Give your dog a den

By nature, dogs are pack animals that live in dens. They take great comfort in having their own secure area.

The most common den-like areas in your home are underneath a table, under a bed, or in a closet. You might already be finding your puppy in one of these places when she needs a secure place to rest. Offering your dog its own crate meets your pet’s instinctive needs and allows you some control in housebreaking endeavors. To your puppy, the crate is a den and a natural way of life.

The best crate is one that is just big enough so your dog can lie, stand and turn around. Giving your dog too much space destroys the den concept, and gives your puppy space to soil separate from where they can sleep.

Crates are made of a variety of materials. The most user-friendly crates are those made of molded plastic. They are easy to clean, draft-free, and generally are more like dens as they have limited visibility. Or if car traveling is frequent, you might consider wire crates that provide a better view. In the home, a wire crate can be covered to keep out drafts and make it more den-like. Slide-out flooring can make a wire crate just as convenient to clean as a molded plastic model.

Once you have purchased a crate, you need to give your puppy/dog time to investigate. Just leave the crate on the floor with the door open for a few days until your dog becomes comfortable with it. Placing dog treats and a towel/blanket inside may help get a cautious dog to explore the crate.

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The next step is to close your dog in the crate for 10 to 15 minutes. Then open the door. This procedure should be repeated several times a day. The crate should NEVER be used to punish your dog. Crate time should be enjoyable. Toys and treats can help establish this setting.

Dogs will make every attempt not to soil their den. It is where they sleep. They want to keep it clean. You can help them do that by starting a housebreaking routine and sticking to it. Puppies have small bladders with undeveloped muscles. They can only hold the water they drink for a couple of hours.

You will learn your puppy’s limits as you establish the housebreaking routine. If you leave her crated too long, you give your puppy no choice!

To make crate-training effective for your pet, you should:

– Never respond with attention to your pet’s in-crate whining or barking. If the behavior goes unnoticed, it will stop.

–  Never punish you pet for making a mistake in its crate or on the floor. You should merely clean up the mess and shorten the time away so your pet can be successful.

– Never deny your pet access to its crate. This is home base and a source of security, so keep the door open.