What is Crate Training?

We have been promoting crate training for several years now

 More and more dog owners and their pets are learning the benefits of starting puppies on crate training as soon as they arrive in their new home. Crate training is the use of a purpose built wire cage to confine a puppy when the family is not home or is unable to supervise the puppy's activities. The crate  becomes the puppy's nest.

Some people look in horror at me when I suggest they should crate train their pup . It would be cruel to just close him in the crate and leave him but I can assure you that crate trained pups are happier, more confident than those not trained in this way, a puppy left to roam around the house becoming destructive is not a welcome addition to any family home.

Crate training, if done properly, is a wonderful training tool with many benefits. Apart from the obvious uses for transporting dogs, a crate can be used for short-term confinement -- to keep your puppy out of mischief so he does not develop bad habits when you cannot give him your undivided attention. it is also helpful if you have young children who like to have their friends round to play, not all children want a young pup jumping on them covered in mud.

A crate can also be used to develop good habits,to housetrain your puppy, to establish a chew-toy habit, and to reduce inappropriate barking and digging.  When you are out in the car with your dog then you know he isn't going to be leaping over onto the driver and causing an accident.

It is a dog's natural instinct to keep his crate/home clean, so he will "hold it" as long as he can before eliminating in the crate. The maximum time an 8 week old puppy should be in his crate without a break is 4 hours. Puppies younger than 8 weeks have to "go" about every 2-3 hours so they should be given a crate-break at those intervals. Except for overnight sleeping, crate confinement approaching 8 hours is strongly discouraged. As the puppy gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually leave him in his crate for longer periods of time, but you should never exceed 6 hours for any dog.

Owners of all age puppies and dogs can start crate training at any time. It is best to start puppies immediately, so they do not have the opportunity to develop bad habits. Most adult dogs can be taught to like using their crates if they are introduced to it properly. Our pups are kept in crates here so are used to be confined in one for short periods, when the pups leave here they leave with a toy and bits they are familiar with in their crate so if these are placed in the new crate then they will feel happier about going in.

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The ideal size crate is one that will be big enough for him when he is fully grown, so it is not a good idea to buy a crate that is puppy sized as you will soon need to buy another, we recommend a 36" or above for a vizsla

We have found the most cost effective place to buy from is eBay

You can buy wire cages that are easily collapsible and can be carried like a suitcase, which is helpful when travelling. Most wire cages have removable pans that can slide out for easy cleaning. If you select a wire cage, cover the back completely and top and sides 1/2 way down with a towel to create a den-like atmosphere. If you do not cover a portion of the cage, the dog may not feel safe and secure because of the openness of the cage.

Dogs are pack animals and prefer to be with their pack/family, so keep the crate in a lived-in part of the house. A bedroom, kitchen or family room is good although it will be easier for the pup to sleep if there are times when nobody uses the room. we do not suggest the pups goes into a bedroom.

When the puppy is young it is recommended to have the crate near the door he will be going out of to go to the toilet You will find that the pup will urinate almost as soon as he comes out of his nest so it is better if the door is close by.

Your dog should thoroughly enjoy spending time in his crate. This can be accomplished by introducing him to the crate properly, making it comfortable and fun to go into the crate, and by giving him something entertaining to do in the crate. Below is a step-by-step outline of the recommended process:

1. Set up the crate with the puppy out of the room, so as not to startle him.

2. Use old blankets, towels or sheets as bedding. Do not make the bedding material too absorbent because the puppy needs to be severely inconvenienced if he urinates in his crate.

4. DO NOT put a water bowl in the crate because it will spill and wet the bedding.

5. DO put one or two safe chew toys in the crate with the puppy so he has something to occupy his time -- a  Kong toy is one of the best and safest toys to leave a puppy alone with. Stuffing a Kong toy  with a biscuit can keep the puppy entertained.  Do not leave a puppy alone with a toy that can splinter or break off in small pieces, such as rib bones and rawhide bones. These are chew toys that should be supervised as they may cause the puppy to choke.

6. If you are using a wire crate, place an old blanket or sheet over the top and sides in order to create a den-like atmosphere. Tuck the ends of the covering under the crate so that the puppy cannot pull them inside to chew on them.

We suggest when you get your new puppy home.play with him for a while, get him tired, settle him in his crate then go out for a couple of hours, you know he will be safe in his crate and he will do the inevitable crying, because you can't hear this you won't be tempted to go and talk to him while he is howling, doing so will make him think that he only has to howl to get someone to come and talk to him, it is better that he does this stage during the daytime rather than during the night and keep the whole family awake and distressed. This may seem hard but you know your pups is safe and well and isn't going to come to any harm.

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