dog TRAINING
Crate Training - Protect Your Home and Your Pup
by Marti Hopson, DVM
PUPPY PROOFING YOUR
HOME BEGINS with
controlling your pup’s environment by actively
supervising him—or by
restricting him to a safe
place where he can’t be
hurt and can’t do any
damage to your home.
How to Begin Crate Training
- Put your puppy in the crate in a room in
which there are often people. This way,
your puppy will not feel abandoned.
- After your puppy has eaten, has had
some playtime and exercise and has
had a chance to eliminate, it’s time for
a little nap or some alone time to play
with his
favourite toys. This is your best
opportunity to begin crate training.
- Give your puppy a chew toy and treats.
Start with short periods in the crate
with the door open. Then, try closing
the door for longer periods.
- If your puppy cries, wait for a quiet
moment. Then, open the door and give
him a treat. This way, you reward the quiet behaviour, not the whining.
- If you try to keep your puppy in a crate
overnight, place the crate in a place
where you can hear him. If your puppy
cries for hours and you don’t respond,
he will feel that no one is going to help
him. Instead, you want him to learn that
the crate is a safe place where good
things happen. You can place the
crate in your bedroom or set up a
sleeping bag next to the crate for the
first couple nights so that your puppy
can see
and smell you.
- Remember that puppies can’t hold their
bladders for very long. Your puppy may
need to be let out to eliminate at night
for the first few weeks.
