Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Puppy Potty Training Diaries

By Geraldine Dimarco


Dog potty training is a dirty job but somebody's got to do it, pun intended. The good news is-- it's not as difficult as it sounds. Sure, you'll have a couple of months of accidents here and there but then again, you'll have them anyway so you might as well train them now.

Do you want to know what experts do to make puppy potty training easier? What is the secret to their poop free home? It is none other than crate training. With canine crate training not only will your dog be taught how to potty properly; you can also begin to make travel plans with your pet. Doesn't that sound great?

For those of you who don't know what crate training is, this is when the dog is trained to go to his crate and stay there for longer periods of time. Because dogs do not like discharging on the same place they stay in, they will hold in their poop or pee until you can bring them out to potty. Therefore, crate training a puppy is an effective tool in potty training them.

Look for a crate that the dog won't be able to walk around in; but large enough so he can comfortably stretch, sit and stand in. Your goal is to make it as inviting as possible so find a crate that has padded floors and put in a cozy blanket and some fun doggie toys. Put the crate in a place where people usually stay. You can also put it in your bedroom so that the puppy can start getting up and sleeping the same time as you.

Let the dog enter the crate without having to physically force him in it. You can do this by feeding him treats while edging towards the crate. Do not close the crate's door. When inside, continue to feed him and gently block the crate with your body if he tries to leave. This is to be done for a few days.

When it appears that the puppy is ready for the next step, shut the door. Leave behind a favorite toy to keep his attention and make sure that you are close enough for him to see and hear you. If he begins to cry and whimper, let him be until he settles down. Never let him out if he is upset because he will think that crying will get him what he wants.

Gradually, he will be used to confinement. Go out of the room for 5 to 10 minutes and come back in. lengthen the intervals you are gone until you think that he can be left on his own completely. The important thing to remember that puppies have weaker bladders so never leave him alone for more than 3 hours when you are crate training a puppy.

Canines are instinctively den animals-meaning they seek the security that dens and crates provide. Pet owners say that even after their puppy training is done, the dogs still seek out their crates as their retreat from stress and noise. It all sounds like a great deal to me-so what are you waiting for? Take your precious little mutt and begin crate training them today.




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