Crate Training

Crate training is a beneficial thing to your puppy. It will keep your puppy safe from chewing things like electrical cords and your new shoes when you cannot be around to supervise. It will prevent accidents from happening. It can be considered the same as a playpen for a baby. It is also an invaluable tool in housetraining a puppy. To stay clean, dogs have an instinct not to have accidents where they sleep. When in a properly sized crate, a dog will do its best to not have accidents and they learn to hold it when in the house. It is best to keep your puppy in a crate at night until they have learned to not have accidents in the house. Use a crate too large, and the puppy may have accidents in the corner away from where they sleep. 

It is also good to practice taking off your dog’s collar before putting them in a crate unsupervised, as collars even a little too loose may get caught on their lower jaw and choke them. You should give your puppy an opportunity to use the bathroom right before putting them in a crate and as soon as you take them out of the crate. After you have had the puppy for a week, and they are eating well, then it is best to not have food or water bowls in their crate overnight, which can make 

messes and encourage toileting in the crate. If a puppy has an accident in the crate with their food and water dishes, then it may cause feces to get in their food or water and be ingested. Ingesting feces can cause problems such as gastroenteritis. However, leaving a treat or hard toy in the crate overnight to keep your puppy preoccupied before bed is usually fine. I don't recommend leaving soft toys with them overnight as they may be able to rip them apart and choke on the fabric or stuffing. If you’d like to keep water with your puppy overnight, then it is best to use a water bottle that attaches to the crate so that they cannot make a mess out of it. 

Crates are also good for your dog as they provide a safe space. Wild adult dogs, such as dingoes, coyotes, and wolves, will naturally find a den or safe area to sleep and hide. When the dam whelps the pups in the wild she sets up a den and keeps it clean until the pups are old enough to go outside on their own. She teaches them to only toilet outside and to keep the den clean. Domestic dogs will also naturally den. You will often see a dog sleeping under a table or desk or next to a piece of furniture if no other area is provided for them to den. By providing a denning area, ie a crate, you are giving your dog a safe space to be. They can retreat to this space when they are sleepy, want to relax, or are nervous. 

At minimum, it is best to crate your puppy overnight until they are completely housebroken.

Your puppy may whine when you crate them. They are used to a busy house, other dogs, and littermates, and thus they may feel lonely or simply may want to get out and play. It is important to train your dog to not do this. Do not take them out of the crate until they stop whining. You may take them out of the crate as soon as they stop whining. Soon, they will learn that whining does not get them out of the crate any faster, and the puppy will realise that they will always be let out of the crate according to their owner’s schedule in the morning. 

Crate training should all be done positively with no negative associations. When you first bring the puppy home from the breeder, have the crate ready and comfortable for the puppy. It is best to put a bed, blanket, or towel in the crate for them. I recommend a folded towel or blanket as they are easier to wash if the puppy has an accident in their crate, and because the puppy is less likely to chew on them than they are a bed with stuffing. It is always good to give your puppy a toy, treat, or chewie that they can have while in the crate so as not to get bored and begin whining, and also so that they have a positive feel-good experience with their crate. Crates should not be used as punishments but rather as holding areas and safe spaces for your dog.

At some point you will have to go to work or go out somewhere and can't take the puppy. Make sure the pup has been exercised and has pottied. It is helpful if he has played a bit and is tired. Take off his collar and remove any unsafe toys that may be in the crate, lure him into the crate with a treat or physically place the puppy into the crate gently. Close the door and leave the house without further ado. Do not talk to the puppy or try to comfort them; this may excite the puppy. It is best to let the puppy settle down and relax. You might have to explain to your neighbors that you are crate training your new puppy to keep them safe while you are away and so he will develop good potty habits. Explain that the puppy may whine for a little while after you leave. Sometimes, placing a blanket or towel over the crate can keep the puppy from whining because they will not be able to see any other animals or people in the home, which may excite them. In addition, being in a dark room may make them sleepy or relaxed.

If you are gone for long periods of time due to work and nobody else in the house is able to let them out, then it is best to use an above-floor pen or large crate instead of just a regular small crate. The puppy will need to have a place to toilet where they are confined, so use puppy pads or towels. Teach them to use puppy pads by rewarding them with praise or a treat whenever they toilet on one. However, puppies used to toileting in crates will have a hard time being housebroken. 

There are several other reasons that you may crate train your puppy:

-Flying via aeroplane

-Boarding 

-Car rides 

-Vet visits

Keeping the puppy/dog safe in the car is another reason to crate train. Nobody likes to think of what would happen if they were in a car accident. Car doors can fly open and the dog, if uncrated, stands a good chance of leaping out into traffic and getting hit by a car or running off because they are scared. Your dog is also less likely to survive a car accident if they are loose in the car. If you have your dog crated in the car when in an accident, then the dog may get banged around but the crate will most likely protect the dog from being hit, may help contain the dog in the car itself, and will keep him from being lost if the car doors fly open even if the crate is expelled from the car. If you are hurt in the accident the emergency services people are more likely keep your dog safe and contained if the dog is in a crate and they can easily transport the dog to a safe area.

DO'S & DON'TS

*Never crate a dog with a choke collar on. 

Dogs can choke themselves to death. It's probably a good idea to remove any collar while the dog is in the crate.

*Never crate a dog with a leash attached! Same reason. 

*Use safe toys only, nothing the dog or puppy can get apart and choke on while you're not there. Rawhide chewies are not good to leave unsupervised dogs with. Squeaky toys need to be monitored because the squeakers can be removed and swallowed and cause the pup to choke.

*Good toys that are safe: Kongs. These are made of hard rubber that is almost impossible to destroy. They come in many different sizes and it have an small opening on one end. Some people put a little peanut butter inside and that gives the pup/dog something do for awhile after you leave. Not a lot of peanut butter, just enough to keep them interested.