Tips for the Crate to Make it Great.....

Thanks to Kelly Marshall, an expert crate trainer & full time writer in the dog industry. Here are some more helpful crate training tips.

4 Crate Training Tips

It’s crucial that you never forget to remove your puppy or dog’s collar while they are in their crate. Your dog or puppy might get his collar stuck on the crate, causing a scary situation. And make sure the crate is never in direct sunlight, or placed too close to a vent or radiator. Your puppy has to be as comfortable as possible in his crate
for effective training and safety.

1. Toys in the Crate: Placing toys in the crate for your puppy’s amusement is a smart approach to prevent him from getting bored or lonely. A Nylabone or similar chew toy can provide immediate gratification.

2. Crating At Night: When you go to sleep, never forget to crate your puppy. A puppy should not be given unsupervised access to your home when you sleep. You might be startled when you wake up when you notice the demolition that has occurred. Here’s an addition hint that will help: lay a tarp under the crate. If your puppy has an accident inside the crate, it may drip onto the ground. This safeguards your flooring or carpeting in the future, or security deposit if you happen to be in a rental situation.

3. Don’t have any space for a crate? If you have absolutely no room to put a crate, you ought to then restrain your pup to a bedpost or to an eye hook in the baseboard close to your bed while you sleep. Give her just enough lead to spin around and lie down. You don’t want the lead to be too long where she will wander about in your bedroom. If you’re renting an apartment, make positive you have your landlords consent to screw an eye hook into the
base-board. This will make your landlord feel good about renting to dog owners since many don’t like dog owners as tenants. Additionally, lay cottony bedding onto the ground if he is to sleep tethered to your bed.

4. When Your Puppy Whines during the Night: During the first couple of weeks, your puppy may not be able to sleep through the night. Many pups whimper during the night because they need to go outside. When your puppy does cry, take him out straight off so he’s able to eliminate. After he’s done, entertain him for a few minutes or so and place him back into his crate (or on the leash).

It’s crucial that your puppy understands that he is being taken out of the crate at night to go potty and not to goof off. If he’s still whining after you have just taken him out and if you’re certain isn’t suffering from diarrhea, resist the urge to let him out to play with you. If you give in, you’re forming a pattern in which the puppy can decide when he gets to come out and you’ll regret it later on.