Teaching one dog a boundary (i.e., waiting at an open door) can be challenging and needs to be taught with minimal distraction as you work up to the major temptations. Teaching it to three dogs….well, the pictures tell the story. “Oscar, Balboa, and Argus, good dogs.” I even tossed out a toy and a ball and the most difficult challenge of all…having their dads walk past them as if greeting a guest at the gate. So smart!
Of course, sit and down are easy in comparison. Don’t tell the senior he isn’t lying down (he gets a free pass for putting up with the new, young adoptee). Such a great family!
Lately, I have heard this comment from several people. I want to ask…to whom? If you abandon a dog to a crate in some remote place in the home where it isn’t around its new family, perhaps that could be considered cruel. I sense an element of pride when someone assures me their puppy doesn’t need a crate. OK.
I may never hear the sequel to that story, but I can almost guarantee that confinement of some sort is necessary in order to provide a safe place for a puppy while house training, teaching house manners, and letting them move beyond the time of mass destruction commonly referred to as “teething.”
Do I insist on crate training? No. Do I want to do all I can to assist in a newly adopted dog staying in its new home with the least amount of stress and confusion? Yes. It doesn’t matter to me – it’s what works for you and your pup. But, a puppy given too much room, is very difficult to house train. I know some people have the time to take their dog out every hour or so for a potty break, so the need for confinement doesn’t seem necessary. However, this pup will not learn to hold it and to let you know when it needs to go out, and it will also be difficult to get it on a schedule so you can leave the dog when necessary.
Crate training a dog is neither cruel nor the only way to go. From the work I do, I can tell you it has saved many a relationship with man’s best friend.
If you need assistance with house training and/or crate training, get a copy of my ebook “The Truth About Housebreaking” and get a free copy of my crate training ebook.
While there is more information available than you could possible want to know about house training, it is still the number one concern of my clients. The challenge for most people is moving beyond the memory of their previous experience when, “we house trained our last dog in five days and never used a crate.”
No one quite remembers how they did it, but only that it was easy. Some suffer or rather are blessed with memory loss regarding the time it took to get their new pup to “go” outside. I’m not sure why it seems so different now than it used to. Perhaps dogs resided outside more than inside, maybe you were more patient, or let’s face it – the previous dog may have just been a quick learner!
You will get the new pup housetrained much faster if you immediately get on a consistent schedule with food, potty breaks, and confinement (crate or small space) and supervision. Consider it a learning experience and welcome the new-and-improved process. It works!
If you have any questions about a proven system of house training and/or crate training, contact me or check out the ebook to the right.
If you have puppies and can’t keep your eye on them constantly, hire a dog nanny. This video is of Mac-Nanny. Mac is a labradoodle that does a great job at keeping two Maltese puppies corralled and in their crate.
Crates aren’t just for puppies anymore! Just because a dog is into adolescence, doesn’t mean they don’t need to have a safe place to be when you are away. Crate training is usually associated with housebreaking and then the crate goes out in the garage sale.
Maybe you don’t need it after the first few months; however, your dog may not be trustworthy until they are two years old. Don’t think of confining your dog to a crate or kennel as cruel. Think of it as their safe place. The place where they take naps while you are away or having guests for dinner.
If you have an adult dog who has never been in a crate, they can still adapt. Dogs are den creatures. Usually, they can be trained to enter the crate if you place their bed in it, throw in a dog biscuit as you say “crate” or “bed,” and close the door for a brief period of time so they get used to it.
Crating can be a life saver when bringing home a shelter dog. Until you know if they are housebroken or in a destructive mode, crating allows you both to relax as everyone adapts. If you are going away and need to board your dog or have them ride along in the car, prior crate training will be invaluable.
If you need additional specifics on crate training, please let me know in the box to the right.
You would think that if a dog is “housebroken” and potties outside most of the time, there is no concern right?
If you use a dog door to teach your dog to go potty outside, there is no guarantee that when the door is closed to the outside it won’t opt to go inside if given the chance. They don’t truly know not to go inside when the access to the outside is removed.
Dog doors are great! They serve a wonderful purpose and allow us the freedom to leave our dogs for longer period of time. However, it is best to completely housebreak your dog prior to introducing them to the dog door. Or, use the dog door in the process of housebreaking but still go outside with them to assure they are going and not just outside for a breath of fresh air!
We’ve all experienced the “what are you thinking” moment when our dog has been outside unattended for two hours (so, of course they went potty – right?!) only to have them come inside and go. Remember a puppy can be distracted by a leaf blowing and completely forget whey they are outside!
For detailed instruction on housebreaking, check out my ebook “The Truth About Housebreaking” or send me a question using the box to the right. I’m glad to assist in any way I can.
Crate training can be a necessity for housebreaking. It also provides a place of safety for your dog and that may mean sanity for you. I often get calls about a “destructive” behavior that a well-behaved dog has suddenly been expressing.
It’s never too late to crate train. The biggest question is what behavior is making you ask this question in the first place? If you are wanting to housebreak a puppy or an older dog, crate training is a great option. You will have to use time and patience in both cases to acclimate them to the idea of being confined.
If you have a dog that is being destructive and housebreaking is not an issue, then you may want to use a play pen or something larger than what is used for housebreaking. This will provide a secure place for your dog and give them room to move around.
There are a lot of variables to crate training. If you are interested in learning more, I have written a Guide that explains the crate training process and how to housebreak any dog .
