Ways to Crate and Housebreak a Dog

Dogs are inherently clean animals. It is in their instinct to keep their living environment as clean as possible. In the wild, the mother would teach her puppies where to go to the toilet. In the domestic environment, that becomes our job. Crate training is the process of helping your dog adjust to spending time in a restricted space. Crates are useful for transporting your dog and for establishing a specific sleeping area. You can integrate crate training into general house training.

  1. Make the Crate a "Happy Place"

    • Open the door to the crate and place some of your dog's favorite toys inside. Leave the door open and allow the dog to explore the crate. As soon as the dog shows any curiosity toward the crate, reinforce this by saying "good dog" in a friendly and encouraging voice.

    Reward Curiosity

    • When the dog goes inside the crate, give her a treat and issue praise. This builds positive associations with entering the crate in the dog's mind. If only good things happen when she goes in the crate, she'll be only too pleased to go in when you want her to.

    Set Crate Routines

    • Your dog is less likely to have an accident in her crate because the instinct to keep immediate living quarters clean is strong. Always let your dog into the garden as soon as they are out of the crate. This gives her the chance to relieve herself if she's been waiting. She'll get into the habit of going to the toilet once out of the crate.

    Remove Barriers to Success

    • Put your dog in the gaden before he is likely to need the toilet.

      Make it as easy as possible for your dog to go to the toilet in the right place. It's easier to reinforce good behavior than to correct bad behavior. Leave the door open after your dog has had a drink. Put her toys near the door to encourage her to be in "the right place at the right time."

    Monitor Your Dog's Habits

    • Watch how your dog behaves before toileting. Dogs typically sniff the ground and walk around in circles before going. Some dogs may scratch at the door. Make a list of things that you dog does when he needs to go. If you spot any of these signs, open the door.

    Ignore Accidents

    • Your dog can't link two separate events together, she can only form direct associations between actions and consequences. If you come home and find a mess on the floor, punishing the dog is futile. The mess is history to the dog. She will not link what she did two hours ago with your reaction. If you see your dog about to have an accident, distract her. Call her or pick her up and, if necessary, put her outside. If it's too late, don't get angry. Your dog may associate your anger with the act of going to the toilet in general, rather than the act of going in the wrong place. This may cause toilet anxiety.

    Reward Progress

    • Every step toward housebreaking should be encouraged. If your dog is in the garden and happens to urinate, give him a treat. If your dog voluntarily goes into the crate, give a treat.