| "> | | | | throughout the open space. DO NOT allow your dog |
| House training a dog is a daunting task that will test | | | | to roam unsupervised from one room to another until |
| your patience time and time again. Dog crate training | | | | they've relieved themselves! This will only encourage |
| is one effective way to house train a new dog. The | | | | your dog to create his or her own secret private |
| dog is temporarily confined to a small living quarters. | | | | spots throughout the house and accidents like this |
| The theory behind crate training is based on one | | | | can set your training back several weeks! |
| simple observation about dogs. Most dogs adamantly | | | | It's important to shower the dog with praise, |
| refuse to soil the area where they eat, rest or sleep. | | | | happiness and some type of reward, whether it's |
| The general rule of thumb is to IMMEDIATELY take | | | | food, a treat or play time for going in their |
| them to a designated area to relieve themselves, | | | | designated spot. They will associate their action and |
| whether it's outside in your backyard, outside for a | | | | that particular spot with making you happy; getting |
| walk or a soil pad located within your apartment or | | | | something they wanted, hopefully developing a |
| house. The dog is taught bladder and bowel control | | | | pattern of behavior. |
| because the confinement inhibits them from freely | | | | Continue putting your dog inside the crate to |
| relieving themselves. They learn to hold themselves | | | | complete their training. Your dog may even begin |
| until they are in the proper place. Your training will be | | | | viewing the crate as his or her safe place with plenty |
| more successful the sooner you establish a regular | | | | of comforts like a cozy fleece blanket and their |
| time and place for the dog to go potty. Your dog will | | | | favorite toys, sometimes voluntarily climbing inside on |
| eventually recognize when and where to go. | | | | their own. Pick up and place your dog inside the crate |
| An important part of training is laying down a regular | | | | if you ever notice the dog falling asleep outside the |
| feeding schedule. A dog will usually relieve itself within | | | | crate. The idea is for the dog to see the crate as a |
| one hour after eating. The implementation of a strict | | | | castle that they can never soil. Your dog learns to |
| feeding schedule creates an easily identifiable | | | | control their bladder or bowel until you give them the |
| elimination schedule. You will recognize that there are | | | | go ahead to go potty. This is much better than |
| certain times each day and night where your dog can | | | | allowing them to go unsupervised wherever and |
| be removed from the crate and taken to the | | | | whenever they please! |
| designated elimination spot. | | | | The training can be ended at any time once you are |
| It's crucial for the dog to go immediately from the | | | | comfortable with your dog's potty habits. It's |
| crate to their designated elimination spot with no | | | | recommended that you go right back to crate |
| stops in between. Your dog will obviously be excited | | | | training immediately if your dog starts to have |
| to no longer be confined to his or her crate and will | | | | accidents throughout the house again. |
| immediately want to run around, play and frolic | | | | |