Crate & House Training

A crate is your puppy’s sanctuary.  It’s a place to spend private time with toys or bones, rest, or seek refuge from stressful situations, animals, or people.

Crate Size

Adjust the crate so that there is enough room for your puppy to stand up, stretch, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but no more. Your puppy should NOT feel like there is room to sleep AND have a toilet area.

Spending Time in the Crate

Puppies have been sleeping in crates with the door open and have spend enjoyable time alone in crates (with special treats) with the door closed.  Keep this training going by feeding meals in the crate and/or giving very special treats in the crate with the door closed (for short periods).  At other times, leave the door open for the puppy to access at will.  If your puppy fusses when you close the door, do not open it until s/he is quiet.  We don’t recommend getting into a dialogue with your puppy at this time -- just ignore the puppy’s noises without making your own noises.  We might tap on the crate if the puppy is getting agitated, but will ignore small whimpers/whining.

Night Time

Put the crate in your bedroom at night.  When you and your puppy are ready for bed, place your puppy in the crate (calmly, no talking) with a few treats, a bully stick, and maybe a snuggle puppy or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, then close the door.  Place some of the clothing you wore that day near the crate so that the puppy can smell (but not reach) it. If the puppy whines or fusses a little, ignore it.  If it goes on for longer than 15 minutes or starts to escalate, tap the crate gently, but don’t say anything.  Don’t get into a “conversation” with the puppy.

House Training Schedule 

Set up a schedule for your puppy’s meals, playtime, crate time, trips outside, and follow it closely. The pup should be taken out to eliminate: right after waking, about 20 minutes after eating, after play sessions, and about every 3 hours in between. Make sure to plan for some EXERCISE as well. If you leave the house for work, leave the puppy and the OPEN crate in an easy-to-clean, puppy-proofed area (kitchen/bathroom/laundry room). Your puppy is trained to use a litter box with wood pellets. If you have a dog door, confine the puppy to a small area around that, and fence in a small area outside the door. If you don’t have a dog door, add a small litter box to the puppy area/pen.