Your dog’s natural instinct as a den animal will come to light if you introduce crate training early and in a positive way. Giving your puppy his own personal bedroom can keep him safe and also help make him feel more secure.
With work and responsibilities, crate training your new puppy can sometimes be a difficult task. First of all, please understand that crate training your dog is not cruel. Trainers and Veterinarians agree that using a crate for your dog from a young age is a good idea. Your dog’s natural instinct as a den animal will come to light if you introduce crate training early and in a positive way. Giving your puppy his own personal bedroom can keep him safe and also help make him feel more secure.
It is best to start your puppy out as early as 8-10 weeks old. You want your puppy to associate his crate with safety and security. Your puppy’s “den” will also become helpful as a very effective way to begin house training.
It is best to begin crate training your puppy in a small crate that is just big enough for him to lay down in and stand upright comfortably. Your puppy should be able to enter the crate and turn around, but not walk around too freely. Sometimes inside the home, especially when unsupervised, a puppy can become overwhelmed or anxious with a large room or whole house to roam or “protect.” A smaller sanctuary will help keep your puppy out of trouble and give him/her a sense of comfort.
With the introduction of the G1™ Small Kennel, puppy owners may now have an easier time creating this sanctuary. Traditionally, it can be a little tougher to properly crate train a puppy when using a crate that is made for a full grown dog. Puppies will not soil their bed, however, they may not have a problem walking to the far corner of a large crate to relieve themselves.
Luckily, with the bombproof quality of these G1™ Small crates, most customers have been able to simply re-sell the small “puppy” kennel (with little to no value loss) when their pet outgrows it and is able to graduate up to a G1™ Intermediate Kennel.
If possible, it’s best to introduce your puppy to the kennel while you’re home for the first week. Evenings or weekends are a great time to begin your puppy’s training. Coax your puppy into the kennel with a steady pull on his leash while saying “kennel”, then reward him with praise while inside; close the door for a short time and practice this over and over. Increase the period of time your pup stays inside the kennel with the door closed. Before long, your puppy should be entering the crate on your command. Whenever your puppy falls asleep in your arms or elsewhere, place him in the crate and leave the door open.
Photo by Buzz Hayes
Your puppy will become more and more accustomed to his crate and will soon feel comfortable staying in his bedroom for long periods of time. As for most things when training a new puppy, repetition and routine are important. The G1™ Small Kennel makes a perfect puppy training tool. You can have peace of mind knowing your puppy is safe whether at home in his sanctuary or traveling with.
The importance of crate training cannot be expressed enough and crate training a puppy will have a profound effect on the success of your grown dog being a well-behaved companion that’s capable of traveling with you anywhere. Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time and with these simple tips, we hope you have the tools you need to begin an enjoyable relationship with your dog.
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