be careful not to misuse it:
• Do not confine him (with the door closed) for long periods of time during the day. Dogs need exercise and interaction with their family members, and if a puppy can’t hold her bladder and has an accident in the crate, you’ll experience a major setback in housetraining. It’s okay to keep puppy in a closed crate overnight after the first few weeks, but in the beginning, give your new puppy at least one potty break in the middle of the night.
• Never use the crate as a punishment. If you put your puppy in the crate when you are angry and yelling, he will associate the crate with unpleasant situations rather than as a sanctuary, and he won’t want to spend time in there.
A safe, cozy den helps puppies grow up to be secure, well-adjusted dogs with a sense of control over their environments. Encourage puppy to use the crate for her naptime (since puppies need lots of sleep, this is a good way to establish the crate as her bedroom), and whenever you can’t directly supervise your puppy, let her rest in her crate with a few fun chew toys or a treat. You will know that puppy has accepted the crate when she seeks it out on her own.
