Crate Training a Puppy

Puppies are naturally cute, active, and fun to play with, but they can also be destructive to households when unsupervised. Crate training a puppy is a great way to keep your puppy comfortable while you are away from home as well as keeping the household intact. A crate is simple to set up - all it needs is a blanket or towel for comfort, a water bottle dispenser (like those found in small mammal cages), and a few toys or the occasional treat.

When crate training a puppy, don't make the mistake of starting at too young an age. Puppies can start crate training slowly at the age of 9 or 10 weeks, but should be in the crate for no more than an hour at a time. Otherwise, the puppy may have an accident. If so, use a bit of soap and water to clean the crate and a natural pet odor neutralizer to remove any remaining smell. Puppies also just won't be able to stand being cooped up for too long, and will grow dissatisfied with staying in the crate. The key to crate training is to make the crate a safe, happy place for the puppy to be. Thus, do not keep the puppy in it for long periods of time, and do not use it as a place of punishment or time out.

Every week, gradually increase the amount of time the puppy spends in the crate. Some of this time should be while you are home, as this will prevent the puppy from learning that spending time in the crate means being alone. Regardless, by the time the puppy has reached the age of 16 weeks, it should be able to remain in the crate for at least four hours. If you must leave your puppy or dog in the crate for more than four hours, make sure to give it lots of exercise when home, including a long walk. Crate training a puppy may be difficult if your puppy is a more active breed, or if the dog is sick or excessively lonely.

Remember to take an active role in your puppy or full grown dog's life. If you are a new dog owner, consider dog obedience classes as a great way to connect with your pet while also learning basic dog commands. If you would like to discuss crate training a puppy with other dog lovers, please register to join the GoldenBuddies.com community and participate in the forum.