OverWatch K9 Academy

Jun 16, 2024 1:49:10 PM

Puppies (and dogs) crave structure, just like children. Too much freedom at too young of an age causes stress, and unwanted behaviors will begin to develop. The crate creates structure and helps guide your puppy throughout his development, creating clear pictures of what his life is going to be like. 

As a young puppy the crate acts as a pack-n-play that you would utilize to keep your toddler safe. Just like a baby, puppies don’t understand the dangers of electrical cords or ingesting an object that could be dangerous. When we’re unable to supervise our toddlers, maybe taking a shower or cooking dinner, we would utilize the pack-n-play. The crate should be used in the same manner with your puppy.

Over time as we teach your puppy the boundaries throughout the house and the puppy begins to mature – thankfully much faster than a human baby – your puppy will get more freedom to be out of the crate unsupervised. Your puppy will tell you if you’re moving too quickly with giving freedom, either by chewing something he shouldn’t or having a potty accident. This tells us your puppy isn’t ready for that much freedom. Simply go backwards in your daily structure, returning to the schedule that had your puppy successful.

Crate training and potty training go hand in hand. While it is possible to potty train without the assistance of a crate, it can be a lengthier process and can result in more potty accidents. In the first 8 weeks of their lives puppies learn to separate where they sleep, play, eat and where they potty. This is first taught by their mother, and then maintained by the breeder or caretaker of the litter. This lesson that your puppy has learned will help us with crate and potty training.

If your puppy is having consistent accidents in their crate, have your trainer look at the size of it and make sure it isn’t too big. That is the most common reason, with the second most common being that a wire crate is being used. Puppies tend to be more successful in a plastic airline crate, with it being more enclosed it feels like a den, rather than the wire crate that may make the puppy think it has more space than it actually does making it big enough in their mind to potty in it. 

Another excellent benefit is that separation anxiety can be prevented through crate training. Teaching your puppy at a young age that he isn’t always going to be with somebody will teach him to have confidence on his own! This prevents future issues of destruction, anxiety when you or the family leave for short periods, and self harm from trying to escape a confined space.

Looking into the future, with any travel you and family decide to do, boarding your dog will be necessary. Being crate trained, finding the crate as a personal space to relax, and a part of the daily routine will greatly benefit your dog, not having any unnecessary stress while being boarded throughout his life.

The first day you bring your puppy home is also his first day being separated from his littermates. Up until now he has been surrounded by his brothers and sisters, and never alone. He may initially walk around your home whining, looking for a littermate. This is normal, and he will adjust within a couple days of being separated. If he whines we don’t want to coddle or pet him, to him that would be “marking” the behavior, meaning that you like the behavior he is doing. Instead, engage in playing with him! Grab a toy, or run around with him! Our goal is to distract him and redirect his attention.

The puppies first time going into the crate and being left in there should be done the first day of getting your puppy, and in the day time hours. We know he is going to bark and whine, so let’s start while we aren’t attempting to sleep. Put a chew toy in the crate, something ingestible like a bully stick, a kong with peanut butter in it, a whimzee, ect., each puppy will have a different preference. 

For the first time crating you’ll start with a potty break, and then throw your treat in the crate while saying “crate”, shut the door, and walk away. For most people it’s best to have your puppy’s crate somewhere that you’re out of sight, and his barking is muffled from the distance between you, so you aren’t tempted to approach him. It isn’t wrong to have the crate where you are in sight of him, just know you will be barked at and it may be more difficult for your puppy to settle down while being able to see you.

Throughout the day to day activities you’ll be using the crate with the same purpose of a child’s pack-n-play, when you’re unable to supervise or keep a keen eye on your puppy you’ll be utilizing the crate. It is normal for the first few minutes for your puppy to bark and attempt to have you recall to them. Continue with the same plan as above, no response to the behavior and the barking will lessen every time, and eventually go away completely as the crate becomes a part of the puppies routine.

A max of an hour in the crate is a good starting point for a puppy, at that point they will likely be ready to use the bathroom. This is their first time feeling the urge to go potty and holding it rather than immediately releasing it. If we go too long your puppy may have an accident inside the crate. Start with an hour to set your puppy up for success, and immediately head outside to let your puppy potty. After we have pottied and played with our puppy and we now need to use our crate again, whether it’s 15 minutes later or 2 hours later, always bring your puppy back outside to release their bladder again before going back into the crate.

During the day your puppy needs unlimited access to water, leaving a full bowl out for them to drink out of as needed. You can try putting water in their crate with them but most puppies will spill it, it isn’t necessary with the access to water they’ll have outside of the crate. One to two hours before bedtime pick up the water bowl so that your puppy can process their water and release it before bedtime. 

This will make them more successful overnight in their crate, but they may still need a middle of the night let out to go potty. If you hear barking at 3AM this time we will respond by letting the puppy outside. Keep your

energy calm throughout the whole process of going out to potty and coming back inside to go back into their crate, making it easier for your puppy to settle back down. Your puppy may bark again for a short period and this is normal, you can head back to bed. 

• Structure & Safety: Crate training provides essential structure for your puppy, preventing stress and unwanted behaviors while keeping them safe, much like a toddler’s pack-n-play.
• Potty Training Aid: The crate helps reinforce potty training by creating a clear distinction between sleep and potty areas, speeding up the training process.
• Preventing Separation Anxiety: Early crate training helps build your puppy’s confidence, reducing the risk of separation anxiety and destructive behaviors when left alone.
• Travel & Boarding Ease: A crate-trained dog is more comfortable with boarding and travel, viewing the crate as a personal, stress-free space.
• Consistent Routine: Use the crate during times you can’t supervise your puppy, gradually increasing crate time as they grow. Listen for signs your puppy may need to potty, and keep crate experiences positive with special treats.
• Patience & Progress: Crate training may take time, especially with high-drive breeds, but persistence will lead to a well-adjusted, happy dog.

By following this structure, you’ll teach your puppy the concept of crate training clearly, quickly, and without conflict. With short-term structure, you’re setting your puppy up for a lifetime of success. Remember, we’re here to support you throughout the crate training journey, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!