Crate Training: The Ins and Outs

Crate training is one of the most important things to teach a dog. Many dog owners try crate training the first night their furry friend is home and immediately give in to the lengthy and loud whines of separation anxiety. To curb the loud noises at night, one must work with their crates at various times throughout the day. Crate training creates a safe space for your dog to rest, yes, but did you know the crate is a great way to learn potty training quickly?

Crate training eliminates the ability for your dog to wander and get into things they shouldn’t get into. Those temptations are easily taken out of your dog’s environment with a crate. Think of the crate as a bedroom for your dog; there should be a bed, water, and a couple toys/chews to keep your furry friend comfortable (note: do not leave rope toys in crates, as the dogs can consume the pieces of rope and potentially need surgery to remove it). There are 2 types of chews that dogs love: a chew that is hard but gives a little, almost like rubber, and a chew that is very hard to exercise the dog’s jaw. I always love recommending a butcher’s bone and a Nylabone to keep the dog company, given that the dog does not show signs of trying to consume portions that may be small.

Potty training with the crate will give you a breath of relief. Here’s how to utilize them: if your dog doesn’t go potty at the dedicated potty time, put them in a crate properly fitted for their size for 5-10 minutes. Take the dog out, and try to have them go potty again. Repeat until the dog relieves themselves outside. The trick here? Dogs will not defecate or urinate where they eat and sleep. As long as the crate is fitted for the dog’s size (the dog should be able to walk in, turn around, and lay down comfortably) and no bigger, this potty training trick will work.