Benefits Of Crate Training Your Puppy

Just to state the obvious, the first thing you need to do when you bring home your new puppy or dog, is make them feel comfortable in their new home. Introduce them to the whole house and household members, the backyard and the neighborhood. It is essential that they socialize and begin basic training. For many, this includes the crate training method. Some dog owners love it, while others could never dream of it. The choice is yours.

However, crate training is one of the most effective ways to introduce your pup or dog to its new home. Crating is an effective method of training because it incorporates the dog’s natural instinct of nesting to accomplish some manner of behavior that you want, rather than forcing them to do something.

As with any form of training, consistency is key. You need to get into a good routine which will help the dog become familiar with when it needs to go out and do its business, and avoid doing it in the wrong places.

The next essential thing you must do is give praise whenever they do their thing properly at the right time and in the right place. Only small healthy treats though, because diet is also an important part of the potty training method. But giving them a show of love or a small treat will help them understand that they have done a good job.

The basic premise of crate training is to keep them confined when there is no supervision. Your dog should be placed in their crate every night or when they are at home by themselves. Your first job in the morning upon waking, or when you come home from where ever is you were, is to enthusiastically greet them, let them out of their crate, and take them outside to go to the bathroom.

Crating a dog is meant as a tool to train them, not to abuse them by forgetting or ignoring them. Although generally a dog will not soil where it sleeps, it cannot hold it in forever. Leaving you pup crated for too long a period will most definitely hamper your potty training, not to mention it borders on abuse.

And of course we can all use more love and compliments. Always tell them how good they are when they do their business at the right time and in the right place.

You must understand that accidents will happen in the beginning phases, it takes time for them to learn just like children. Never punish them too harshly, but firmly let them know what they did was bad. If you find something a few days after its done, you should not punish them at all since they will have no idea what they are being punished for. You want your pet to learn from these experiences, not become afraid of you.

Crate training is a very effective method of potty training. Many could never fathom putting their furry baby in a cage, but it has been shown over and over again that dogs not only learn quicker and easier from this method, but that they come to love their crate as a safe haven.

--------------------------------------------

Sign up for more tips and tricks at Henri’s Online Dog Obedience School and get Henri’s free e-newsletter or visit Henri the Hound, the place to go when you’re looking for awesome gifts for your furry friends.