Crate Training Puppies

Crate Training Puppies

Crate training puppies as soon as you bring them into your home can be a very helpful thing for you and your new puppy.

Having a safe place for your puppy to stay while you are away or while you are sleeping is a great benefit for your puppy and to you.  It gives your puppy the safety, comfort and the security that he needs.   It also helps to eliminate the separation anxiety that many puppies experience.   It helps you by giving you the piece of mind that your house isn’t being destroyed, that your carpets are not being soiled and that your puppy is secure in general.
My son was the first to introduce me to crate training puppies.

He had a puppy that seemed to just be into everything and using the bathroom everywhere.   He was renting an apartment and it was becoming an issue when he was at work or sleeping to have his puppy running lose chewing and relieving himself anywhere and everywhere. After waking up and stepping in a pile, he decided to try crate training.  Watching the benefits that he experienced was enough to convince me of the importance of crate training.  His puppy was so much happier and so was my son!
You will need to introduce you puppy to the crate in a positive exciting way.  Do not force her into the crate if she doesn’t want to go in. Food plays a role in many training techniques.  It will play a very simple but important role in crate training. In the introduction you will want to use a treat or a toy to entice her to want to investigate the crate.  She will soon look at it as a good place if you will have a little patience.  After you have introduced her to the crate and she isn’t afraid of it, leave the crate door open, and occasionally drop small pieces of your puppy’s favorite treat into her crate. You can even make a trail of treats leading into the crate if your puppy is still a little skittish about going in.
It’s also helpful to leave a favorite toy or two in the crate.  As your puppy begins stepping into the crate on her own, you should flood her with praise and encouragement.  Always give positive reinforcement when your puppy is in her crate.
Always keep in mind when crate training puppies, that when your puppy walks into the crate, you should say a key word. I use the word “Kennel”.  Each time your puppy goes into her crate give her the key word that you have chosen so that she can begin learning to associate that word with the positive behavior.