Crating Puppies for Housetraining

Promoting a Consistent Routine:

Crates provide a designated space for your puppy, helping establish a consistent routine for their bathroom needs. Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area, so by using a properly sized crate, you encourage them to hold their bladder and bowels until they are taken outside. This consistent routine helps them understand the appropriate times and places to relieve themselves, setting the groundwork for successful house training. Pups develops a surface association and will always seek out the surfaces they have used to toilet before. This is the reason why pups who are given too much freedom will constantly return to the places they have used before – like specific carpets. The trick is to create the correct association from day one. Regular, supervised trips outside the crate for bathroom breaks reinforce the idea of eliminating in designated areas, fostering good habits.

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Establishing a Positive Living Space:

Crating puppies allows them to view their crate as a secure and comfortable den, creating a positive association with their living space. Ensure the crate is cosy and inviting, with soft bedding and toys. Puppies will learn to see the crate as their own personal retreat, reducing anxiety and providing them with a sense of security. 

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Teaching Independence and Self-Control:

Crates help puppies develop independence and self-control. They learn to entertain themselves, relax, and settle down within the confines of their crate. Crate training teaches puppies to be comfortable spending time alone. It also promotes self-control as they learn to wait patiently for their release from the crate, a valuable skill for their overall behaviour and obedience.

 

Enhancing Safety and Supervision:

Crates provide a safe and secure environment for your puppy when you cannot directly supervise them. It prevents them from getting into potentially dangerous situations or engaging in destructive behaviours. Crating puppies during times when you are unable to watch them closely, such as when cooking, running errands, or sleeping, ensure their safety and your peace of mind.

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Choosing a Crate:

The crate needs to be large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. Visit our crate size page to help with choosing an appropriate size for your puppy. (add link) To start, you can cordon off the extra space with a barrier like a cardboard box.

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What Should be Placed in the Crate: 

Place your puppy’s bed or mattress into the crate plus a comfy blanket. Partially covering the crate with a duvet cover or sheet, can help to create a more den-like atmosphere.

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Where Should the Crate be Situated:

You can place the crate next to your bed or in an area where the family usually congregates (like the lounge or kitchen). You may choose to get more than one crate to allow you to have a night time and daytime location or you can move the crate from place to place as needed. The area should be free from drafts or direct sunlight as your puppy will not be able to move away if they should become too hot or too cold, once the door is closed.  

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How it Works:

Make the crate enticing by sprinkling treats inside. When you arrive home with your puppy, take them into the garden for their first bathroom break – best if this is on lead. After your pup has had an opportunity to explore or play, they will be tired. Take them out to the toilet again before placing them in the crate with the door closed. Ignore any crying and leave the puppy to sleep. Only allow the puppy out when they wake again. Carry your puppy (with the lead attached) to the designated place in the garden that you would like them to use and wait for them to go the toilet. Once they have, you can allow the puppy to walk around in the house still attached to the lead. The lead prevents the puppy from moving away from you and having an accident in the house. A small puppy needs to go to the toilet the second they wake, after every meal, after every game and about every half an hour in addition. This means lots of running up and down to the toilet area for you and your pup. Always carry your pup or they will have an accident on the way. 

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Your pup needs to be put into the crate whenever they are sleepy (after a visit to the toilet area), whenever you cannot supervise them, at night and for short periods during the day, even when they are awake. Eventually, your pup will seek out the crate when they are tired or feel the need for some quiet time.     

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Once your pup realises that the crate is coupled with access to chews or toys, you will have created a positive association. Stock up on tasty chews to keep them busy, like dried bones, hooves or sinews. You can stuff a Kong with treats and canned food or you can purchase pre-stuffed bones or hooves. 

Your puppy can cope with being in the crate for up to four hours at a time, when needed but this should be built up gradually. The crate is the safest place to leave your pup if you are needing to go out and leave them at home. At night, you will need to take your pup out the second they wake, which may be twice a night initially. Within a few days, this will be once a night and within a few weeks, your pup will be able to sleep through. The success of crate training (and toilet training) is completely in your hands. It is essential that you respond immediately that your pup stirs or cries. Carry your pup outside to the toilet and then return them to the crate. If your pup cries again and you are sure they do not need the toilet, you need to leave them to cry. Covering the crate completely can help to calm a stressed out pup. If you are consistent, your pup will soon no longer be crying in the crate (unless they need the toilet).  

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Keep your pup on the lead whenever not in the crate for the first few weeks. Besides preventing accidents in the house, this will also allow you to prevent any chasing behaviour or destruction while encouraging your pup to bond with you.  

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Some dog owners choose to continue to use a crate for their dog into adulthood. If you prefer not to, continue to crate your pup until you are 100% sure they understand only to go to the toilet outside and until they are sleeping through the night. If you give your pup too much freedom, too soon, you can end up with house training accidents and destructive behaviour.