Crate Training Puppies
What needs to be realized is that the pup is going to cry for a night or two.
©Photo Courtesy of Thierry Marysael
He has just left the only home he's ever known, left behind littermates and his momma, plus all of his familiar sights and smells. Of course he's going to cry! If he is properly trained, his crying will only last for a day or two, three at the most, if he's extremely stubborn! The most important thing to remember about crate training puppies, is to ignore them when they cry, whine, or scream! The 2nd most important rule is your timing in getting him out of his crate. When you first bring home your new Golden Retriever puppy, make sure you already have his crate in the area of the house that he will be living in. Crate training him now, will help him understand housebreaking faster, and will also greatly cut down in his chewing of inappropriate objects. I always have my crate in the kitchen. This is the only room that the pup gets access to for awhile, and it is in the center of the house, with lots of traffic. I prefer to have my Golden Retriever pups where they can see the activities going on in the home, including all people, other dogs, sights, sounds, and smells. This way they quickly learn to accept things, such as the sound of the vacuum cleaner, without fear.
©Photo Courtesy of Andrea Spence
Always introduce your puppy to the crate several times during the day, do not wait until bedtime to do this! Have the door to the crate open, just in case your pup decides to go inside to investigate it. He may not do that on his own though. Some people put snacks inside the crate to bribe the puppy to go in on his own, but I don't. A puppy going in to eat a treat and then exiting on his own, is not the same as actually being locked inside, and he won't be fooled by it either! After he has played for awhile, put him into the crate. Use the same sentence every time you do this. Such as, "Get in your crate", or "Go to your bed". Lock him in, and simply go about your business. He is going to cry, I guarantee it! Just ignore him. Though it will seem like an eternity, he will settle down. While he is in his crate, don't worry about being quiet, or avoiding the room so that he can't see you. Just follow your normal routine, except do not speak to him at all. Do not tell him, "it's okay", or "calm down", or anything. Ignoring him completely is the trick to proper crate training of puppies. It's fine to make all your usual noises while he's in the crate, like talking on the phone, washing dishes, etc., just don't speak to him directly. When you decide to get him out of the crate, make sure he is not making a sound. No crying or whining. If he has spent most of his time crying, wait until there is a moment of silence before you let him out of the crate.
©Photo Courtesy of Susan Jackson
If you let him out while he is crying, he will only associate his crying with getting his freedom, and the next time, he will scream even louder and longer. This is the most common mistake people make in crate training their puppies. Each time that you put him into his crate, extend the time that you leave him in there. Do not shorten the time. When it is bedtime, follow the same technique. If he has been in his cage several times during the day, he will not cry all night, only part of the night! It is usually on the 3rd night after properly crate training puppies that you will be able to sleep all night, unless of course, you lay awake wondering why he isn't crying! :) At night, do not get up to check on him, thinking that maybe he needs to go to the bathroom. Even a young, 8 week old pup is capable of holding himself for 6 to 7 hours. This will also greatly help in his housebreaking. In the morning, I usually lay in bed and the minute I do not hear my puppy crying or whining, I jump out of bed and let the pup out of his crate. He soon will associate that it is his silence that gets him out of his crate, and once he learns that, life is good!
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