Southern Storm Kennels

Crate - Potty Training

Over the years the most commonly asked question I get is "How do I potty train my new puppy?"

The answer is CRATE TRAINING!

Remember, a dog is a den loving animal. They love to feel a wall against their back for security. A crate should serve as a den or home base, NEVER as a punishment area.

A Day in the Life of Your Puppy

Your puppy should sleep in their crate. When your puppy wakes up take them out to the area you wish to be the designated potty area. Make sure you pick up the puppy immediately when getting them out of the crate and carry them out to the potty area. Praise the puppy immediately after they go to the bathroom and then reward them with some friendly play. The dog will learn that it is fun to go potty outside. NEVER SCOLD the pup if it has an accident. Just show them where to go and say the words "Go potty" or some other similar descriptive to indicate the activity you wish the pup to do. Give the pup ample time to understand and then repeat the process. Take the pup out again after they have had time to digest food or water and repeat the task. Repetition, repetition, repetition…….

Another way to accomplish this chore is to create a long-term confinement area. This is useful for those who work long hours or want the dog to live in an apartment or restricted area. The major purpose of long-term confinement is to restrict "mistakes" to a small area. It is unrealistic to expect a young puppy to have sufficient control to "hold it" for more than a few hours, so when you need to leave your puppy for longer periods of time, confine them to an area where they have access to a "doggie toilet" such as some newspapers, puppy pads, or a square of artificial grass turf in a pan. This is a temporary measure until your dog is old enough to be able to "hold it" for longer periods of time.

After a month or so, you can gradually increase the time between potty breaks. By the time the pup is about 8 months old and has developed sufficient bladder and bowel control, you can expect the pup to sleep through the night without having to go "potty".

Cassie and Hailey in a short term confinement area

The Quick Track Method

Following these simple steps will ensure your puppy is house trained as quickly as possible:

• When you can't watch your puppy for short periods of time, confine them to their kennel/crate.
• When you can't watch your puppy for longer periods of time confine them to a long-term confinement area. An exercise pen is the perfect tool for this situation. It is safe and easy to move to another area.
• When you spend time with your puppy in your home, keep him on a leash while they are free in the house.
• Make sure you praise your pup the minute they go potty!

Mistakes and Accidents

If you find an accident in the house DO NOT reprimand your dog. All this does is teach your dog that you don't like to see them eliminate, which will cause the dog to do it in a hidden spot such as a closet or behind the couch or wait until you are not looking.

Supervision: Spending Time in the House with Your New Puppy

When you are home and want to spend time with your puppy, keep them on a leash by your side or tethered near you while they rest or play with toys. This way they can't run around the house and make mistakes. Just as with the long-term confinement area, this is a temporary measure until your dog is house and chew trained and can be trusted to spend time alone free in the house. Until then, they can't get into trouble if you are attached to the other end of the leash.

Every 45-60 minutes take your 8-10 week old pup to the potty area. The older your pup gets, the less you will need to take them to potty and the more time they can spend off-leash in the house with you supervising.

All three of these training aids: short-term confinement, long-term confinement, and supervision are used in an effort to create a dog that can eventually be trusted to spend time in your home when you are not there. As a general rule, most dogs should not be allowed to roam unsupervised until they are at least 9 months old or older. However, some dogs can handle such freedom sooner, and some dogs cannot until they are well over a year old. Remember, dogs are as individual as we are!

Trouble Shooting

• Wrong kennel size: be sure you purchase a large kennel that will house the dog as an adult (this will save you money). You can purchase kennels/crates with dividers. This allows you to make the area smaller for potty training purposes. Do not try to push things along too quickly. A puppy's bladder and bowels are not fully developed. It is physically impossible for them to "hold it"!
• Feeding concerns: be sure to schedule feedings and watering so that your dog has adequate time to eliminate before kenneling.
• Separation stress: consider getting another dog as a companion if you are gone for long periods of time every day. If your dog becomes very lonely or bored it may develop bad habits such as barking, chasing its tail; and many other undesirable habits.

Rainor In a long term confinement area

The Time Out: Kennel Training (positive reinforcement)

While the kennel should never be used to punish your dog, it is very effective as a place for your dog to have a brief time-out. Time-outs help to eliminate unwanted behaviors such as puppy nipping children, excessive rowdiness and attention-seeking, behaviors such as whining, chewing, or general non-attentiveness.

Time-outs are most effective if they are delivered as unemotionally as possible. For example: if your puppy is nipping, give him a tug toy. This teaches them what is acceptable for chewing. For most pups, a few repetitions of this are enough for them to begin to get the idea that nipping people is not okay, but chewing on a toy is. But, if your pup is not making the connection, you might consider letting him spend a few minutes in his kennel/crate to get control of himself. Calmly walk him to his kennel, and avoid any verbal or physical reprimands. After a few minutes, let him out and try another play/training session...voila!

This is a guide that is a basic time line. You may need to vary according to your needs and situations that arise.

Go get your crates today!

Safety Tips:

• Collars: There is a real risk that your dog's collar can get stuck on the metal furnishings of his kennel or crate. As a safety precaution, remove his collar when he is in the kennel.
• Children and the kennel: Don't allow kids or adults to bother your dog while they are in the kennel. The kennel is meant to be a quiet time for the dog. Also, it is an area for the dog to rest, so be sure that the dog can do just that.
• Warm or cold weather concerns: Make sure the kennel is kept in an area where your dog is protected from the elements and extreme temperatures.
• Never leave an unsupervised dog inside a car during warm weather. Never leave your dog unsupervised in a situation where unfamiliar people or animals have access to them.