How do I set up the dog crate when crate training?
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at
9:28 am
I read I should put the bed & food/water at one end, toys in the middle, at the other end & use a puppy pad/newspaper for going potty.
HOW would all of that fit in a 36 in crate??
Do I get a dog bed for the one end or would ittake up too much room?
Filed under: Dog Training
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Courtney is right in that the crate should be just big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around (I do give mine a little extra room because he sleeps fully stretched out, and he’s a dachshund so he is extra long) But as far as putting a puppy pad down, be careful. If I understand what you (and Courtney) meant by ‘puppy pad" then do not use one!
If this is the type of product you are referring to, do NOT use it in the crate.
http://petco.com/product/13120/Nature-s-Miracle-Quick-Results-Training-Pads.aspx?Nav=189&cm_re=product-_-naturesmiracle-_-072508
These kinds (not this exact kind, but these basic type) of puppy pads are designed to make the dog want to urinate on them (they are lined with pheromones and often are slightly scented like grass (so the dog can smell it, not us) and it attracts them to use it as a toilet. If you use these kinds of pads in the crate, the dog will never understand going potty outside. (well, never say never) but it will make your potty training 10X harder. Imagine if you were potty trained to go in the toilet sometimes, but then sometimes you were supposed to go when you were in your bed. Confusing! (And you would have understood the words your mom/dad were using.) If you think that the dog will have accidents, then you should line the bottom of the crate with newspaper or what I do is I use an old bed sheet that I no longer wanted that I just leave in these for my dog and if he does have an accident (which hasn’t happened for about 3 months now. Knock Wood) I just take it out and wash it. It is a lot easier/ more cost efficient than puppy pads.
Oh, and food should been taken away after eating the last meal (don’t let your pup graze all day) and water needs to be taken away at least 1-2 hours before bedtime (unless it is unbearably hot) to make it easier for you to learn your dogs ‘elimination’ times so you can take him outside for easy of potty training. If your dog has a constant supply of food and water, then you dog will have a constant supply of pee and poop.
Good luck training! and Enjoy your new puppy!
you read wrong.
there should only be enough room for puppy to stand up and turn completely around.
so some type of divider is needed.
and i would use a puppy pad in case he/she "goes".
Well this depends how long you plan on leaving the dog in the crate.
i was told,and this is for housebreaking.. if its not for more than 5-6 hours you just need a soft pad or towel at the bottom of the crate, with enough room for the dog to stand and turn around in but not much else, if its longer than 8 hours then you might want to coinsider getting a pen ..that would give room for the bed, toys and a potty area…check with a trainer at petsmart or with your vet, it depends what the training is for.
Yeah, you definitely do not want to train your puppy to go in it’s crate. Put the bed at one end and water, etc. at the other. You shouldn’t leave your dog in there for longer than it can hold it in. You can also put a partition in the middle to make it smaller while your dog is still growing.