YorkieMania21

Buy a crate that is large enough so that the puppy will be able to stand up and turn around when he is adult-sized, roughly 1 and 1/2 times the size of the dog as an adult.

It is a mistake to buy too big of a crate because the pupppy may fail to see it as a "den". However, when buying a crate for a young puppy of a large breed, such as a Rottweiler or Great Dane, it will be necessary to buy a very large crate. The crate can be partitioned off while the puppy is very small and then opened up as the puppy gets larger.

I strongly recommend a wire crate rather than a fiberglass travel-type kennel because a puppy can see out of a wire crate easily and won't feel isolated. It's just like putting a human baby in a play pen. The crate should have some soft, washable bedding to make it warm and comfortable.

Start from the beginning having your puppy sleep and rest in his crate. Without any training, he will naturally begin to seek the security and safety of his little "dog room" when he is sleepy or just wants to be off by himself.

When first introducing the puppy to the crate, toss in a little treat to get the puppy to go inside, don't force him in. Coax him with food and reward him with praise. At first, he may back quickly out, that's normal. Take it slow and encourage him to go in on his own.

The puppy should be allowed to get used to his new home slowly, never just put in the crate and left. It's best to put the pup in his crate for very short periods of time at first, gradually increasing the time as the pup gets used to being in it.

The puppy should be in his crate during ALL unsupervised times. The crate should be placed where the pup can see you; in the kitchen during meals and in the bedroom for the night. This way, your puppy won't feel lonely and when he needs to "go", you can hear the whimper and take him out.

During times when you can watch him carefully, let him out to play and explore, but keep your eye on him. The goal is to prevent any accidents, but owners need to be realistic and realize that some accidents will happen.

Watch for sniffling and circling. This is an indication that your puppy is about to "go". Quickly and gently guide him to the door, praise him at the door and take him outside to the chosen spot. Stay with your puppy until he goes. When he does, it is important to get very excited and really praise your puppy. This is the only way he knows that he has pleased you by "going" outside. Give him time to defecate as well as urinate. He will probably walk around a little and pick another spot.

Your puppy may have an accident or two in the crate at first, especially if you are not good at taking him out often enough. The puppy should not be scolded for eliminating in the crate. These accidents should be ignored, cleaned up, and closer attention paid to the puppy's schedule for the next few days.

Schedule is vital in housetraining. At first, your puppy should be taken out every 2 hours. Young puppies, 6-7 weeks old, have to empty their bladders at least every 2 hours. Puppies 8-10 weeks old still need to "go" about every 3-4 hours. As the pup gets older and is able to "hold it longer", the time intervals between going out can be gradually increased. There are certain times that your puppy will always need an opportunity to eliminate.

Your puppy will need to "go":

* just a few minutes after eating and drinking

* after vigorous playing and chewing

* after waking up

By following a strict schedule, your puppy learns to hold his bowels and bladder until he is taken outside. This schedule will stay with him his whole life.

By the time your puppy is 6-8 months old, he will probably be able to hold his bowels and bladder for 8 hours. That is a long time, however, for a puppy to be in a crate.

If you work during the day, I recommend someone come home at lunch and let the puppy out to give him some attention as well as letting him eliminate. If you can't do that yourself, try to get a neighbor or friend to go over once during the day to let him out.

Dogs in the wild live in dens. Dens offer protection from the cold, the heat, and predators. It gives the wild dog a sense of security and well-being. Domestic dogs also have strong natural tendency to seek out a "den", a small place to curl up and get their backs up against something in order to feel safe and secure. Using a crate, we can actually simulate the dog's den.

In nature, a dog does not defecate or urinate in it's den. Therefore, a puppy will try to keep his "den" clean. He will naturally hold his bowels and bladder while he is in his crate. In most homes, it is difficult for a dog to find a place of his own where he can retreat to be by himself, out of the traffic and activity of the home. By giving a dog his own "den" in your home, you can take advantage of mother nature to quickly housebreak a puppy, control destructive puppy problems, and raise a more well-adjusted dog.

Once a dog is an adult, the door to his crate can be left open and he can have access to his crate whenever he is tired or wants to be alone.