Puppy Training Tips
Crate Training and Housebreaking
- Many experienced dog owners and breeders use crate training to housebreak a puppy. If you use this method, you must keep in mind that crating a dog is not at all a cruel thing to do, if done correctly. Our adult dogs here at the home of East End Cavaliers love to go into their crates when they want to sleep, and will bark to be let in if we should leave the crate door closed. The major point to keep in mind is that crating should never be used to punish a puppy for doing something wrong.
- The type of crate you use is not nearly as important as the size. The crate should be just barely large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around. Don't think you're making it better for your dog by getting a larger crate; if it's any larger, you're inviting trouble. If you're concerned that a crate large enough for an adult dog will be too big for your newly arrived puppy, don't think you have to go out and buy several crates of different sizes. Just buy one that will be large enough for your puppy when it's full-grown. You can cut down the usable space while it's a puppy by putting a cardboard box in the back of the crate. As the puppy grows, smaller boxes can be used to increase the space inside, until your pup reaches its full adult size and you may remove the box entirely.
- Housebreaking a puppy using a crate is actually not very difficult, but it requires a commitment of time and constant vigilance. Make sure you have a properly sized crate (see above) and follow this procedure each day:
- As soon as your puppy wakes up in the morning, approach the crate using the same words each time, such as, “Do you want to go out?” Carry him outside to the same area each time and stay with him until he eliminates. Give him time to find the right spot, and don’t distract him. If you wish to teach him to go on command, repeatedly speak a phrase such as “hurry up” while he is eliminating. As the puppy ages, he will associate the act of eliminating with that phrase.
- After he is finished, give him lavish and enthusiastic praise – perhaps even a small treat. Then bring him back inside for a short period of supervised play. This period should start at no more than 15 minutes the first few days, and very gradually be increased over the following few weeks. At the end of the supervised play period, put him back in the crate.
- For the first few weeks, do not keep your puppy in the crate for longer than 2 hours at a time during the day. After that time period, wake him up and repeat the above procedure. You should also follow the “go out” procedure after every meal. As he gets older, he will be able to tolerate up to 4 hours at a time in the crate.
- Remember: For the first few weeks, your puppy should be engaged in one of the following activities at all times:
- Sleeping in the crate.
- Outside doing his thing.
- In supervised play with you.
- On your lap.
- In this way, he will never have the opportunity to make a mistake.
How to Get a New Puppy Through the First Night
As you have seen in our last few tips, crate training a puppy makes housebreaking very easy, but requires some commitment on your part. Getting through a full night, however, can be a bit more difficult. In order for your pup to be a true member of the family, he has to allow you to get a full night’s sleep.
Try this procedure from day one:
From about 3 hours before bedtime until an hour before, keep the puppy active. Remember that during this time,
he should be on your lap, or under your direct supervision; don’t give him a chance to slip up on his housebreaking. An hour before bedtime, let him go to sleep.
At bedtime, wake him up and carry him out to eliminate. Take the time to allow him to both urinate and defecate. Then bring him in to sleep in his crate, in a place where you can hear him from bed. If he cries, a sharp bang on the crate along with a loud “Quiet!” should settle him down. As soon as he wakes up in the morning, start the daytime procedure we outlined last time.
For the first few days or weeks, your puppy may wake up very early, so be prepared to make a few sacrifices. In time, however, he will adjust to your schedule, and you both will enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep.
How to Stop Your Puppy from Barking
It’s so cute when you first hear a young pup testing his vocal chords with what he probably imagines is a vicious sounding bark. But if you allow too much barking to go unchecked for too long, cute becomes bothersome to both you and the neighbors. It’s great to have an intruder alert system in your pet, but he should learn the limits and you should be able to stop his barking when you need to.
What we find works quite well is the tried-and-true beverage can method. Take a used aluminum Coke, Pepsi or whatever can, rinse it and allow it to dry. Toss a small handful of pennies into it, and seal the top with tape. When you shake or toss the can, you’ll notice it makes an awful racket. This is a noise your puppy will not like, and you may use that fact to your advantage.
The next time your puppy barks inappropriately, throw the can (not too hard!) near his back end, and say “Quiet!” sharply. Even if you should hit him, the aluminum can will not hurt him, but it should scare the bejeepers out of him. Be sure to love and praise him after he stops barking. Continue to do this with all inappropriate barking events you witness. After a few weeks, you should not have to throw the can – just shaking it within earshot of the pup will have the desired effect, and he will also begin to associate the word “quiet” with the can. You will eventually be able to just use the word, and dispense with the can entirely. We have an 8-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that stops barking when we say “I’m going to get the can!” They’re pretty smart.
A few warnings:
- Be sure to throw the can gently, and toward the dog’s back end. Try not to hit him directly.
- This technique works much better if used when the puppy is relatively young, but may or may not be effective with older barkers.
- Some dogs are simply not afraid of noises, and this method will not work with them.
Just remember – your dog is trying to protect his home (and you) when he barks at intruders. Don’t punish him for trying to be helpful. Instead, teach him when it’s permissible and when it’s not.