Avoiding Common Mistakes – Using Too Large of a Crate
Using Too Large a Crate – This is a common mistake made among new puppy owners that do not fully understand the concept of crate training. The purpose of the crate is not to punish your puppy, and despite what many pet owners may think, it is not cruel at all. When done correctly, the crate is a safe place for your puppy to relax in when he’s tired, and young puppies need lots of sleep.
The crate is meant to be only large enough for your dog to lay down and stand up and turn in a circle. You do not want any additional space, as that could become the toilet area, which you want to avoid. You want the crate small enough so your dog wants to avoid messing up his bed. Of course that means you need to give frequent opportunities to use the toilet, for small puppies at least every few hours until they learn to control their bladders a bit more. This means you’ll need to get up in the middle of the night if your puppy is very young. And of course you would not leave a puppy in a crate all day while you are at work.
The basic concept behind crate training is that your pup will hold it for as long as possible, and then when you bring him out of the crate, he’ll hopefully need to go potty, and there’s your opportunity to train him where to go. Pretty simple, right? When you are crate training puppies, it can be very effective when done right.
Sep 11, 2009 | 0 | Crate Training Puppies, House Training Puppies, How To Train A Puppy
