Comments on: Does anyone know how to crate train a puppy? or an idea of a crate training schedule? http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html Training a Labrador puppy is a whole lot of fun! They're highly intelligent, gentle and eager to please Sun, 20 May 2012 06:11:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Mrs. Duck http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html/comment-page-1#comment-1576 Mrs. Duck Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:06:48 +0000 http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html#comment-1576 Congratulations on your new puppy :) Crate training can be a difficult process, but its definitely worth it for you and your puppy. I'll give my advice on what worked crate training my dog (he's five now, but we got him at 10 weeks old!), and then leave a link for the Human Society's information on crate training. First off, you'll want to make sure you have time to be home with your puppy, at least for the first few days, but if possible the first week or two. Secondly, you need to pick the correct sized crate. People frequently assume that its "cruel" to have the dog in a small crate, but reality is, the puppy should have enough room to get in, and circle around and lay down, but not enough room that she could soil one corner of the crate and sleep in the other. Some sort of bedding so she's comfortable is a must, but make sure its not something she can chew (since puppies do chew). If it is something she could possibly chew, and swallow, observe her in her crate, to prevent the risk of bowel obstructions. Please take into consideration, that a typical puppy can hold his/her urine for his/her age in months, plus one. So at eight weeks, two months, you're puppy can hold it for around three hours. Taking this into consideration, I'd really recommend taking her out at least every two hours to start with, more if possible. A normal schedule may go as follows: 9:00am: She goes outside. If she pees or poops, you give her praise, and you can play with her outside, or inside for a while. 10:00am - 10:05am: Crate time. She will cry, and you will feel the need to run to her. Starting off with just a few minutes of crate time, five or less, gets her used to the crate. 10:05am - 10:45am: Tell her she's a good girl and immediately take her out. The BEST routine we've gotten into, is taking our dog out immediately after he leaves his crate. It has clicked something in his brain, so now he automatically uses the bathroom once he's out of his crate. She may not go this time, since she did just go an hour before. 10:45-10:50: Crate time. Again, plan for tears. Afterward take her immediately outside for at least another half an hour, a walk if you can. Repeat this throughout the day. Whenever you feed her (2-3 times a day depending on size) take her out immediately afterward. Keep an eye on her water intake, and take her out after she drinks as well. For the first day, stick to 5-10 minutes in the crate at a time. Work your way up from there, adding 5-10 minutes each day on. Also, you can start by staying in the same room as her in her crate, but you want to pretty quickly move to another room, so she can't see you. It is hard, and it will take a few weeks of whining and crying to get used to it, but it makes house breaking so much easier, and now I can just say, "Frankie crate," and he goes right into his crate :) He actually enjoys sleeping in there! The crate IS NEVER a punishment. If she has an accident, don't yell at her and put her in the crate. The crate is a safe place, and the more you treat it like one, the more she'll want to be in there. Good luck! http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html Congratulations on your new puppy :) Crate training can be a difficult process, but its definitely worth it for you and your puppy. I’ll give my advice on what worked crate training my dog (he’s five now, but we got him at 10 weeks old!), and then leave a link for the Human Society’s information on crate training.

First off, you’ll want to make sure you have time to be home with your puppy, at least for the first few days, but if possible the first week or two. Secondly, you need to pick the correct sized crate. People frequently assume that its "cruel" to have the dog in a small crate, but reality is, the puppy should have enough room to get in, and circle around and lay down, but not enough room that she could soil one corner of the crate and sleep in the other. Some sort of bedding so she’s comfortable is a must, but make sure its not something she can chew (since puppies do chew). If it is something she could possibly chew, and swallow, observe her in her crate, to prevent the risk of bowel obstructions.

Please take into consideration, that a typical puppy can hold his/her urine for his/her age in months, plus one. So at eight weeks, two months, you’re puppy can hold it for around three hours. Taking this into consideration, I’d really recommend taking her out at least every two hours to start with, more if possible.

A normal schedule may go as follows:

9:00am: She goes outside. If she pees or poops, you give her praise, and you can play with her outside, or inside for a while.

10:00am - 10:05am: Crate time. She will cry, and you will feel the need to run to her. Starting off with just a few minutes of crate time, five or less, gets her used to the crate.

10:05am - 10:45am: Tell her she’s a good girl and immediately take her out. The BEST routine we’ve gotten into, is taking our dog out immediately after he leaves his crate. It has clicked something in his brain, so now he automatically uses the bathroom once he’s out of his crate. She may not go this time, since she did just go an hour before.

10:45-10:50: Crate time. Again, plan for tears. Afterward take her immediately outside for at least another half an hour, a walk if you can.

Repeat this throughout the day. Whenever you feed her (2-3 times a day depending on size) take her out immediately afterward. Keep an eye on her water intake, and take her out after she drinks as well. For the first day, stick to 5-10 minutes in the crate at a time. Work your way up from there, adding 5-10 minutes each day on. Also, you can start by staying in the same room as her in her crate, but you want to pretty quickly move to another room, so she can’t see you.

It is hard, and it will take a few weeks of whining and crying to get used to it, but it makes house breaking so much easier, and now I can just say, "Frankie crate," and he goes right into his crate :) He actually enjoys sleeping in there!

The crate IS NEVER a punishment. If she has an accident, don’t yell at her and put her in the crate. The crate is a safe place, and the more you treat it like one, the more she’ll want to be in there.

Good luck!

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html

]]> By: Felica http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html/comment-page-1#comment-1577 Felica Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:06:48 +0000 http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html#comment-1577 http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html

]]> By: Claire http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html/comment-page-1#comment-1578 Claire Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:06:48 +0000 http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html#comment-1578 be very patient... i found this site quite helpful http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/puppy-crate-training.html be very patient… i found this site quite helpful

http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/puppy-crate-training.html

]]> By: April K http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html/comment-page-1#comment-1579 April K Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:06:48 +0000 http://www.labpuppyobediencetraining.com/does-anyone-know-how-to-crate-train-a-puppy-or-an-idea-of-a-crate-training-schedule.html#comment-1579 at night was when i wanted my puppy to go in the crate so when it came time to bedtime i would put her in the crate, close it then give her a treat and put a thin blanket over the top to make it dark.She didnt like this for a week or so and would howl and whimper all night so i put her in the garage with the dryer on to keep it warm since it was winter and after about a week i brought her in the house in her crate and she no longer howled or whimpered. and throughout the day she would go in and out the crate as i kept the door open.The my older dog was a min pin around 4 and her transition into the crate was hassle free since her lil sis was the example and leader of the two. at night was when i wanted my puppy to go in the crate so when it came time to bedtime i would put her in the crate, close it then give her a treat and put a thin blanket over the top to make it dark.She didnt like this for a week or so and would howl and whimper all night so i put her in the garage with the dryer on to keep it warm since it was winter and after about a week i brought her in the house in her crate and she no longer howled or whimpered. and throughout the day she would go in and out the crate as i kept the door open.The my older dog was a min pin around 4 and her transition into the crate was hassle free since her lil sis was the example and leader of the two.

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