Crate Training

One question that I get asked frequently is "How do I get my puppy to stop peeing and pooping in the house?"  To which I usually say "Get a crate!  For the love of dog please get a crate."

Crate training is a very efficient way to teach your pooch to do his business outside rather than on the rug, in your shoes, or on your bed.  (Sound familiar T.?)

Even though crates (either the metal see-through kind or the hard plastic transportation crate) have been around for some time a lot of people still have hang-ups about putting their dog in a box-like enclosure.  Please remove those thoughts from your minds, dear internets, dogs are den animals.  They love curling up in small, tight spaces.  It makes them feel comfortable and secure.  Think of it this way, you have a bassinet, playpen, or crib for your baby to sleep or play in safety, a crate is a sort of crib for dogs.  It keeps them safely away from household hazards (cleaning supplies, sharp objects) and stops them from being destructive (like eating your new cashmere sweater).

Now that you're considering getting a crate for your dog - and dogs of any age can be introduced to a crate with some training and patience - you might be asking yourself how a crate can help you teach your dog to pee outside.  It's very simple actually:  Dogs don't like to eliminate where they sleep.  If you get your dog on a eating, sleeping and eliminating routine with the aid of a crate the dog will learn very quickly what is expected of him.

Instead of writing down all the do's and don'ts of crate training here (because I'm feeling lazy today) I will instead point you to some great sites that explain crate training in detail and also to some books so you can further your education.

Before I send you off to other sites I will say that crate training is not for every dog but it is a wonderful way to manage and train most dogs.  If you are housetraining a dog of any age I urge you to at least consider buying a crate.

Onto the links:

I have no idea who the American Dog Trainer's Network is, and I have no affiliation with them, but I did enjoy this article on crate training.  Lot's of good information in there.

Need to know how to introduce your dog to a crate?  The HSUS has a good article.

I'm loving this booklet by Patricia McConnell and Karen London - Way to Go! How to Housetrain a Dog of Any Age

"Quick and Easy Crate Training" by Teoti Anderson is also a good resource, although I don't like the "quick and easy" in the title.  That's not to say that crate training is long and difficult but your version of quick and easy and my version of it might be two different things.

Good luck!

Comments

[crunchy carpets]

I love our crate....
I could not imagine life without it really.

Callie was 'sort of' trained when we got her, but she has her 'quirks.'

One is...she don't like the bad weather and will do anything to not pee or poop outside in inclement weather.

I don't blame her..but too bad.

So after a day of her holding it and then doing sneek poops in my sons room after us walking her or shoving her out in the yard....

we went back to the crate.
In she stayed unless I took her outside for a pee break....then back in the crate.

We did this all afternoon till dinner time.

Worked.

She also does revenge pooping and peeing....if she can't get into a room that we are in...she will do this.

Like when I am trying to bathe the kids.

So I either have her in with us or in the crate.

When I know people are coming to the door and it is going to be crazy..into the crate.

When we go out.
Into the crate...with the tv on for company!

So yeah....even a partially crate trained dog makes life easier and she never fusses tooo much either.

[Liberal Banana]

Great HSUS article. We did crate training at our last training class at the shelter and I learned the "sprinkling treats in and around the crate" trick. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that everyone who adopts from us does crate training.

[Redneck mommy]

Yes, Mrs. Chicky.

I got your message.

I bought a damn crate.

But he looks so sad in it.

However, if I don't happen to step in a surprise turd in the middle of the night while fumbling my way to the bathroom, it will all be worth it.

[Mihail Asenov]

Great article!
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[Allyson]

I need to know how to get my puppy to stop peeing when she sees me. When i come home and she sees me she pees on the floor. I have tried not acknowledging her and going straight outside and nothing works. She just gets too excited.