| How To Crate Train |
| Step 1: Acquaint
your puppy with his new home |
| Simply start
from early puppyhood and have your puppy sleep and rest
in his home. Almost without trying he will train himself
to seek security and comfort inside his little "dog
room." |
|
Encourage
your puppy to go into his home on his own. If necessary,
toss a little treat in the home. DON’T FORCE
HIM! He may quickly back out or be shy, but that’s
normal. Just take it slowly. At first, don’t
close the door on him, let him go in and out on his
own. |
Once he is
happy and unafraid of his new home, simply restrain
him at the door with your hand. Make him stay in the
home for a few minutes, then gradually increase the
time and be sure to praise him! |
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Once he is
comfortable with this, (probably a few hours or days
of short training sessions) simply restrain him at
the door with the door—again praising him lavishly.
Soon he will be secure in his home with the door closed.
Slowly you can get further and further away from him,
always praising his accepting behavior. Eventually,
the pup will sit quietly and sleep in his home with
the door closed. |
| Step 2: Direct his elimination |
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|
Understand
that little puppies need to “go” about
every 2-4 hours. On a schedule, (such as after feeding,
before bedtime, first thing in morning) let your puppy
out, teach him the route to the door, praise him at
the door and take him out to the part of the yard
you want him to use. Very quickly, you are teaching
him an elimination schedule that will stay with him
for the rest of his life. |
 |
As
your puppy gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually
leave him in his home for longer periods of time because
he can “hold it” longer. Soon he can be
home in his home all day, if necessary, until someone
arrives to let him out. |
Click
here to learn about some "Do's & Don'ts!"
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