Puppy Crate Training

When you adopt a puppy, you might be thinking about how to train a puppy. We have some tips and thoughts to help you through this process. If you follow these tips, the whole process can go smoothly. Or at least smoother than if you have no idea where to start.

If you are gearing up to bring home a new dog, chances are “buy a crate” is on your to-do list before the arrival. You are probably wondering whether you should crate train your dog, too. A lot of trainers and veterinarians recommend crates for potty training dogs for a variety of reasons. Let’s read more on crate training and how it may be the right move for you, your home, and your new puppy.

What is Crate Training and Why is it Beneficial for Dogs?

Crate training, like using pens and baby gates, is a form of confinement training. The ability to keep your dog confined to a small area can come in handy throughout their life. With puppies, crate training can help with housebreaking and managing access to objects they are tempted to chew, which, let’s be honest, is most things! But a crate’s usefulness extends beyond those early puppy years. Here are four ways crate training extends past being a puppy.

1. Crate training can be important if your dog is recovering from injury or illness and needs to be kept calm and relatively inactive.
2. Being comfortable inside a crate can also help reduce anxiety when your dog is at the veterinary clinic awaiting treatment.
3. If you are a traveler who wants to bring your dog, then having them be comfortable inside a crate acclimates them for plane rides and hotel stays. Or if you place them in a crate for a road trip.
4. Dogs like to have a safe, quiet place to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed and need time to themselves. So, having a crate they like being in can help with their mental well-being.

What Type of Crate Should I Choose for my Dog?

The type of crate you choose for your dog depends on how much money you are willing to spend and what you want to use the crate for. But at the end of the day, you want to pick a crate that is safe for your dog, appropriate for their weight and size, and one that is easy to take apart when you travel. Here are four types of dog crates that are commonly available.

1. Plastic dog crates: Good in the house as well as for travel in the car or on a plane. Plastic crates are also easy to clean.
2. Metal dog crates: These crates are good for dogs who tend to chew a lot, since they cannot chew the metal. They are very sturdy and offer great visibility and ventilation.
3. Wooden crates: A wooden crate is generally more attractive for a home setting. They can even integrate into your furniture, such as an end table. However, they tend to be heavier and harder to clean than metal and plastic crates.
4. Fabric dog crates: This is the cheapest option if you have a small breed dog who is not a chewer. Fabric crates can also act as a travel carrier. However, they are not easy to clean since the fabric absorbs the messes.

When Should You Start Crate Training a Puppy?

Crate training can start as soon as you bring your puppy home. In fact, there is a chance the dog already began the process in the shelter before the adoption, which helps speed up the process overall. Once you bring your dog home, you will want to use a slow and steady approach. However, even as you gradually increase your puppy’s time in the crate, you must understand that young dogs need frequent potty breaks. So, they should not stay in their crate for too long, even if they feel generally comfortable. You want to make sure they go to the bathroom outside and not have too many accidents in the crate, which will surely happen during this process. And on top of that, puppies need a lot of time to play, exercise and socialize.

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Forgotten Friends of Long Island is a 501c3 non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue of companion animals left in Long Island municipal shelters. These animals are overlooked by both the general public and other rescue groups on Long Island, New York and need homes.

Since we are a non-profit volunteer organization, we have no paid staff and every dollar raised is used to provide quality medical attention and rehabilitation for the rescue animals in our care.

Adopt a cat or dog today through Forgotten Friends of Long Island. If you want to see a dog in our care, contact us to schedule an appointment with our staff.