Fastest, cleanest way to potty train.
Crate training your puppy is a simple process, but it takes a little work and consistency. The most common mistakes people make when potty training are not being consistent and not seeing the training through to completion.
Is crate training cruel?
NO! A dog’s natural instinct is to be a den animal. By crate training, you’re actually using a dog’s natural instincts to your advantage. Dogs don’t want to make a mess in their den, and the crate quickly becomes their “home”. (Click here to see a crate we use and recommend.)
If you’ll spend the first couple weeks (with most dogs) working diligently with your pet, you’ll be rewarded with a well trained dog for many years.
Three things to remember when crate training your puppy:
- Patience
- Consistency
- Control
Patience
Your pup will take in an incredible amount of information in his first few months. Introducing him to the crate will take a little getting used to and there will almost certainly be accidents. Remember, accidents are normal and there’s no need to punish the dog when they happen. Most often, it’s the human’s fault anyway, perhaps leaving the pup outside the crate for too long.
Never use the crate as punishment. If your pup has an accident, let him see you clean it and say firmly but quietly, “NO”. That’s all. Gently put him back in his crate and start the process over. And be sure to praise the pup when he does the right thing in the right place! He’ll quickly learn the difference. Be patient.
Consistency
This is the GOLDEN RULE: You’re not teaching a puppy where NOT to potty. You’re teaching your pup where TO potty. The more often you can take your new puppy out to the place you WANT him to potty, the better! Take him out as often as you can and reward him with praise every time he’s successful!
It’s important that you get the pup on a schedule and stick to it. This consistency will help the pup learn where not to potty, and much more importantly, where it’s ok to potty. We’ll discuss this in more detail in Part 3 of this series.
Control
This is the piece lacking in most failed attempts to potty train a puppy. There are several things YOU can control:
- When the pup eats.
- When the pup goes outside.
- Where the pup sleeps.
- Where the pup stays when you’re not playing with him.
There are many potty training methods, but crate training, in our opinion, provides the most control. It’s very black and white to the puppy.
Potty pad and paper training, for example, are other common ways to potty train. We prefer using a crate because we have more control. The crate is natural and we’re using the dogs own instincts to our advantage. As the pup learns not to mess his crate, you gain control over every bullet point above.
Conclusion...
These are the basic principles you must follow when crate training your puppy. This is the mindset. Stay patient, stay consistent and keep control, and you’ll have success with your pup no matter how you choose to train.
