Puppy Training

One of the first things owners teach their puppies is not to eliminate in the house. One very effective method – the one used by most breeder’s and trainers – is crate training. Not only can you house train a puppy using a crate, but when used correctly, the dog naturally learns to look upon it as a den. The tool is simple: Puppies will not soil their sleeping area if they can possibly avoid it. Remember that a puppy needs time to play, so don’t over use it. A puppy can stay in his crate for an hour for every month old he is. Crates come in different sizes and styles. We recommend using a 18” x 24” wire crate. This is large enough. The puppy can see out of the wire crate better and they are portable. When you are not playing with the puppy he should be in his crate until he is house broken. He will cry or dig at the door when needs to get out. He will not want to mess in the crate. You can move the crate from room to room so the puppy does not get anxieties and can be a part of the family. I take the puppies out one last time around 10: 00 PM even if I have to wake them. He should sleep until 6:00 AM. The puppy will sleep all night if the second meal is fed early in the evening (by 5:00 PM) and no water after 8:00 PM. Never place paper in the bottom of the crate. This will encourage the puppy to eliminate there. In the morning when you take the puppy out of the crate carry him to the door until he learns where the door is. He has been holding all night and may not make it to the door when you let him walk. When the puppy first comes home we’ve found that the puppy will have an accident if the surface of the floor changes, like tile to carpet. To prevent this from happening take the puppy outside to eliminate before you put the puppy in a different room. Use the crate as your house training tool. He will let you know when he needs to go out if he is in the crate. He will not mess in his crate. Once he learns where the door is you can start leaving him out longer.