Re: Crate/Housetraining

In Reply to: Crate/Housetraining
Category:   House Breaking
Posted by:  Brooke
Posted on:  December 31, 2002 at 00:48:52

: We have a new 8-week-old JR in a two-bedroom townhome. She is usually left alone for a maximum time of 2-3 hours during the day, during which we have been leaving her in her crate. In housebreaking the puppy, we began by confining her to the crate for short periods and taking her outside immediately to eliminate. This has been working well in her housetraining. However, we are now reading that she should not be kept in the crate for long periods of time. We take her out often and play with her, and we put treats and toys in there with her, but she is reluctant to go in the crate on her own. Once she is inside for a few minutes, she is fine and even plays and sleeps. We can even sometimes open the door and she will stay in there. Are we doing this right, or should we be taking other steps concerning the crate? Should we be locking her in there when we are home, or should we leave it open all the time and make her go in on her own? Any suggestions you would have would be helpful, because we are first time puppy and first-time JR owners.

Response:

Dear Brooke,

It's sounds like you guys are doing everything right so far -- well done! :-)

Two hours is not too long to expect an 8 week old pup to "hold it" during the day; 3 hours may be pushing her limit but if she hasn't had an accident in her crate so far then it's probably okay. On average, an 8 week old pup can hold it 3-4 hours at night.

I encourage you to crate her occasionally when you're home so she doesn't equate your leaving the house with being crated. If you keep her crate in a central location (kitchen/family room), then she is still part of the household even when confined. It doesn't have to be for long -- maybe 30-60 minutes -- for a "pup-nap" after exercise or a coffee break (yours, not hers!) When she's not crated, leave the door open for her so she has the option to go inside if she feels like it. Of course, this means you'll have to move the crate back and forth between the family room and your bedroom but it's a small price to pay for her to feel secure and comfortable in her crate...yes?

At your little one's age, it's not surprising that she is reluctant to go in her crate and it's okay for you to gently put her in there. I suggest you accompany the action with a phrase (like "in your crate" or "in your bed") and then give her a small treat and praise her. If you do this quietly and calmly EVERYTIME you crate her, she will learn to go into her crate when you tell her to...and that the crate is not a bad place to be.

Again, you guys are doing great; keep up the good work!

Warm regards,
Leslie