Crate Training At Home

Crate training is one of the most important things to teach your new puppy. Remember that puppies look at their crate like you and I would look at out bed room. You always want to make sure that their area is a warm secure place free of cold draft that they are comfortable with. This is where your puppy goes to relax and take a few minutes out for them selves to recharge their batteries. Crate training is something that I view as essential for your new puppy. Most people would not allow a child to run a home unsupervised so why would you let your new puppy? Remember that puppies can be just as mischievous as children!

Den/Bed Room

Remember that a properly arranged crate is the equivalent to a den for your new puppy. I like to place my crates inside of the play are for my puppies. This way they have access to an area that they feel secure in as well as an area that they can run and play in without getting into trouble. Always make sure your puppy has access to dry kibbles and clean, fresh water. It is important that the placement of your puppy’s crate and play area be in an area free of cold drafts or intense sunlight. The area you choose to set up your puppy’s training should be pleasant and comfortable. My preference on crates is the Deluxe Vari Kennels like then one pictured below.

Safe Area

A play area with their crate is the perfect area for you to leave your puppy in when you are not home to supervise them. Puppies are like little children and should never be allowed to run the house unsupervised. They can get into electrical cords, poisonous plants, and dangerous areas like steps and sofas where they can fall and either break a leg or their back if not much worse. I recommend a portable type play area that you can take with you easily when you travel with your new puppy. Keep in mind that some puppies will grow up into jumpers therefore I always recommend buying the entire set when you purchase a play pen. Always make sure your puppy has access to dry kibbles and clean, fresh water. Here is a sample of the pen that I recommend, please enquire about the flooring and the tops.

Pee Pads

I also recommend covering the entire are that the puppy is playing in so that you can make sure and protect your flooring while you are out of the house. Slowly you can start to reduce the amount of area that is covered by the Pee Pads until your puppy is used to using the pads and not the flooring. Always make sure that your puppy has a bed so that they can distinguish between the Pish Pad on the floor and their sleeping area. As your puppy grows you can slowly start reducing the amount of space covered by the Pish Pads. Do not let your puppy roam the house unsupervised. This will almost guarantee that your puppy will have an accident somewhere in the house. The most important thing here is to make sure that your puppy is on a schedule and take them to their designated potty area when you see them circling or sniffing. Also remember to take them out as soon as they wake up in the morning or when they wake up from a nap.

Schedule

To properly train a puppy you must have some type of schedule in place. This is very effective if you are a punctual person with good follow through. If not then you can not blame your puppy for not training as well as you would like. Maltese and Yorkshire Terriers are small breed dogs and require several potty breaks through out the day. An adult can go several hours without a potty break however a young puppy will require many more in between. The key to training your puppy is to take them out first thing in the morning when they wake up and after every nap. Always use positive reinforcement when training your puppy to help encourage them when they do good things! NEVER physically reprimand your puppy. It is a good idea to always have something to clean your puppy up with in between baths when they do have an accident or simply need a little freshening up. I recommend using the Ultra No Rinse Shampoo for those dirty feet and rear ends! J For grooming products email: info@purepaws.net

Entertainment

Always make sure that your puppy has plenty of toys and chewies to entertain themselves with. When choosing your toys for your puppy please make sure to look for toys with no buttons for eyes that they can choke on or any type of ribbon that they can swallow and get tied up in their intestines. Also stay away from raw hides and make sure to through away any chewy that has been reduced to a hazardous choking object. It is important to have puppy toys that are the equivalent of being child safe. Never under estimate the trouble your puppy can get into, certain toys can be hazardous to your puppy!

Positive Reinforcement

A new puppy should never have free access to the house. Remember that a puppy does not know the difference between a pee pad and your Persian Rug. They just think this is a really nice pee pad. Only allow your puppy to roam the house with your guidance. If your puppy should happen to have an accident reprimand them at the time of the accident and not at a later time. Use a harsh tone with a negative connotation like “No Sir” or “No Mama” and your puppy will soon learn that this is not an acceptable behavior. Never use their name in any negative fashion while you are training them and always reward them either with a treat or lots of praise when they do something right. Puppies respond excellent to positive reinforcement.

Results

Even though this may all seem like a lot, this is time well invested in a companion that will be by your side for the next 12 to 15 years. There is nothing like a well trained companion to travel by your side that you feel confident to take places with you. If you would like additional information on crate training your puppy please feel free to email me at info@puresilkkennels.net