How to Use a Puppy Crate
Puppy Crate
One of the most successful methods of potty training a puppy is with the use of a puppy crate. Some new puppy owners find the idea of a puppy crate to be somewhat cruel, but it is not at all if done correctly. First of all, you need to choose the right size crate for your puppy. The puppy should be able to sit, stand, turn around and move around a bit. You don’t want the crate to be too small or too large. The goal for puppy crate training is potty training, as most dogs will not go to the bathroom where they sleep and eat.
Make the crate appealing for your puppy by placing soft blankets or padding inside for him or her to lay on. Include some favorite chew toys, and even small dishes of food or water. While your puppy may cry a lot at first, most puppies learn to enjoy their crates. The hard part is waiting until they are used to it and listening to the whimpering, which sounds worse than it is. Try to take your puppy to the designated bathroom area every two hours, but if that is not possible leave them in the crate and take them out as often as you can. For example if you work all day, take the puppy out in the morning, on your lunch break, and of course after work.
Then you can let your puppy out of the crate if you are there to supervise him or her. Keep your puppy on a leash that is wrapped around you arm so you have control at all times. When the puppy shows signs of needing to use the bathroom, take him outside to the correct area. Always praise your puppy when they go in the correct place. If paper training your dog, simply place the puppy on the paper. In the event of accidents, take a bit of the waste or urine and place it either on the paper or outdoors where you want the puppy to go. Then clean the spot immediately with a product made for this purpose to remove all traces of odor.
Puppy crate training is one of the most effective ways to potty train your young dog. There are other ways, but most people find this to be the easiest one. There are lots of books on the subject of puppy crate training and potty training, also you can ask your vet for advice. They can also tell you what size puppy crate to get based on the size of your dog.