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How to Crate Train Your Puppy

When it comes to potty training there are lots of opinions on what the best & most effective method is. One Google search on the topic, and you are entering a world of unexpected controversy and varying outlooks. In our opinion there are lots of methods that would give you great success, but from our experience, crate training is the one we prefer. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we hear,
Isn't crate training cruel?
Contrary to popular belief, when crate training is done right, it is actually an act of love and most of the time, your dog will learn to love their crates! From their ancestral roots, dogs desire a small, comfortable place to feel safe. When used correctly, the crate can mimic the den like feel they would have gotten in the wild. Just like we enjoy having a designated room in our home where we sleep, they like the same!
That being said we strongly discourage the use of a crate when used as a punishment or a place to hold the dog beyond a safe amount of time.
Why Does Crate Training Work?
Dogs have the innate desire to keep their areas clean! Because of this they will not want to go potty in their "den". When using correct timing and offering ample opportunities for your pup to use the restroom... they will naturally learn that they have a different place to go potty & they do not have to soil their spaces. It can take a little time for them to learn this and gain trust that they will be given the chance to go outside when they feel the urge, but they oftentimes catch on super-fast!
How to Crate Train?
Now for the big question! How to do it? Here's what you need to know,
- Keep your puppy in the crate anytime you cannot actively supervise them
This is important! If your puppy has free unsupervised reign of your house before they are potty trained, they are almost guaranteed to have accidents! This is literally setting them up for failure. There are LOTS of new smells and the area is not small enough for them to have the desire to keep it clean! This is not forever, but until they are fully house broke, you must be fully supervising them... when you cannot, they need to be in the crate.
- Make the crate a happy place
You want your puppy's crate to be a place they want to be! We'd encourage only giving toys when they are in the crate until they are fully trained. Make it comfortable with blankets, toys, and treats. We have also seen great benefit in offering their food and water in the crate, shutting the door for about 20-30 mins, and then taking it out. This will help them associate the crate with food, which they love, and also help you better understand when they will need to go potty. When food and water is out all the time it is VERY hard to gauge when they will need to use the restroom & also encourages obesity in your dog.
- Take them out after naps and every hour
If you have the time, take your puppy out to use the restroom every 45 mins - 1 hour the first week. They will not go every time, but this helps to ensure you give them the chance when they do need to! After the first week you can probably stretch it to every couple of hours, but you will soon learn what your dog can handle! We also suggest taking them out right after they wake up from a nap, this is a common potty time! As well as once at night for the first week, after that they should be able to hold it through the night!
- Take them to the same spot each time and ignore them :)
How would you like someone telling you to "go potty" three hundred times when you're trying to do your business? As much as you want to help, we encourage you to just let them do their thing! If you have the access to a little fence and you can supervise from the window, that is even better! Taking them to the same place each time if possible is also super helpful for them to smell previous potties and associate that place with using the restroom.
- Consider a bell on the door
We love bell training! If you put a bell on your door and take them out that same door each time they use the restroom, they will hear the jingle and start to associate that with potty time. Once they are fully trained and have freedom to roam your home, they will ring the bell when they need to go potty. We have done this several times and have seen great success!
Here's the one we use,
https://amzn.to/3EnCLKO
- Stay Consistent
We know it's hard, but consistency is key and will pay off three-fold! Your puppy will soon get the hang of it and be a potty training pro!















