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The information in this
article is based on the successful crate training method.
Crate training is not cruel. I repeat: Crate training is
not cruel. If used correctly, it uses the dog's natural
den instinct to your own advantage by encouraging the dog
not to pee or poop where it sleeps. Dogs are naturally
clean animals and will avoid going to the bathroom where
they sleep. But you need to keep the following points in
mind to be successful.
Establish A Regular Eating
Routine
As I'm fond of saying,
'what goes in must come out'. To help you figure out the
best times to get your dog to go to the bathroom it's
important to feed your dog at the same times every day.
This is the ideal time to practice your house training
lessons. For your dog's comfort it's also a good idea to
feed your dog in the same place every day, a place that
they will identify as their eating spot. With your puppy,
there's a very short time between eating and eliminating.
Figure around 15 - 20 minutes. When feeding your dog, give
her 15-20 minutes and then pick up the uneaten portion (if
any). This will also teach your dog to eat when fed.
Again, these rules can be relaxed once your dog is house
trained but for now it's key to establish a routine.
Until your dog is house
trained, also avoid treats and in-between meal snacks. The
whole idea is to feed your dog, observe them constantly
for the 15 -20 minutes after they eat and then bring them
to the place where you want them to do their business. Do
it like clockwork and you'll be putting your puppy in a
position to succeed. This is all about setting
expectations and teaching your eager learner to do what
you want. And when they do, praise them wildly. Make it
seem like that little pee or poop that they did is the
greatest and most magnificent thing you've ever seen in
your entire life. Your friends and neighbors may think
you're crazy, but I can't stress enough the power of
praise. It's what your puppy craves. Give it to her in
generous amounts.
How Old Should Your Puppy
Be?
How old should your puppy
be before you begin house training? Start as early as you
can but don't expect results until the pup is about 14
weeks old. Before 14 weeks your pup cannot physically hold
it in. Then why start early you may ask? Well, even though
your pup may not be physically able to hold it in, she'll
at least begin learning what's expected of her. Consider
any training before 14 weeks to be 'pre-school'. When her
physical abilities catch up with what you taught her, it
will make it that much easier to put the lessons into
practice.
Size Matters
If you're considering crate
training your dog as a means of house training, keep in
mind that the size of crate you choose is very important.
A good rule of thumb about size is: the crate should only
be big enough for the dog to comfortably stand up and turn
around in. You don't want the crate so big that the dog
will mess at one end and sleep at the other. For
large-sized breeds that will continue to grow
substantially, you may need to buy a larger size later on
if you intend for your dog to continue using the crate
after it is house trained. And the most important rule of
all: NEVER, under any circumstances, use the crate as a
form of punishment. The crate should be a place where your
dog wants to go, to sleep and get away from the bustle and
activity in your home. You never want them to associate it
with being punished.
Happy House Training!
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