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Orange County and Los Angeles Dog Training |
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Larry is a certified
trainer and owner of Paws2tail. He was raised on a farm and surrounded
by many animals, which included six dogs of his own. This destined
Larry to have a rewarding career as a dog trainer . . .
READ MORE > |
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Sometimes it is necessary to
use a crate or to confine your puppy in a small area to help
house train her, to help prevent destruction or to manage
other problems. Crate training is easy, but it does take time
and patience on your part. If you do it correctly, your puppy
will be comfortable in her crate and go in willingly whenever
you ask her.
1. How do I choose the right crate for my puppy?
Your puppy should be able to stand up easily, turn around
with no effort and lie down comfortably. There are predominantly
two different styles of crates - molded plastic and wire crates.
Plastic crates tend to be better suited for travel, are fairly
lightweight, provide more insulation and can be split in half.
When split in half, the bottom half can be used as a puppy
bed.
Wire crates offer your puppy a better view, more air circulation,
and can be easily folded and stored under a bed or in a closet.
Both plastic and wire have advantages and disadvantages and
your decision will be based on your individual needs. We usually
don't recommend soft-sided cloth crates for puppies because
of the likelihood puppies will chew on them.
2. How should I prepare my puppy's new crate? Top of Page
The key is to help your puppy be comfortable. Place a towel
or blanket in the crate to provide a soft surface to lie on.
If your puppy tears up these items, try substituting soft
rubber matting, obtainable through pet stores or catalogs.
Don't forget your puppy's special toy.
3. Where's the best place in my home for my crate? Top of Page
Place the crate where the family spends a lot of time. A family
room, living room or kitchens are good spots. Avoid basements
or other areas where the family does not spend much time.
You do not want your puppy to feel isolated during the crate
training process. This could cause immediate problems. Remember
that you may be moving your puppy's crate from its daytime
location to the bedroom during initial overnight crating.
4. Why should I crate train my puppy? Top of Page
If you aren't familiar with a crate, you may feel as though
you are putting your puppy in a cage. But when used properly,
a crate is instead a safe place for your puppy when you can't
be there to supervise. A crate makes a useful behavior management
tool.
A crate will help keep your puppy safe from household hazards
when you're not around and will also help limit her destructive
behavior.
A crate is a great way to transport your puppy and can also
be an essential tool in housetraining. Keep in mind that a
crate is not meant to be a full time "Nanny" and it does not
replace good training and puppy raising skills.
5. Why go through this crate training process? Can't
I just put my puppy in the crate and leave? Top of Page
Having your puppy accept the crate requires a step-by-step
training process. At first, the crate is unfamiliar to your
puppy, and being confined there without an introduction process
would be distressing.
Once your puppy has a bad experience with crating, it is much
more difficult, and sometimes impossible, to teach her that
the crate is a safe place. You don't want your puppy to panic
and hurt herself trying to get out of the crate because she
isn't used to it. Crate training will make things better for
your puppy and for you.
6. How will a crate help in housetraining my puppy? Top of Page
The value of crating is that it prevents your puppy from having
the chance to make a mistake and soil in the house when you
can't supervise her. She will be reluctant to soil her sleeping
area, as long as she isn't frightened and isn't crated too
long.
7. How can I use a crate to limit my puppy's destructive
behavior? Top of Page
When you're not around to supervise your puppy, crating her
will prevent her from having the chance to find things to
chew on that she shouldn't.
8. What if my puppy soils in the crate? Top of Page
Something is wrong. Maybe your puppy didn't completely relieve
herself before being crated. Next time, make sure she does
so. Did you crate your puppy for longer than she could control
herself? Your puppy may be frightened or anxious when crated.
Is your puppy showing other warning signs from the list above?
You must determine why she is frightened. Is your puppy afraid
of noises such as thunder or trash trucks? You may need help
desensitizing or socializing your puppy. Is your puppy afraid
of being left alone? Puppies need time to adjust to being
away from their mom and littermates. If your puppy seems panicky
when left alone, she may not do well in a crate until she
has had more time to adjust. Begin by leaving her confined
in a room by herself with a baby gate while you are in another
part of the house for short time periods.
Any number of medical conditions could make your puppy need
to relieve herself more often. Have you puppy checked by your
veterinarian.
9. What if my puppy whines or barks to get out of
the crate? Top of Page
You can ignore mild vocalizations. When your puppy is quiet,
either let her out of the crate or reward her with a tidbit.
If she sounds really upset or panicked, either let her out
of the crate or sit nearby, put your hand into the crate and
talk quietly to your puppy. It's better to help your puppy
calm down rather than forcing her to stay crated and become
more agitated until she begins to fear the crate.
Determine why your puppy became so upset. Have you moved too
fast through the crate training process? Go back a few steps
in the process.
10. Will my puppy ever grow out of needing to be crated? Top of Page
Yes. A puppy should be fully housetrained and should show
no signs of destructive behaviors when you are home before
you try leaving her alone free in the house. Your puppy could
be anywhere from six months to two years old before she can
be trusted alone out of the crate. Puppy proof laundry rooms
can be used to make the transition from being crated. Gradually
let your puppy spend more time in the transition area or free
in the house over a period of days or weeks. Watch for house
soiling, destructiveness and signs of fear or distress. If
you see any of these, go back to shorter times out of the
crate and then gradually lengthen them as your puppy adapts
to her new surroundings without supervision.
Many people never leave their dogs completely free in the
house, but rather restrict their dog's access to certain areas
that have been puppy proofed and that are easy to clean, such
as a family room, kitchen or laundry room. |
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