House Training For Dogs

There is quite a bit of controversy regarding crate training for dogs. Roughly half the population of the dog world thinks it is cruel and akin to solitary confinement, and the other half thinks it's the greatest way to train a puppy.

Good house training takes some time and effort, but it is a proven way to help train dogs who act inappropriately without knowing any better. For a new dog or puppy, use the crate to limit his access to the house until he learns all the house rules

There are numerous benefits of proper housetraining. Besides being an effective housebreaking tool (because it takes advantage of the dog's natural reluctance to soil its sleeping place), it can also help to reduce separation anxiety, to prevent destructive behavior (such as chewing furniture), to keep a puppy away from potentially dangerous household items (i.e., poisons, electrical wires, etc.), and to serve as a mobile indoor dog house which can be moved from room to room whenever necessary.

A crate also serves as a travel cabin for the dog when travelling by car or plane. Additionally, most hotels which accept dogs on their premises require them to be crated while in the room to prevent damage to hotel furniture and rugs.

House training or crate training a puppy has proven to be an effective method of teaching a puppy when NOT to eliminate, where to go to be safe.

Indoor dog house, however, is NOT a substitute for social interaction, and leaving a young puppy in a crate for hours on end is abuse. A good rule of thumb is no more than one hour for every month of life the pup has. A good crate should be just big enough for her to lay down, stand up, and turn around comfortably. Too big of a crate will ruin the 'den' feeling and owners may find that the puppy has established a bathroom in a corner.

To keep the puppy safe, she should be crated when owners can not watch what she is doing, but never for too long. Crate training should not be abused, otherwise the problem will get drastically worse. The crate is not intended as a place to lock up the dog and forget her for extended periods of time.

Done successfully, dog house training will result in a happy, clean puppy that will grow to be a well-adjusted member of the family.

Crate Training Guidelines:

• Put some treats inside the cage. While exploring his new crate, the dog will discover edible items inside, thus reinforcing his positive associations with the crate.The pet can be fed inside the crate for the same effect
• Do not push, pull or force the pet, instead praise him when he enters.
• Continue placing some treats into the crate until the dog will go inside calmly all the way into the crate to get the treat. If he is still hesitant, put his favorite toy inside the cage.
• Put the crate in an area of the home where the family spends a lot of time, such as the living room so he won't feel isolated during housetraining.
• Place a soft blanket or pet bed if possible in the crate so he will feel comfortable.
• At first, keep the cage open so the pet has the access whenever he wants to enter and leave. In this case, the pet will not feel awkward but feel confident of having a place to rest.
• In the evening, the pet may be left in his crate and close the door upon retiring. But it is still recommended to place the crate next the bed so he will not feel alone.
• While at home with the dog, it is desirable first to crate the pet for short periods of time. Indeed, crate training is best completed while in the room with the pet.
• After the dog can spend about half hour in the crate without becoming afraid, start leaving him crated for short periods when leaving the house. Put him in the crate with a treat or safe toys.
• Place a soft pet bed on the bottom of the crate. Buy a bed designed to fit into the crate or use an old blanket or towel. This makes the crate a comfortable home for the beloved pet.
• First thing in the morning, bring the dog out of the crate to his potty area and at regular intervals throughout the day. Keep in mind that the puppy will probably require to relieve himself every few hours and also after eating, drinking or playing. After he is eliminated in the appropriate location, he can have some playtime under the supervision.
• Puppies should not be left crated for longer than they can hold their bowels or bladders. The pet can be left confined in the indoor dog house not for longer than five or six hours. If owners need to be away for longer than this and no one is available to supervise him, owners may want to consider a foldable crate.

Quick HouseTraining Reminders

DO

• Slowly get the pup used to his new crate. Don't push or force him to go inside the crate, instead praise him or give some treats or toys.
• It is fine to get a larger crate if not sure which one is the right size. If it is too big for the puppies, use a divider panel to minimize the space.
• It is advisable to use soft pet bed to cover the surface so the dog will feel more comfortable and the dog will keep coming back to his crate. Owners may also use crate wear accessories to keep the pet warm and comfy.
• If the pet is out of his cage, find time to supervise him. Supervision will correct the pet’s bad behavior like excessive barking, chewing and eliminating anywhere he wants to.
• Be patient while giving the pet a time to adjust. Owners must give an enough time for him to get used to the new crate when there is a change to a pet’s habit, At first, owners may find the pet is nervous in entering but this is normal, day after day some improvements can be seen.

DON'T

• Leave the dog particularly the puppies in his home all day. -No dogs can hold their bowels and bladders over a long period of time. Maintain a regular schedule every few hours for the pet to eliminate. A six week old puppy can hold his bladder about 4 hours.
• Letting the pet go around the house unsupervised. - If the pet seems to be feeling awkward to go inside or outside of the crate, gently guide him.
• Forcefully put the pet inside the crate as a punishment. - The crate is made to be the pet’s secured home and not to be associated with punishment.
• Put the pet inside the crate when he has diarrhea and is vomiting. - If the pet is sick, the surface of the crate might have some remains of bacteria or worms. Try to adjust on the foods he eats and give him a balance diet. Crate him again when he backs to normal condition.