Crate Training & Housebreaking
A Happy, Safe & Housebroken Dog Through Crate Training
by Susan Engel, Certified Trainer
It is important to understand the four terms used in training a dog not to eliminate in the house.
Crate Trained
- A crate trained dog will not eliminate in his/her crate IF the crate is the appropriate size and if the dog is given an elimination break -within the age-appropriate time limit.
House Trained
- A house trained dog will not eliminate in the house while he/she is on a strict supervision schedule. And given elimination breaks within the age-appropriate time limit.
Housebroken
- A housebroken dog will not have accidents in the crate or in the house because you are enforcing a strict schedule that is made up of confinement and supervision. However, if the strict schedule or supervision subsides, the accidents would reappear.
Trustworthy Housebroken
- A trustworthy housebroken dog will not eliminate in the home at anytime. Most dogs do not reach this control and understanding of the rules until they are 9 to 18 months of age. And that is only if they have been on a good crate training and house training schedule from day one.
- It will only be though many months of the right crate training and house training schedules that will get your dog to the point of being trustworthy housebroken. Of course, if your dog is not on a successful schedule it is possible that your dog will never be trustworthy housebroken.
- A doggy doors is appropriate only after a dog is trustworthy housebroken and has a clear understanding that he is to eliminate outside
Great News! Any Dog Of Any Age Can Be Housebroken!
If your dog has not been on a successful crate training or housebreaking schedule, the great news is you can start today! Any dog can be re-conditioned to be housebroken. Having your dog housebroken, meaning crate trained and house trained (see definitions at top of page) will only take a few days. However, having your dog trustworthy housebroken may take a long time.
Our guide for how long it will take is: take how long your dog has been eliminating in the house or crate and cut that in half. Example: if your dog has been eliminating in the house for 2 years, it will take half the time of the bad behavior, 1 year, to get your dog trustworthy housebroken.
Crate Training
Dog training has evolved tremendously over the years. Using "newspaper" in the kitchen or in the bathroom to confine a dog has gone away with the manual typewriter and a cassette tape.
The safer and more practical use of the crate is what many consider to be the most effective and humane way to confine untrained dogs.
Recommended By Professionals
Crating is NOT cruel. In fact, most dog professionals: Veterinarians, obedience trainers and responsible breeders will tell you that crate training is the best method of confining your dog. Also, crate training your dog properly, may prevent many behavior problems.
- Crating = Preventing Behavior Problems
Natural Instincts
Our dogs' wild ancestors used dens as a place to relax, sleep and feel secure from predators. It was natural for them to keep this area clean, eliminating away from their den.
Dogs still have a natural instinct to keep their "den" or sleeping area clean. This is an enormous benefit to dog owners. Having your dog in a crate will allow you to have a place in your home where your dog will not have accidents and will not eliminate until taken to a place you have chosen for their elimination.
Dogs also prefer a small place of their own where they feel safe and secure. Crating a dog is much like using a crib for an infant or bedroom for a child.
- Crate = Natural Instinct
- Crate = Bedroom = Security
Crate Basics
There are two types of crates. The plastic molded type, most appropriate for puppies and small dogs or the wire crate with plastic bottom. Be sure the crate you choose is well made.
We recommend buying a crate large enough to house your dog when he is an adult. Using a crate divider, which is sold separately, will allow you to limit the size of the crate when your dog is younger.
- Don't use the crate as a punishment. Never yell at your dog while you are putting him in the crate or while he is in the crate.
- An adult dog should be let out of the crate at least every eight hours.
- NEVER use a choker collar on the dog while in the crate, these are used for obedience only because dogs can choke themselves to death.
- No food or water is recommended to be left in the crate while you are away.
- Leave only toys in the crate that you are sure will not be chewed with pieces possibly swallowed.
Housebreaking
Our 20 years of experience and work with thousands of dogs has proven this crate training and house training schedule to be the quickest and easiest way to get a dog housebroken and eventually trustworthy housebroken. Mainly, because you will be using your dog's own natural instinct to keep his or her sleeping area free of urine and feces.
- The crate should only be a bit larger than your dog. Most dogs consider their sleeping area to be only the actual spot where they sleep. If the crate is too big your dog will separate a sleeping and a potty area inside the crate.
- During the day, the length of time that your dog is left in the crate is crucial. Formula: add 1 hour to the number of months of age. 3 months + 1 Hour = 4 hours. Every 4 hours your puppy will need a potty break.
- At 9 weeks, pups can sleep 6 hours at night
- When having playtime in the home, your dog must be supervised 100% by an adult
- Housebreaking formula: pup is either in the crate, outside w/ you or inside with you. remember to supervise him 100% of the time.
- Dogs that are not trustworthy housebroken will spend many sessions in their crate, this is normal and okay. It is important to use a balanced crate schedule that consists of crate time and one-on-one people time.
- The stricter you are using the crate, in the beginning of the housebreaking process, the quicker your dog will be trustworthy housebroken.
- A properly crate trained puppy will typically be trustworthy housebroken by age 9-18 months old.
Paper Training
Unfortunately, dogs do not have the instinct to eliminate on pee pads or newspaper like cats do with a litter box. Any method of housebreaking requires many months of consistently teaching your dog the appropriate place to eliminate.
The actual steps for paper training or outside training are basically the same except for the area of elimination. A crate plays a very important role, in that; it allows you to have your dog in a place where he will not have an accident until he is taken to the appropriate elimination area.
Paper training a dog that you eventually would like to eliminate outside is just adding an unnecessary step that has the potential of actually teaching the dog to eliminate inside the home, confusing the dog.
Inappropriate Chewing
Inappropriate chewing when you are not home is bad news on many levels.
- Your belongings are destroyed
- Your dog may ingest harmful objects
- Your dog is actually being rewarded for the behavior by being able to chew the object
- You become frustrated and angry
- You scold your dog
Fact: You will not be able to stop this behavior by scolding after the fact, because you must catch a dog in the act of chewing to correct the behavior. The only way to stop this behavior is to remove your dog from the opportunity.
Crates not only keep your possessions from becoming chewed, they keep your dog safe from electrical wires or ingesting potentially dangerous items.
The relationship between you and your dog is a happier one because you will not have the anxiety and frustration coming home to find your possessions destroyed.
- Crating = A safe dog
- Crating = Closer Dog-Human Bond
