So you just got a new puppy, congratulations! But now what? Where do you start with training and how do you start? You’ve heard of kennel or crate training but it seems so mean and scary to
leave an 8 week old puppy in a kennel all alone! Or you’ve found out that your puppy isn’t a big fan of crate training and turns into a gremlin when it’s time to kennel up. I promise you’re not alone and this training process is much easier than most people make it out to be. In this article I’m going to lay out the do's and don'ts of kennel training and some common mistakes made by new puppy owners. We will cover how to train your puppy and not the other way around. In addition to that, how to keep a puppy quiet, location of the crate, and scheduling.
The Dos and Don’ts of Crate Training
When it comes to kennel training most owners dive in, head first, without a clue of where to begin and that’s the biggest mistake. You’ve got this 8 week old puppy that has had litter mates and mom over the last 8 weeks and now has a totally new environment. It’s a shock nonetheless. You’ll learn very quickly that most puppies will howl, bark, and whine all night long keeping you and your neighbors wide awake! Our first reaction is to let the puppy out during one of their fits and to console and cuddle it, this is the most common mistake when kennel training. Over time your puppy will form a habit of howling and whining because they know that on the other end of this chaos is you opening the kennel door to make them quiet. Find your window of opportunity! What does this mean? It means wait until your puppy has calmed down and gotten quiet before you allow them out of their kennel. This may be five minutes or it may be an hour. Using that window of opportunity every time will allow your puppy to learn that if I want out of this contraption then I’ve got to learn to be quiet! Here's a couple scenarios that you might run into and what to do in each situation!
Crate Training Scenario 1:
I got my puppy to be quiet so I can let them out but now I have a virtual meeting and I need to kennel the puppy but it won’t be quiet and I can’t let it out. What should I do? This puppy has had littermates and it’s mom over the course of 8 weeks and now they are alone and in a kennel by themselves. Dogs are den creatures, meaning they like to feel cozy and like it dark. Try using a towel or putting your kennel in a darker location like a laundry room or bathroom. Another option along with this is white noise. Puppies are a lot like children in the fact that if you provide white noise it drowns out the noise of you walking around the house or even talking during that virtual meeting.
My puppy is finally quiet and learning to calm down in the kennel but, when I let them out they are so excited to see me that they urinate everywhere! How can I fix this? Location of your crate
is important! I stated before that having your kennel in a darker location may help with whining. However, make sure that location is near a door that leads outside. Letting your puppy outside
immediately after letting them out of the kennel will eliminate using the bathroom inside. If you plan on being home and utilizing kennel training during that time make sure you set aside time
every so often to let your puppy out to potty.
Crate Training Scenario 2:
I got my puppy over the weekend but now I have to go back to work and I’m afraid to leave them in the crate for hours on end. Should I just not go to work? We all know what it’s like to get
a new puppy. We want to spend every moment we can with them! However, we need to set boundaries and we need to keep things as random as possible when it comes to kennel training. But I thought scheduling with a puppy was important? Don’t get me wrong, having a schedule for a puppy is extremely handy! With crate training it’s a bit different. Your puppy will learn when it’s time for bed or when it’s time for work, as those times usually happen the same every day. Don’t make the kennel a time of separation but a time to calm down. Utilize kennel training all the time. If you have to clean the dishes and it only takes 15 minutes, put your puppy in the kennel for that time. If you need to make dinner and it takes an hour, put your puppy in their kennel. The more time you utilize kennel training and the more random it is, the more your
puppy will learn that crate training is a time to calm down and they’ll realize that their crate isn’t so scary after all. Make sure you’re spending as much time crate training as you are interacting
with the puppy and training in other aspects of their life.
To us a crate is just a plastic or metal box but to a puppy it can be their worst enemy. Make the best of every situation and help your puppy adapt to their new environment. Remember don’t give in to their whining not matter how pitiful it sounds; Dogs are den animals so build on that and make it as cozy as you can; Keep the kennel close to an outside door, they have little bladders and need to go often; and lastly keep it random but simple. Your puppy will learn fast so make every minute and every opportunity count. Starting with a solid foundation in every training situation will lead to a better future with you and your canine.
As always I will leave you with a quote:
“You want a dog that respects you; Then learn how to lead.” - Steve Reider
Jacob Shipley
Full Flight Kennels