Posts Tagged ‘Puppy’

I have three indoor dogs.

I have a kennel attached to the house if they want to go outside to do their pee's and poo's, or to just play around.

When my one dog was a puppy people would walk onto our property to stick their hands through the fence, and either pet her or talk to her.

She loves people.

The problem is is that now, as soon as she sees someone walking by or the "very friendly neighbours" come outside, she barks to have them come over.

I do not want her barking, and have asked people to ignore her, and please do not come to the fence. because other people, who don't like dogs don't like the occassional barking.

I do have a barking collar that emits a high pitched sound. I really don't like the idea of it, because in my experience it just makes a dog nervous.

I am also at the window watching when the dogs are out. So, I can see what's happening and let them in right away if she start barking. Any ideas on what to do?

Why do dogs bark?

Dogs are pack animals and it is unnatural for them to be on their own. your dog needs the security of its family group. your dog will substitute you for its leader and family group and any long term absence will cause distress, and may lead to behavioural problems, including excessive barking.

The major reasons for dogs barking are:

isolation and loneliness
boredom or frustration
attention seeking
defending his territory
medical problems

Training

Always try to teach your dog good social skills from an early age. Good training will help your dog to distinguish between visitors and intruders and will also teach it not to bark at unfamiliar objects. Remember to reward your dog for good behaviour so that it comes to associate certain tasks with a pleasurable experience.

If you need help with the training of your dog, you should contact a local dog trainer, listed in the Yellow Pages. there may also be a dog club in your area which holds weekly group training sessions. This can help to teach your dog how to behave when in the company of other dogs and will enable you to seek advice from other owners.

Contact your local council or vet for further information about classes run in your local area.

Some simple things to try

Some dogs just don't want you to go out. Get your dog used to the idea using some of the following training methods:

leave the house at different times – this will prevent your dog anticipating when you are about to leave, which can lead to barking
don't make a fuss of your dog when you leave it
avoid putting your coat on or jangling your car keys in front of your dog as this tells your dog you are about to leave and it may start barking
try putting the dog on its own in another room for a few minutes, then gradually build up the time you leave it, until it is quiet for a while – return when it is quiet and praise it
some dogs bark because they want to join in with what's going on outside – if this is the problem, try leaving you dog where it cannot see outside
some dogs will settle only if they can hear a human voice so leaving the radio or television on at a low volume may help
try not to leave your dog for long periods, but if you have to, ask a friend or neighbour to look in and take the dog for a walk or let it out into the garden, if you have one
a dog door is very useful as it allows the dog access to the garden when you are not there
make sure your dog gets some exercise before you go out – a tired dog barks less
if your dog barks when it is excited, don't play with it at anti-social times such as late at night
if you do have to leave your dog for long periods feed and exercise it before you go out and leave it fresh water to drink
Make sure:

its bed or basket is comfortable and not in a draught or direct sunlight
you leave it a large marrow bone to chew and some of its favourite toys to play with
the room is not hot or too cold and that there is enough ventilation for the dog to get fresh air
if you are not returning until after dark, either leave a light on or use a night light that comes on automatically when it gets dark
If you leave your dog outside all day:

try not to put its kennel near a neighbour's fence where the dog may be tempted to bark
ensure the garden is completely secure, to prevent your dog from straying locally and causing problems to neighbours
don't think that you will solve the problem by replacing your dog with another – all dogs bark and unless you change your lifestyle at the same time, the problem will still be there
considering a second dog for company may help, but think about this carefully because a second dog could result in more not fewer problems – do you have the space, and can you afford it?

Good Luck! I hope i helped!

Take her to a training class just for her barking. They also have training collars you can control and barking collars that don't emit sound, but deliver a mild shock to the dog. After a few shocks they get the general idea. just remember to take it off when she's inside. If you don't like the idea of the training collars, have you tried blocking her view of people passing? maybe a privacy fence? I think a refresher in training for barking will do her wonders.

Maybe she is in the kennell for too long every day

Barking Dog Woes?

Related Blogs

How do theese two tie in together? when I get my new puppy home do I take it out to the backyard and show it where it goes potty? and then play and stuff for a while then go potty again and then start crate trainging him? Lots of things I've read say that crate trainging is the best way to house train your dog but I don't really understand how they work together? Thanks

puppies need to go outside to potty quite often. especially after eating, playing, sleeping, drinking etc. the crate has to be small enough that the puppy can sit and lay down but not big enough to pee or poop in and still be able to lay somewhere dry. always crate the puppy when you cant keep an eye on it to see if it needs to go out or not.

Most dogs wont use the bathroom on there crate, so when it goes outside give it a treat. this worked with my dog and now he doesnt even need a treat to go outside.

HouseBREAK….& of course crating is the easiset fastest way……CONFINE when not under direct supervision.
Oh,wait,you're a dopey kid….here….if you're not WATCHING IT every second-CRATE IT!!!

Most dogs will not go where they sleep. Using a crate takes advantage of that, by allowing you to control when the dog goes.

I usually do take a new dog out to the "bathroom" area first, before I even bring them in the house. I want them to know where it is, because I have found it makes housebreaking easier.

As a rule of thumb, a puppy can hold it one hour for every month old it is. That means a two month old puppy needs to be taken outside every two hours (at night, too).

At night, and when you cannot watch your puppy, then you can put him in the crate. you need to actually catch him in the act of going in the house, in order to correct him. if you do it after the fact, he will not understand.

Hope that helps )

Confining a dog or puppy to a crate when he is alone will help because most dogs as a rule do not like to be in close proximity to the mess they make and will restrain themselves until they are let out. I offer many great and free dog training tips on my blog, I am a dog trainer at Blue Ribbon K9 Dog Training Center in Las Vegas Nevada and here is our website http://www.blueribbon-k9.com/dogblog_files/category-dog-training.php. if you have any other questions feel free to click on my contact page, I will never sell your email. Our dog blog is fairly new but those two were the first that we blogged about.

I hope this helps.
Dave

House training your dog with a crate?

Related Blogs

Getting a puppy home is as exciting an experience as seeing first time your baby walk. but there are a few things you must know when you bring this four legged member to your family.

When you are taking an adult dog home. You can have a feel that he must have learned something from his previous master. but this is not so when you introduce a puppy to your home. You have to have patience to teach him everything from the scratch.

You will be required to put in all your skills of house training a dog besides taking some extra care and patience as this little creature has no training as yet.

Mannerism including eliminating outside house is the first things that you can expect your little puppy to learn.

Potty training for a dog is a hell of a task if you lack patience as you need them to behave like humans when they are feeling like potty.

First thing you are supposed to do in this regard is that you should not be harsh while potty training puppies. to start with you can take you puppy outdoor for a walk just after have fed him and ought to stay out till he lets it out.

He should be trained to wake up the same time every day and make him potty at the same place so that it transforms into a habit after sometime.

He should be given the stuff that would lead to solid stools during the potty training period so that even if it does potty inside hour, cleaning should not pose a problem. He should be appreciated after he comes in having relieved himself outside.

You may try bribing him things he likes after he begins going out for potty and deny these to him when he does not. This will force him to think that doing potty outside house is a better thing.

You should also ensure that he is put in a crate or within dog gates when you are not keeping an eye on him, so that he learns that he can’t relieve himself anywhere in the house.

You can access help from puppy training books and videos.

However, if all these techniques fail in potty training your puppy, you can opt for a professional help at home or you can take your puppy to puppy training classes.

Dog Potty Training Skills Save You Money

Related Blogs

How do I get my dog lying on the cover?

Our family dog Callie is 12 years. Since I was a puppy, than to have in the garage overnight. Callie now has arthritis, so in the concrete, despite its coverage, it is difficult for her in the cold morning. we bought a bed hot and put on his favorite blanket, but she refuses to throw over him. Instead, it landed on the cover of another. we have tried to consider that one, but only moves to the canvas. we removed the carpet, but simply put in the ground. how in the world can get thrown into it? the only place it refers to three cats. Really I'd like to throw it away because the help and keep warm. Suggestions? thanks!

have you tried running on the covers? half and half, so hepefully accused may just start throwing it

Heated Dog Beds Arthritis

Alright, for the longest time I wasn't aloud to take my dog out to any dog parks or do any real crate training with my dog. My stupid Dad wouldn't let me take him anywhere with other dogs, and he didn't believe in positive crate training, so whenever I wasn't around and he did something he thought was bad he would get stuck in the crate.

Anyways, my mom and I left for good and are finally doing fine on our own. but, now my dog, a mini dachshund has a few issues because I wasn't aloud to train him. We are getting a new puppy in a 6 months to a year, and I would like to have some tips so I can help my dog get better.

First off, now when he goes into his crate he totally freaks out. he wines and barks for HOURS, and when we leave him in it for a few hours he literally has explosive diarrhea. I have no clue what to do for him, because dogs are suppost to love their little dens but it stresses him out so much that it takes him to the point of getting sick.

Now, he is okay with other dogs, some he really hits it off (he is now best friends with a border collie, but he can't play with her anymore because she just had knee surgery) with but others he tenses up when the smell him and I don't want him to lash out at the other dog. Anything to help with would be great as well!

Thanks so much in advanced, I want my dog to be more comfortable, he loves people but I feel that he needs to be a more well rounded dog and he can be with training.

Take steps towards helping him to understand that his crate is like a "den" and not a place where bad dogs go. Put a favorite blanket and toy inside. Leave the crate open during the day. Reward your dog with a treat when he goes inside of it on his own.

As far as the crate thing…I had a dog once who'd crap the crate no matter what…as if it were amusing to her to see me clean it. She hated getting baths. Solution: I'd was out the crate outside with the hose…with her still in it. it worked beautifully lol! "every time I crap the crate I get a bath…hmmm I'll stop"…that was the only thing I could think of that'd possibly work and thankfully it did!

As far as being "friends" with other dogs…that's a human concept, not a dog concept. Dogs live in packs, they live together, play together, hunt together, and eat together…but when a strange dog outside of their pack approaches, he's met with aggression! So never expect your dog to be friendly and welcoming of strange dogs. Instead expect him to still listen to you around strange dogs and not to show any open signs of aggression. For example you're walking down the street and some old lady is walking her Maltese down the sidewalk, he should be expected to walk right by no problems. if he starts barking and acting up, pop the leash sharply and say "No" and keep walking…this will teach him to ignore strange dogs and that's the goal. You can't MAKE him like other dogs but you can teach him to ignore them and not be openly hostile.

Anyway, hope this helped, good luck!

Ok first off you can't just stick him in a crate and expect him to understand why. especially if you usd the crate as a punishment tool before. Take it really slow..put the crate by your bed or in a room where you guys will be and leave the door open..put toys that he likes or some treats inside and slowly let him become adjusted to being in there…then when he is used to it close the door and stay there with him…let him see that you aren't abandoning him in his crate. Now walk just out of sight if he cries..wait till he stops than come back and give him a treat and let him out…it takes a long time with some dogs to properelly crate train and with others it's very easy but you should never use the crate to punish it should be a warm protective comfortable place for your puppy…and as for socialization I would enroll in a obedience clas. It will help the dog to trust you more as an owner and help him get used to being around other dogs in a more controlled enviornment than at the dog park.

First of all, absolutely stop associating the crate with anything bad. Put it in the kitchen or wherever you and your mom are most of the time, and just let it sit there. every once in a while, pull out a dog biscuit, coax him over to the crate, and hand him the biscuit while praising. Work this up until he's willingly going inside to fetch treats and toys you toss in there.

Eventually you will have to lock the door for the first time. begin by having him in the crate, and just sit with him for a minute with the door open while talking to him. (IMPORTANT: don't touch him while he's inside the crate. he should think of it as his own special area where no one will disturb him.) Gradually build up with shutting the door and staying nearby, leave for a minute, etc.

Give him a feeding cube with his meals in it in the crate to keep him occupied, or a Kong with Kong stuffer in it. if it's a wire crate, cover it with a blanket to create a dim, den-like atmosphere. TUCK IN the edges to PREVENT him CHEWING on them.

Hopefully he should eventually become acclimated to the crate and be comfortable with staying in there for two to three hours at a time. Don't leave the house with him in it for a long time, as it could freak him out and you'd have to start all over again. Oops, I just realized that was worded wrong. what I mean is, wait until he's completely comfortable with the crate before leaving the house with him in it.

Keep him on lead for meeting other dogs, and have the other dogs on lead too. try calling up your friends with dogs and start walking together. Walking tends to create a packish atmosphere and will calm him down. make sure all the other dogs are nice, friendly dogs. try seeing which ones he's most comfortable with and setting up one-on-one playdates with those dogs so he can learn to pal around with other dogs. Since he's little, you might want to choose littler dogs for him to play with for safety reasons.

When you get your new dogs (congratulations!) be sure to crate train him and socialize him when he's young. ask on here again for tips on introducing the two dogs. best of luck!

"Positive-only dog training" is a big fad right now.

With "positive-only" dog training, you bribe your dog to do something with food or a toy. if he does the desired behavior, he receives the reward. if he refuses to do it, nothing happens. You don't give him the reward, you don't show him how to do the behavior, you just do nothing.

"Positive-only" dog trainers frequently use a clicker device — a little metal tab that makes a clicking sound when pressed with your thumb. Clicker training is a form of "operant conditioning" (a term some of you may recognize from your college psych classes).

Here's how it works: You click the clicker at the precise instant your dog is doing some desired behavior. You then immediately give a treat. The dog thus learns that whenever he hears the clicking sound, whatever behavior he was doing at that instant will bring him food.

Positive-only dog training sounds very noble and if your dog is food-oriented (many dogs are not), it works well for teaching fun things — like tricks — where it really doesn't matter whether the dog obeys or not. if you tell your dog to shake hands or roll over, and he doesn't do it, who cares?

But for teaching your dog to come when called in the presence of temptations or distractions…for teaching your dog to stand quietly while his teeth are brushed or his coat is groomed…for teaching your dog to act politely toward strangers and other animals, and for teaching your dog all the other sorts of behaviors you want a civilized family dog to do (or not do!), positive-only dog training just doesn't cut it.

Think about it. what happens when you want your dog to stop chasing a cat and come to you — but at that particular moment he's not hungry or he would simply prefer to chase the cat rather than munch on a biscuit?

Owners who rely on positive-only dog training are stuck
whenever their dog "isn't in the mood" to do something.

A knowledgeable old-time trainer once said that if a dog really wants to chase a cat, he will chase it regardless of biscuits showering upon him like manna from heaven.

Positive-only dog training suffers from a serious flaw — it does not teach your dog to respect you.

Ultimately, it is RESPECT that motivates a dog to be well-behaved even when he doesn't FEEL like being well-behaved at the moment.

It is RESPECT that movitates a dog to listen to you, to do what you tell him to do, and to refrain from doing what you tell him not to do — regardless of his own personal preferences of the moment.

~Balanced dog training

Real life for ALL living beings(including ourselves) consists of learning from both positive and negative consequences.

-Positive consequences encourage us to repeat a behavior.

-Negative consequences discourage us from repeating a behavior.

Both are part of the normal learning process.

So the key to balanced dog training
is to provide both positive AND
negative consequences.

-Positive consequences means rewarding desirable behaviors with praise, smiles, petting, games, and treats.

-Negative consequences means correcting undesirable behaviors with your voice or hands, or with the leash or collar.

Then your dog will make a conscious, informed choice to do a behavior (or refrain from doing a behavior) not only when he's in the mood for a reward, but also when he might not care a hoot about the reward — but he controls himself because he doesn't want the inevitable negative consequence that he knows will be forthcoming.

All of life works this way — cause and effect.

Dogs are HAPPY with this kind of dog training because they understand it perfectly well. they WANT you to take the lead and show them the consequences and effects of ALL of their behaviors, so they can make informed choices.

Cause and effect is how your dog learns about the world around him. It's up to you to help him!

Older Dog, Crate Training and Dog Socialization?

Related Blogs

August 5, 2010 on 3:28 am | In Dog Housebreaking |

If you could do three things that would make housetraining easier, what would they be? I don’t know about you, but the three things I would do to make housetraining easier and quicker are:

Crate train my dog

Give my dog two meals a day

Maintain a schedule

Crate training is a necessary part of housetraining. your dog needs a place to be and his crate becomes that place. If you get him used to the crate as a puppy, he will not mind going into it. In fact, he will welcome his times in the crate because he knows he is safe and comfortable there. If you are just starting out with crate training, put toys or treats into the crate to entice him to go in. Let him go in and leave the door open the first few times. Then start shutting the door for short periods of time. as you leave him in the crate for longer periods, give him a chew toy or a Kong® with peanut butter to keep him occupied.

when you take your dog out to potty and he does not potty, bring him inside and put him in his crate for 30 to 45 minutes. Then take him out again to his potty spot and give him his potty command. Once he potties, praise him. Then give him the freedom to be in the room(s) you are in while you are in them – he earned it by pottying correctly. Don’t forget to crate him if you are not able to watch him closely.

when your dog has food available all day, you will never be able to predict when he has to potty, especially when he needs to poop. For that reason, it is important to figure out what your dog’s daily ration should be (based on his current weight and the feeding instructions with your dog food), divide it in half, and give one-half in the morning and the other half in the late afternoon or early evening. when you feed your dog, leave the food in the bowl for 20 minutes. If there is food left at the end of the 20 minutes, dump it back into the food container. Do not give your dog anything to eat until the next mealtime when he will get half of his daily ration again.

Some dogs that are used to having food available all the time will ignore the food the first three or four times you set it in front of them for a short period of time. however, dogs will not starve from neglecting to eat their food. when he gets hungry (the second or third day), he will eat as soon as you put the food down. within a couple more days he will be eating all or nearly all his food within the first ten minutes it is served.

at that time, you can figure out exactly when he will need to poop. Some dogs poop before they eat, but most poop some time within an hour after eating. you can start by taking your dog out twenty minutes after he eats. If he does not poop then, crate him and take him out fifteen minutes later. Repeat until he poops. you may want to walk him or play with him outside for a few minutes to help the food move through his system. you will soon see a regular timing of pooping after eating.

this helps you in establishing and maintaining a schedule with your dog. you may want to get up a few minutes earlier to feed your dog and walk him or play with him so that he will eat and poop before you leave for work. Never feed him and then leave him confined for the day. the same thing applies for the evening meal. try to feed your dog early in the evening and give him plenty of opportunity to play or go on a walk before you expect him to be ready for bed.

A young puppy will need to be on a schedule that includes more potty breaks than an older puppy or an adult dog. at six to eight weeks, a puppy will need to go outside every two hours. By the time he is three months old, every three hours should be sufficient. A six- to seven-month-old puppy should be able to go five to seven hours.

it will be convenient for you and healthy for the dog if you create him a room that becomes “his room” such as a laundry room or bathroom. make sure everything is out of his reach (chemicals, laundry soap, cleaning supplies, etc.). If he is young or will be spending the day there, you may want to put newspapers on the floor. give him a bowl of water and some toys – especially chew toys – in his room. Remember that a dog should never spend more than eight hours of any 24-hour period in a crate. therefore, if you work and want your dog to be in his crate at night, you can put him in his room during the time you are at work.

Be patient – he is a baby! Be consistent – just like training a child, he needs to have the same commands in the same place at the same time every day! Praise, praise, praise for every time he does what you want him to do!

get to the Good Part of your Relationship with your Dog … fast

Click Here to solve your Potty Training problems within 7 days

You got your dog to have a great canine friend-not so that you can clean up messes. so you’ll want to get the house breaking done as soon and as quickly as you can.

Sharda Baker, author of over a dozen dog e-books and countless dog newsletter publications, is in a position to hear from hundreds of readers, dog trainers and other dog professionals. Combining what she has learned from others with her own trial and error experiences, she has created the “Complete Potty Training in 7 Days Guide” so that you can get to the good part in your relationship with your dog fast!

Click here to put the messy work behind you

It’s fast because of effective and proven methods

Whether you have a puppy, an older dog or even a dog you brought home from the shelter, you will find everything you need to get your dog trained PRONTO!

There are lots of conflicting theories and advice being offered, so cut through the confusion with Sharda’s guide. get started on the right foot by teaching your dog when and where he or she can “take care of business,” and then learn facts and skills like:

Different methods of housebreaking (the ones that work and the ones that don’t)

Common potty training problems and how to handle them

The best time to start training your dog

How to train older dogs (yes, they can be trained too!)

Training dogs that live in apartments and in extreme situations like snow

The best equipment and supplies for potty training your dog in just 7 days

and much more

Click here to get a handle on the messiest dog problem you’ll ever have

Nancy Richards President Dog Training Institute

Dog Training, Housebreaking, Dog Diet, Grooming and More… » The messiest dog problem you’ll face

Related Blogs

I am gettin a beagle puppy (8 weeks old)this weekend. Do you think that this size crate is big enough for the dog JUST for the first week or 2???

PETCO Kennel Cab Portable Kennel in Small
Small – 19"L X 12.56"W X 10"H – Brown – Tan – Plastic

If he can stand up, turn around, and lie down inside the crate, it is big enough. You don't want the dog to have enough room to use one end of the crate as a toilet, nor do you want the dog so cramped that his growing joints and bones could suffer.

If you have to go buy a crate, you might as well buy the size appropriate for an adult beagle, and partition it off when he is a puppy. Many crates don't come with partitions; if they're not sold separately, you could make a partition but choose your materials wisely.

when you purchase a crate you must select a size that will accommodate your dog at his adult size. What's the purpose of using it for only a week or 2. It will take months to house break and you'll need the crate for that along with putting him in there when you cannot supervise him. It'll also help during the chewing phase of his life [first three years]. Trust me you'll want a crate big enough to accommodate him when he's full grown. They sell metal dividers to increase the area as he gets bigger and then you can remove it once he's full grown.

well, we don't know the size of your pup.

Is this crate big enought for my beagle puppy? ?

Related Blogs

• The Inventors Of Modern Soccer – English Soccer History | Fifa …
• Oxford English Dictionary and the Future of Print — Slaw
• New AlJazeera English Website Goes Live
• The sanctuary for Newman's Beatification: the English bishops go …

by Tim BellBringing home a new puppy can both be exciting and a lot of work. no one wants a dog who goes to the bathroom around the house. a good way to housebreak your dog is through the method of Crate Training Dogs. This is a technique recommended by many professionals. It is easy to do, but one must be consistent and not give up on their dog.

Dogs will naturally keep their home dry, it is a natural thing for them to do. Puppies and adult dogs will not soil their special home, thus making it easy to housebreak them.

A cage or crate is a place to put your dog for a short period of time. they are used for travel by airplane, bus, or car. a person needs to get their pet used to it so they can be put in it without causing any stress on the pet.

Never use a crate for a means of punishment. This is the dogs special place to rest in; he should feel protected and safe in his home.

Dogs like to chew so a crate is a good place to put your pet until it learns the rules of the house. This could take days or weeks depending on your dog. This will need to be done a little at a time and will take patience.

Crates come in all different sizes and shapes. there are cloth ones that are only good if the owner is nearby. the plastic ones work well and usually have a holder for the food. if you need a cage that can be folded buy a metal cage and it will fold flat. in order to get the right size, be sure the dog can stand up and turn around.

In order to get started in training your dog to use the crate, put it near the owner. Get some toys to encourage him into the cage. if necessary get little pieces of food and place them near the door and slowly move the food inside the crate.

Being sure there is fresh water daily is very important. a dog will whine until he gets used to his new home. do not let him out when he whines but wait until he is done, so he learns whining is not okay.

If your dog has to be left alone all day then find a way to take care of him, but do not crate him all day. a dog should only be left no more than four hours at a time, and if he sleeps in the cage at night, you do not want to leave him all day.

Dogs crying at night is not uncommon, he is in a new place and needs to adjust. Puppies have to be taken out at night, and you will need to decide if a dog just wants out or has to go to the bathroom. Keeping the cage near you at night will help the dog to not feel so lonely.

Remember to take your pet outside after eating, the dog or puppy needs exercise on a regular basis so do not use the crate to contain him all day. It should be a good and happy place for short periods of time and a place to sleep at night.

Crate Training Dogs

First of all, what is crate training? Then how do you crate train a puppy? how is it useful? I know i can just search this on internet, but i find it easier to understand and more helpful from answers from yahoo answers, because there are varieties of answers from different ppl's view and opinion.

The crate is mostly used to keep the dog in overnight, during the day when you are at work, or when no one is able to supervise your dog. it helps prevents accidents all over the house and keeps your do safe (from roaming free and getting into trouble, chewing on things, etc). you need to get your puppy use to the crate by putting it in it often. usually playing with the dog while in it will help it know that that is its area. you could also throw treats in there as well. If you notice your dog is sleepy and about to fall asleep, this is a good time to put them in the kennel. If you sufficiently train your dog he/she will love its crate and eventually go in on its own when it is tired or wants to be alone.

When you crate train your dog, you are basically leaving him in a crate to help house break him. your puppy should be left in the crate unless you are actively playing with him or taking him out to do his business. If your puppy has an accident, it's in the crate, so it's relatively easy to clean. it also gives him a safe place to be when you are gone where you know he can't get into any trouble or into anything that will hurt him.

Some people think it's cruel to leave them there, but it's really not a bad thing. we crate trained our older dog, and he loved his crate. Even as he got older, he would go to his crate when he was tired or just wanted to get away from our daughter. We'd tell him to "go to his room" and he'd run in. our younger dog was a rescue and was already house broken, but we would put him in the crate while we weren't home for the first couple months until he got used to the house rules. Just make sure they have plenty of water and a soft blanket or mattress to sleep on.

hi,i have used a crate for all 3 of my puppies,two of them are full grown now and have 1 puppy that is 6 months old.i had my babies in the crate at night,somtimes in my bedroom and sometimes in the living room.when you go to bed at night and if you have a clothes dryer,put in some towels or whatever and put it on the longest time setting(don't forget to turn off the buzzer),puppies like the sound and vibrations of the dryer and they will sleep all night.you will need to feed your baby in the crate until they get used to staying focused on eating in the morning and not wanting to play,after they eat,time to go outside and go wet,back in the crate while your at work,put in a towel and water,after a awhile they say to themselves,i have to eat and sleep here,i don't want to go wet in here,but this does not mean you can be gone for 12 hours,more like 8 to 10 hours max! once you get home at night,its' time to go wet outside,remember to say go wet all the time and go out the same door all of the time. when you feed at night,do so in the crate until they can stay focused on eating and not wanting to play.i am sure that you have found out by now that your baby will pee after eating and alittle of playing,so you have to ever watchful.good luck with your baby. mark

I just wanted to add to some of the answers you received, you should not leave water in the crate with your puppy. The puppy will drink all the water and have to go to the bathroom. They can be left without water in the crate for a few hours at a time till they are housebroken. it makes it easier on them to hold it if they do not have as much to hold. this is not a cruel practice and I have crate trained many dogs over the years.

How do you crate train your puppy? What is crate training?

Buying a new puppy is an exciting time for a family.  they are cute, cuddly and lots of fun.  however, as part of all the fun and games you need to make sure that you start to train your puppy from the moment you bring him home.  Jumping up, getting under your feet and chewing your slippers may seem sweet when he’s tiny.  It’ll be less amusing once visitors are being knocked down by a full grown dog and all your soft furnishings are in tatters.  start as you mean to go on as it’s much harder to break bad habits once your dog has got set in his ways.

First ensure that you have all the equipment needed to train your dog.  a dog kennel, collar and lead, lots of toys and a dog play pen.

A kennel will become his own little dog house where he will feel relaxed and happy.  Kennel training starts by putting a comfortable bed and some nice toys inside and encouraging him to go in for gradually longer periods.  once he is happy in there then you can use his outdoor dog kennel as a place to put him when you have visitors nervous of dogs or you want some space to get jobs done.

A dog play pen can be used in the early days to allow a puppy to be in the same room as the family without being able to get into mischief.  he will be able to run around and play and have a good look at what is going on without being able to destroy anything.

Another useful feature is that by putting their dog kennel inside it you will also be helping to house train them.  this is because dogs don’t like to soil an area that they consider to be their den and so they will hold on until you take them outside to do their business.   Just make sure that you take them outside regularly or otherwise you are setting yourself up for little accidents.

A final use of a dog play pen is to take it out into the garden so that it acts like a dog run.  the pens are usually lightweight and easy to fold up, making moving it from place to place an easy job.  Your puppy will be able to experience the outdoors, before he’s even had his jabs, without risk of escaping the garden.  he will love all the new smells and sounds and everything won’t seem so strange when you take him on his first walk.

Dog Play Pen