Using a Crate to Housetrain Puppies

Many pet owners get alarmed when it comes to housetraining their puppy. Many are confused and anxious about the kind of effect it will have on the small defenseless creature. No doubt, housetraining a puppy can be quite taxing but once done it will ensure your puppy is disciplined and well-behaved.

There are many housetraining methods that you could use to discipline your puppy. Using a crate is one method that is proven to be highly effective.

The crate method entails getting a crate big enough for a puppy to lie down and stand up in. Since puppies have a natural instinct not to soil the place that they sleep in, this method teaches them how to exert control over their bowels until they’re released from the crate and taken outside to eliminate. Moreover, pups are naturally inclined to seek out and nest in places that are secure and comfortable. This is why you frequently come across dogs napping under tables, chairs or beds. Fortunately, this innate instinct of dogs makes it easier for them to adapt to lying in a cage. Moreover, once they find a safe haven, it’s the very last place they would want to soil.

While crate training a puppy, an important thing to remember is that puppies have almost no control over their bladders. They need to relieve themselves almost every hour. So they have to be taken out of the crate frequently to prevent accidents from occurring. Put your puppy on a leash and take him to the same place each time he has to eliminate. Use commands like “hurry up” or “potty”. Give him a sufficient amount of time to eliminate and then let him play for about 2 minutes before taking him in. Gradually increase the time that he spends in the crate before releasing him. This will teach him to control his bowels. Initially there may be an accident or two, but soon he’ll get accustomed to eliminating on schedule.

There are different types of crates you could get to housetrain your puppy. The types that are widely used are the plastic crates and the wire crates. The plastic crates are long-lasting and provide for ease in cleaning. The wire crates can be transported and moved about easily and are usually the best option when you’re traveling with your pet. But since these are open, you may have to swathe it with a blanket to give your puppy an illusion of a sheltered den.

Never punish your puppy if an accident occurs. Your pet does not know right from wrong and will not understand why he is being punished. He will not associate his “accident” with the punishment and instead will become wary of you. To minimize accidents you should put your puppy on a feeding schedule. Feed your puppy twice or thrice a day at regular intervals. Take him out to relieve himself 10-15 minutes after his meals.

Besides preventing accidents a crate is also useful to keep your puppy safe and secure when you’re away from home. However, it should not be used for excessively long time periods or as a punishment. When your puppy does something right, give him a treat to reward him for his good behavior. And never ever punish a puppy in the crate. You want him to view the crate as a cozy retreat not a chamber of torture.

To make the crate seem more comfy you could keep a bowl of water and a toy inside. This will give him an added incentive to stay happy inside the crate. If you are alert and consistent, using a crate to housetrain your puppy can be the best thing you could do to discipline your pet.