Puppy crate training is the fastest way to potty train your puppy. It makes it very easy for you to understand your puppy’s meal and potty schedule, while also making it very clear where her potty area is. Crate training is humane and safe for your pup, as long as you follow common sense and make sure your pup gets plenty of breaks throughout the day.
Some people have a hard time with crate training because they feel it’s bad, and your pup may initially complain that he’s being kept in the crate. However, this is not cruel or mean at all, dogs like to have a den, and this creates a safe place for him that he knows is his “his home”. The reason crate training works so well is because a dog is very resistant to messing up his house and will hold out until he gets somewhere else to relieve himself.
Buy a crate that is large enough to allow your dog to lie down, get up, and walk in small circles. As it grows, you can upgrade to a larger box if needed. Dogs don’t like to sleep in their own urine (who would?), so they’ll hold out as long as possible.
Keep track of the hours each day your dog eats, drinks, and goes to the bathroom. This will help you develop a potty schedule around the times of day your dog needs to go. For puppies, a good rule of thumb is one hour a month, so if your pup is 4 months old, he expects him to need potty training every four hours, which may require getting up in the middle of the night. Typical times to go to the bathroom tend to be first thing after waking up in the morning, after walking or playing, about half an hour after eating or drinking, and before bed. For young puppies, some overnight trips may also be necessary.
When you take your puppy out of his crate, the first thing you do is take him straight to the bathroom. If he tends to get distracted, just take him right there and put him down. Be prepared to wait quietly for 10-15 minutes, especially in the learning phase. A command helps build the habit, like “do your thing!” and you can repeat this again while he goes to reinforce the message. Once he’s finished, immediately shower him with praise and affection. You want to make a big show of how pleased you are with that behavior. If he doesn’t have a potty, take him back to the crate and try again in 20 minutes. Repeat until he is successful at potty training, and then reward the good habit with playtime. It is important to teach your dog to go to the bathroom first and then to play. This will become a regular habit with your dog as he gets older.
crate training puppies It can be as challenging as anything else, but if you take the right steps, you can expect success. An important rule to remember is that you should keep your puppy in his crate during the day and night, but with regular breaks to play and stretch. While your pup is out of his crate, you should keep your eyes on him at all times. Literally! You look away for a second, and that’s when he urinates on the rug, and you’ve missed your chance to teach him the proper way. If you catch him about to have an accident indoors, yell No! and pick it up and run to the right area. This can be messy and chaotic, but it’s the only chance you have to help him learn from his mistake. Punishments don’t work because they have no idea why you’re angry.
Understand that accidents will happen, but be prepared not to draw attention to yourself. Just clean him quietly and while he’s not looking. Be sure to use a special cleaning product that removes urine odor so your dog doesn’t think that stain is the potty. Just remember that your puppy will need time and patience to learn good habits. He needs you to show him the way.