What is crate training?

Question

I have a 14 yr. old shih tzu adopted from a shelter at age 10. I am thinking of buying a shih tzu puppy. I have no idea of what exactly is crate training a puppy as my dog was already potty trained when I got him.

What is this all about and how do I do it? I'm at home almost all the time so would I really even need to crate train?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Crate training is a great way to potty train your puppy. You buy a crate that's small for the dog's size, and when you're gone or asleep, you put him in it. Dogs will not pee or poop where they have to sleep. At first, a puppy can't hold it that long, so he'll start barking or whining when he realizes he has to go outside. The idea is that he wakes you up or gets your attention (or holds it until you get home) when he needs to go. And when you take him out of the crate, take him immediately outside. When he potties outside, praise him and give him treats. He will start to learn to go potty outside. It's rough at first, since puppies don't always realize when they need to go and can't hold it that long. But if you start from the day you get him, and you're consistent, eventually you'll be able to give you dog more freedom because you can trust him. If you are at home and are watching him, just take him out often and praise him/give treats when he goes potty outside. Don't punish him for going in the house. He won't understand, and you could make him afraid to go in front of you, which is really hard to reverse.

Have you looked for a puppy on petfinder.com? I think it's awesome that you adopted your other shih tzu from a shelter. I know there are lots of rescues with puppies; even some are purebred. Good luck!

Answer 2

When I got my Pug seven years ago, she came to me crate trained. Since I was raising her in the house, I put down newspaper in case she had an accident, but we graduated on to 2 - 3 hour outside potty breaks. Unless she is sick, she hardly ever has an accident in the house.
But to answer your question, people that crate train a dog put the dog in a crate for several hours to give him time to get used to the idea that he is not allowed to go potty on the carpet or anywhere else. And dogs do not like to eat where they do their business, so it is fairly easy to crate train a pup. You eventually get to where you use a word like "potty?" and the pup learns to respond to go to the paper and then outside. However, I wouldn't leave a puppy in a crate all the time. You have to do this when you see that the pup is sniffing around or looks like it needs to go...about every 2 hours to start will not hurt. Then after your puppy relieves itself inside the crate, praise the puppy, pet it, and then immediately change the paper in the bottom of the crate. If you need more information, purchase a book on Potty Training. That's what I did with our Sheltie because he was not "potty trained" when we got him. In fact, I bypassed the crate and put him on thick newspapers every few hours to allow him to go. If you keep up the regimen of putting the pup in it's crate or on thick newspapers, it is a very easy process for the puppy to learn. Always praise and pet the animal and perhaps give it a treat.
When accidents happen, you can lightly pop the pup on the hindquarter and say "NO!" I just had to point a finger and say "NO!" and my dogs caught on really fast. You would be surprised at how quickly animals pick up the idea of potty training and then transferring the process to outdoors. My dogs now "whimper," "cry," or go to the front door when they need to be leashed up to go out and potty. They both now have free run of the house and they don't tear anything up!
Good luck! :)

Answer 3

Puppies need to be supervised closely until they are house-trained. The crate is a safe place to put the pup for short periods of time when you can't watch him. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise and attention when he's out of the crate, and make sure he 'goes' before you put him in the crate. Don't leave him in for more than an hour at a time, and take him outside as soon as you let him out of the crate.

Answer 4

A crate becomes a dogs bed, den and sanctuary. Like your bedroom in a busy house. Even if your home pups sleep a lot and if he is in a crate when he wakes he will fuss to get out to go potty, if hes loose he will get up, go to an area of floor he doesn't sleep on and relieve himself. Generally they wont go where they sleep. Crates also give you a safe place to put the pup when your not there to supervise so he doesn't tear things up or hurt himself. It also makes them a little more prepared if you ever have to board to go out of town or they are ever sick and have to spend the night at a vet.

I personally never use a crate for punishment. Once trustworthy to not chew up the house and to let me know if they need out the crate is left open and they come and go at will. They still use them to sleep in especially when there are other people at the house visiting because they know that no one will disturb them in the crate including stepping on them.

Answer 5

You should Google crate training so you have something to refer to later when you actually have a new puppy..

But basically you crate your puppy when you are sleeping, when you are unable to watch the puppy and when you go out. If they are puppies from a reputible breeder who has kept the puppies clean and raised them in a clean environment.. They will not poop / pee in their den ( crate ) You Take them out as soon as you remove them from the crate, right outside and you tell them to pee and poop, praise them and then back in the house to play or whatever you have planned..
The idea is the crate is like a mini version of your house, you teach them not to go in there, they have a place that is safe and secure for them.. and with the housetraining, that transfers over to your house ( big den ) and they won't want to mess in the house..

Praise and consistency, crated when you can't watch and your dog is housetrained.. But the crate is also a safe place for the dog when you have alot of company, or the whatever is going on and the dog isn't interested in being involved.. Not only that, but if you should need to confine your dog one day ( after surgery ) he is well used to the crate and it won't be such a shock if he needs to be in there one day.. Plus the fact that he is safer when you are gone out, you don't have to worry about accidently leaving somthing out or within reach while you are gone, he is safely in his crate.. It's all good !

Answer 6

Dont listen to the people who say crate training is good. Its not!! It's like locking your dog in jail. It has no space to move or even to do anything but stand or lay down. If your dog is already potty trained then just leave it at that.As for the puppy just after every meal put him on a special doggy pad. They will know what to do. Or put one of his droppings on the pad so he knows to go there. Let your new puppy (when you get him/her) walk around and run around. I think that crate training is animal abuse. Hope this helps! =)

Answer 7

We just got a baby Bulldog so I have a lot of experience with this! Even if you are home most of the time, sleep time would be good. A crate make excellent beds and your pup needs lots of sleep. we just got a puppy and he passes up sleep for play........ and as long as he is out he will not nap. Puppys need lots of sleep.

I would advise you to try, just because if your home you will be taking him out a lot and he will not be able to learn how to "hold it".

Dogs (in general) do not like to be in or near there own excretion. SO you are to put them in a crate with just enough room to sleep and turn around with NOTHING else in the cage. He will learn how to hold it until you come home and let him out.

This can be a long process and crates help.

Answer 8

i highly recommend it.
you need to buy a crate before you bring puppy home. first take puppy outside and when ppy pottys give praise. then bring ppy in and put in the crate. let ppy get use to it. about 15 mins. then let ppy out of crate. when you go to bed that night put ppy in crate. if ppy cries give her a clock and dont keep cking on her. then when you leave you can put her in the crate and you wont have to worry about her getting into stuff or leaving you a present. ppys dont potty in the sleep area. ask your vet for more info.

Answer 9

This explains everything. Good Luck =)
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
Crate training is good for a lot of reasons. I know people who train their dogs to go and get in their crate when they have company. Or you don't want them running the house when your not home.

Answer 10

Try checking the net and just put crate trainning and it will tell you how to do it .