The Crate Method: The Best Way to Train a Puppy

Posted by William Preston

December 18, 2008

by William Preston

So, you've got a new puppy. Congratulations! Now comes the fun part -- house training. There are many misconceptions floating around about how to accomplish this, so in this article I am going to share what is probably the easiest and most effective way to house train your new puppy.

I've had several dogs over the years, and have tried different methods of house training them. The one method, however, that stands out above all the rest is known as the crate method. Crate training refers to housing your puppy in a small crate, or indoor kennel, and keeping her in there when she is not out for walks with you, or when she's not being actively supervised while in your home.

Crate training is based on all dogs' inherent dislike of soiling the area where they sleep. Because you're restricting your puppy's movement to her sleeping space, she'll instinctively "hold it in" until she's let out of the crate (provided you don't leave her in there too long, of course!) This is why it's important that the crate is sized properly: if it's too big, she'll be able to use one end as a bed and one end as a toilet, which defeats the whole purpose!

When choosing a crate, make sure you get one that will allow your new puppy to grow to her full size without having to replace the crate. Be sure it has enough space for your dog to easily stand up and move around a bit. As the dog gets bigger, you don't want her being housed in a crate that's too confining.

Because the adult dog is likely to be considerably larger than the puppy, it'll most likely be necessary for you to use a barrier to reduce the internal size of the crate. A wire grille or board will do just fine. Alternatively, you can use a cheap crate (or even make one yourself) and replace it with a larger model as your puppy grows.

The process of crate training is actually more difficult for the new owner than it is for the new puppy. You will be required to keep the puppy in her crate at all times, literally, except for the times when she will be placed outside to go to the bathroom (and taken for walks), eating, and having supervised playtime with you inside the house. This may seem like cruel and unusual punishment, but it isn't. It is actually crucial to the well-being of puppy as she continues to grow to become an integral part of your family. Be consistent this, and don't give in.

This doesn't mean that you should keep your puppy in her crate all day long. She should be taken out every two to three hours to stretch her legs, and given the opportunity to go to the bathroom. At night time, however, you'll find that your puppy will usually sleep through the night no problem. Just keep an ear open for her. If you hear her whining, put her outside quickly.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, crate training is one of the most effective methods of house training a puppy. But it doesn't happen overnight, and it needs you to be consistent. The whole process can take anywhere from one to two months, but in the long run, this will be considered one of the best time investments you will have ever made in the life of your pet.

About the Author:

Want more information on how to train your puppy? You'll find all the resources you need by visiting my Training a Puppy blog. You'll also discover some great info on the best puppy training techniques.

Dog Training