Housetraining: The Crate Method

Although you probably know that a puppy up to 8 months of age can "hold it" as many hours as his age in months plus one, puppies need plenty of exercise and lots of opportunities to explore their surroundings. Please don't forget this when you put your pup in the crate for hours. Even if your pup manages to hang on longer than is good for him, you may be facing future disasters in the form of bladder stones.



I believe four hours is the maximum time a dog should be left in a crate. There is more to consider here than whether or not the dog will urinate in the house. You need to consider his psychological needs and his need for exercise. Dogs are complex creatures, and your intelligent pup cannot bear the deprivations that go along with being crated. If you must keep your puppy in a crate for longer periods of time, be absolutely sure to exercise him before and after his confinement. If this means getting up earlier in the morning to go for a walk with your Pom or Bully, please do so.

Posted by bulliies_mom  on  Saturday, July 14, 2007  

When you are housetraining a puppy, the key to success is avoidance. It is much easier for a puppy to learn a good habit than to unlearn a bad one. The crate training method of housetraining is a highly successful way to avoid bad habits before they begin.



Some dog owners see the crate or cage method of housetraining as cruel. But they are also surprised to find that the puppy will eventually come to think of his crate as a place of private retreat or a den where he will go for rest and privacy. The success of the crate method is based on the fact that puppies will not soil the area in which they sleep, unless they are forced to do so.



Begin using the crate when you feed your puppy his meals. Place him in the crate and keep the door closed and latched while the puppy is eating. When the meal is finished, open the cage and CARRY the puppy outdoors to the spot where you want him to learn to eliminate. If you consistently take your puppy to the same spot, you will reinforce the habit of going there for that purpose.

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