Crate Training: more than just for housebreaking
I really appreciate Tami getting this page ready for us. She stole much of the information from a page that I have been photocopying for years. I think crate training is a wonderful tool for house breaking and for preventing the house from being broken. If used correctly it is calming, not traumatizing for the dog. (Bob McKee)
"Crate train my dog? No way, I think that's cruel," say too many dog owners. But crates aren't cruel if they're used properly, say the experts. That's because dogs don't view them as cages but more like cribs. "Dogs are den animals: they instinctively seek out enclosed, dark safe places to serve as dens," says Katherine Houpt, VMD, an animal behavior specialist at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. That's why dogs love to go under beds an tables and inside closets. It's also why Houpt recommends the plastic airline-type crates that create a dark environment inside instead of the collapsible crates that let in a lot of light.
To introduce you puppy or dog to a crate, don't just force her in and shut the door. Make it inviting by putting a soft blanket or pad on the bottom (ideally with your scent on it) and a little kibble. Put the crate in a quiet corner of the most frequently used room. Encourage your pup to go in and enjoy the treats; if she won't go, gently place her inside. Praise her lavishly for checking it out. Call her out and do it again several times. You might even put the puppy's next meal in the crate (but don't normally leave food or water in the crate if you are housetraining). Give her a little treat every time she goes in. Make sure that if you have a full-size crate and your puppy is still very small, you put an empty box in the back of the crate to take up room until she grows. The available room in a crate should be only big enough to let your dog stand comfortably and turn around. If there's too much room in the crate, she may use a corner to eliminate. When the puppy is very young, the crate should ideally be next to your bed at night so she can hear and smell you.
Helps with housebreaking, too
Crates not only keep a mischevious puppy out of trouble but also make housetraining straight-forward and successful, right from the beginning. Most puppies won't eliminate where they sleep so they learn to hold in their wastes while crated. Puppies normally eliminate after waking from a nap, after eating and drinking, after play and before settling down for the night. Take the puppy ouside on these occasions or put her in the crate, for example, after play. As soon as you take her out of the crate, take her outside. (When you're out there say "Hurry Up" or "Do it" as she eliminates. Later you can used those workds as commands to tell her to "eliminate now.") Lavish praise on your puppy for eliminating outside and then bring her in the house to run around and play. After and hour or two (depending on her age) or whenever you start feeling nervous she may soil the house, either take her outside or pop her in the crate until it is convenient to take her out again. This way, you are usually guaranteed success outside and no accidents inside.
The general rule of thumb for how long you can keep your puppy in a crate is initially one hour more than your puppy's age in months, so if she's two months old she can be crated for up to three hours. A puppy younger than six months shouldn't be left home alone for much longer than that, says Houpt. "If everyone in the household works all day, rather than crate a pup that long and risk elimination in the crate, set up a puppy room, such as a bathroom or kitchen where your puppy can't get into too much trouble." Older puppies and adults, however can stay in the crate longer for up to six o even eight hours, if neccessary.
Training the older dog
Getting an older dog used to a crate may take some time and patience. Keep the door open and put some treats inside. Praise your dog for going inside. After a few times, close the door very briefly, for less than a minute the first time. Praise her when she's calm in the crate and only let her out when she's calm. Gradually increase the length of time she's in the crate with the door closed. Initially, stay in the room; gradually leave the room for longer and longer periods of time.
What if your dog whines or barks when you put her in the crate? If your just starting to use the crate, use the process described above, praising her or letting her out when she's calm. If you're beyond the introductory phase of using a crate and your dog barks or whines, whatever you do, don't let her out. "Instead, sharply smake the front of the crate to startle her," Houpt advises. Make sure your dog gets nothig she wants when she whines in the crate: no attention, no freedom, and no escape.
It's not necessarily forever
Many dog owners stop using the crate regularly once their puppy has outgrown her destructive stage and learned to sleep away the hours when their owners are gone. Others just use it at night and for travel. If you leave the crate open, there's a good chance your dog will still love to visit his indoor doghouse and will seek it out for rest and relaxation.
Crate training your pup
Do's
Do give her a treat when she goes in her crate.
Do make her crate comfortable with a toy and small blanket.
Do put an unsupervised puppy in the crate for short periods of time.
Ignore your puppy if she whines or scratches.
Dont's
Don't let your puppy out of the crate when she's whining or barking.
Don't leave her in the crate for more than one hour longer than her age in months. A two-month old pup can be in the crate for 3 hours.
Don't use the crate for punishment.