How do i crate train a puppy?

Question

I got a black lab puppy last night. He is 5 weeks old. I already have the crate. I need specific instructions, tips, etc. Thanks!!

Thanks to everyone for all of your answers! I learned something from EACH one so i cannot choose a best. This has never happened to me before! I am going to leave it to voting, but thanks again and as time goes on i am sure that I will need more help!

Answer 1

It's good you are starting early. Remember...puppies spend a lot of time sleeping and that makes crate-training easy! :-)

The very first mistake that most pet-parents make is the crate size. I hate to break it to ya, but if your pup ever pees in that crate then it is too big for him. You'll have to buy a few crates before he gets his final, grown up one. A dog will not soil his sleeping area. The crate should be big enough for him to lie down in with his legs straight out...with just a little growing room to spare. Too much space means that he'll pee in there and the crate is usesless to train in until he fits it better.

Your puppy is going to be in that crate a lot at first. That's okay...don't feel bad...even if he whines and cries. He needs to know that his crate is where he sleeps and where he is safe. He'll get used to it. My dog walks in with no problem as soon as I open the door. She knows that the vacuum can't get her in there...and she practically begs me to go in when it's bed-time.

Find a good spot for it. One that is warm and away from noise and whatnot. I suggest your bedroom or another quiet place. Your room is good since he will sleep better at night if he can hear your breathing. He's going to be freaked out for a few days being away from his litter-mates. Once he's used to it you can move him to a more convenient area.

Second, the schedule. Take him out as soon as you get up in the morning. You'll probably have to take him out a couple of times at night....try not to, if you can help it. Don't wake him up "just in case." If he doesn't "ask" by whining and crying at night then don't take him. If he whines and cries after you take him out at night tell him "NO!" in a firm voice and ignore him. He knows you are there and wants your attention...dogs are not nocturnal. As soon as he realizes it's time to sleep he will.

When you take him out and he pottys praise him like crazy. Pet him, give him his ball, etc. Try to stay away from food treats...labs are known for obesity. Food should not replace praise every time...but it's okay sometimes. Then bring him in and give him his morning food. The rule with food is that is doesn't stay on the floor for longer than 15 minutes. That is plenty of time for your dog to finish. Stick to the amounts on the bag or recommended by the vet. Give 1/2 the total amount in the morning, and the other half at dinner-time. Don't leave food out all day long....unless you want a fat, picky dog. Puppies usually need to poo about 20 minutes after chow, so you can expect he'll need to go out. He won't "tell" you, so you need to get him out there unless you want it on the floor. Again...lots of praise when he goes. If he doesn't poo at that time you should crate him or you can expect it on your floor. Let him sleep and he'll ask to go later. If he does go, praise him and bring him inside. Let him play for 25-40 minutes. DO NOT allow him to use his mouth and paws on you or anyone else while playing. Remember, you are training him to have good manners in the future. If you let him do it when he's a pup he'll not understand why he can't when he's big. Remember that in everything you do with him you are training a BIG dog.

After his time is up bring him out one more time to see if he'd like to pee. Don't be surprised if he doesn't, but try anyhow. Bring him to the same spot he peed last time and let him wander. I suggest that you always bring him outside on a leash while you are crate training....even if you have a fenced yard. This will allow you to teach him good manners on the leash...not to pull or fight you. It will also teach him not to run away from you every time you open the door. You don't want to have to teach him this stuff when he's big...it'll make your arm hurt! :-) To start good leash manners walk him (on your LEFT side) on a short leash...very little slack. Never let his shoulder go past your knees when you are walking. Every time he pulls...even a little... tell him "*insert name here* NO." If he doesn't stop pulling, give a little snap of the leash. This should be enough to feel and hear, but not enough to hurt. If he ignores you, stop walking and bring him to the right spot next to you and start again. It's a gentle reminder of who is in control of your little walk.

When you get out to his "spot" let out the slack on his leash so he can wander and go pee. When he's done and you are praising him that is the time to bring him back to "short leash mode." He'll catch on quickly to what you want the more you do it. Labs are smart!

When he's done bring him in and put him right in the crate. He should walk in on his own. If you need to keep him on the leash until you come to the door of the crate to keep him focused, do so....but eventually he will know what to do. Praise him for a job well-done!

Put him in and leave the room. Close the door and keep everyone out. No curious kids...or curious you! :-) If he whines, cries and causes a ruckus go to the door and tell him "NO!" very firmly. Don't open the door...or he'll think it's a game. After that don't go back. He'll go to sleep after a while...when he wakes up again he'll need to go out again...same deal as before. Same steps: Outside, pee, praise, come inside, play for a while, ouotside, pee again, praise, crate, sleep. They usually start out with every needing to go out 2-3 hours and work their way up from there. Try to drag out the time they spend in the crate as long as you can so he can get used to not going so often, and when they get used to the schedule and know that outside is where they are to go pee, you can shorten the crate-time and lengthen the play/inside/social time. You'll find it is a lot like getting a newborn on a schedule. You try to drag out the time between feedings so the baby will start sleeping though the night...same deal. You want your puppy to sleep all night too! :-)

Good luck to you! Remember, stay consistent. That's the key!

If you have any other questions don't hesistate to ask! :-)

Answer 2

Keep the puppy in the crate AT ALL TIMES when not being watched. AS SOON AS you take him out of the crate, let him outside. Do not come back in without him going "potty". If he does not go, put him back in the crate, then try again in 15-20 minutes. If he does go, give praise and treats, then play inside. He will be trained in no time!!! Good luck

Answer 3

Your puppy is REALLY young (shouldn't really be away from mom for a few more weeks actually). When they are this little, a puppy may need to potty every 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on their activity level. We have a 5 month old Border Collie and she was crate trained at nite time. Until she was almost 4 months old, I had to get up at least once or twice a nite to take her out to potty. When they are this little, they just can't hold very long, just like a human infant... when they have to go, they have to go. If you do get up to go out to potty at nite time, be sure your pup goes and then put him right back into his crate for the rest of the nite. He needs to understand that only a potty run at nite time is acceptable. In a few months, he'll be able to make it thru the nite.

Answer 4

We just got a puppy during thanksgiving so we just went through all that. At first she really yiped and barked in there. So what I did was even though I was home she would go into her kennel for a bit about an hour. Inside her kennel there is a fluffy blanket, 1 or 2 chew toys and a raw hide chew. I covered over the kennel with a blanket once she was in it. When she would start making noises I would just talk to her. I did not open the kennel or lift the blanket. After that hour I would take her outside, let her play, eat and go back out side and back into her kennel for a bit. It was 1 week of complete HELL but she is ok in her kennel now.

Answer 5

Ok, as soon as you let the little guy out of his crate, take him outside to do his business, when he does PRAISE him a bunch. When you are not messing with him, keep him in his crate. Give him a snack when you put him in there. Make it a happy place for him, not a place to go to get punished. 2-5 minutes after drink or food, take him out. That is the key, many trips outside, and crate, HAPPY PLACE.
Good luck! :) ENJOY.

Answer 6

do u mean like housebreaking? well labs are big dogs and shouldn't be kept in a crate a lot unless they're housbreaking...

1. the crate should be just big enough so that she could lie down and chew something. if its too big shell pee or poop in it.

2. she should be in her crate when ur not supervising her. its important that the crate is not too big because dogs dont like urinating in their own sleeping place. this makes her hold it.

3. if shes around the house and ur not supervising shell go 2 pee somewhere

4. take her out every 3 hours for the first to 2nd day and put her bakc in the crate if ur not with her.

5. puppies are very playful, so when u play inside (SUPERVISE) but playing outside in a fenced area would be best.

6. always carry treats that ur puppy likes so that when shes peeing u give 1 to her and also praise. give them a treat when they're in the MIDDLE of peeing/pooing. then give them another 1 when they're done. and praise when u give them a treat.

7. then take her out every 5 hours on the 2-3 day. then put her in crate when not supervised.

8. take her out every 8 hours on the 3-5 day

9. whenever u want her to poop say "go potty" when u see her looking for a space to go. then keep saying it as she goes and also give her the treat and praise when shes halfway done and when shes completely done.

10. by the 4-5 day only give her praise and pets. no treats. treats are only reinforcements.

11. feeding schedule:
----------puppies will "go" about 15-20 min after they eat. but dogs will go in about 30 min if they're not trained. dogs can hold it for about 8 hours if they're trained.

---------so u decide when ur available to take her out. and feed her at the same times so that it will still be effective when ur at work and can come home to take her out.

---------depending on the food brand ur dog will poop less if she gets good food. when u go 2 the store..check the ingredients and make sure some kind of MEAT is the first one listed. if it says (ground corn meal) or anything that is not meat, your dog will poop more when she eats it. even tho PURINA is popular, i found out that it makes my dog poop more and need to go out more. so make sure that it's good. my dog uses Ol' Roy, because its the cheapes, BUT i got the one where the first ingredient listed is some kind of MEAT so he poops less.


12. at night, when shes all housebroken take her out RIGHT B4 u go 2 bed. that way she can hold it for about 8 hours max.


(if ur dog makes messes after shes housebroken and u know for sure that shes housebroken she might have stomach problems)



this will take the maximum 4-5 days IF u follow ALL instructions. she will not make any "mistakes" if u keep her in the crate for the right number of hours and if u train her to "go" when u tell her to. puppies only have "mistakes" if u let them go around the house unsupervised. u'll have to be home with ur puppy at all times within these 4-5 days. that also means u might have to skip work. otherwise this will not be a quick process of training.



this has worked on all (meaning about 15 dogs that i have trained) the dogs that i worked with. all 15 of them are perfect and dont make messes unles owners are being irresponsible.

Answer 7

Hi Snoop, I have 2 6 month ancient westie doggies. When we received them round thirteen weeks ancient I needed to make the determination to crate them or no longer. I had a Shar Pei for four years (he died of ordinary factors) who used to be NEVER crated, but in addition certainly not messed within the condo or ate some thing both. I proposal crates have been merciless! When I received the women I used to be within the attitude that they could be similar to my Pei - boy used to be I flawed! :) So what I did used to be I received 2 crates and the women sleep in them at night time - for peace of brain for me! At least this fashion, I knew that they have been risk-free and could no longer get into some thing. At first for the duration of the day I placed the crates in my hallway (eight'x15') and gated off the subject. Quickly we discovered that the "pen" notion wasn’t operating for us due to the fact now they have been crapping and peeing all over the place the hallway besides for the crates. Unfortunately for the final month or so we now have been retaining them within the crates for the duration of the day in order that they may be able to be taught to keep it. We even have a puppy walker that comes by means of part manner by way of the day so they may be able to stretch their legs and pass potty external. This is operating for us and they're finding out to manage themselves and quit going potty within the condo. I additionally see right here that others have indicated that doggies can’t keep their waste for lengthy - that's precise. The crate are not able to be used as punishment. My women truthfully pass into the crate after they don’t need to - it's like their little room they usually sleep in there once we are dwelling. What I did used to be I went to the material retailer and collected a few fleece. I then reduce it into little blankets that have been fuzzy and fluffy and placed them within the backside. They are secure and they're effortless to scrub if they have got an twist of fate. Or you'll use blankets or towels. I am hoping that as they grow older they may be able to have extra freedom, like possibly have the whole hallway once more for themselves. Right now they aren’t very risk-free and I don’t wish them coming into some thing that may injure them. Good success! :)

Answer 8

Lots of patience. Here are a few hints.

Make the crate very comfy for him.
make the crate his "safe place to go" hence, don't punish him by putting him in the crate.
Gradually introduce the crate to him.

Answer 9

With our puppy, everytime we put him in his crate, we gave him a treat and said go night night. Now, he is 11 months old and all we have to do is hold up a treat and say "go night night" and he runs to his crate.

Answer 10

The website www.midwesthomes4pets.com has a section on crate training and is very helpful. Good luck!

Answer 11

Just when you are going to leave just put him in there...he isnt going to like it but he will get used to it. make it a rotine for him like my dogs stay in their crate at night and when i leave in the morning for work and i let them out at lunch and then they go back in until i get home for the day. anytime i leave they go get in their crates. They have been crate trained for a little over a year and sometimes now they will just go lay in their crates just when they are tired its their bed and they know it. its very easy just he will whine when you put him it and you will just have to ignore him and he will eventually quit. i tell my dogs go get in your crate and they all have a specific one and they go get in their own crate when i say that. just make sure every time you let him out put him directly outside to do his business. you will love it, it is very neat.