How to Crate Train & House Break a Dog

Select a crate that will accommodate the full-grown dog. If the crate is for a puppy, you can use a partition board to block off part of the crate so that the new puppy only has enough room to stand, lie down and stretch. As the puppy grows, you can move the board back to give the puppy extra room. Place a soft blanket in the crate and a chew toy.

Place the crate in the room where you usually spend the most time. Although the dog will be in the crate, your new pet must be made to feel like a part of the family. If the crate is for a small puppy, you want to keep the puppy in the crate at all times other than when it is outside to relieve itself or when you are playing with it indoors and it is under constant supervision. Never crate the puppy for any longer than four hours at a time. Puppies have small bladders and need to relieve themselves about every two hours. As the puppy grows, it starts to be able to hold its urine longer.

Drop a small treat in the crate to entice the dog to go into the crate. The crate should never be used as a punishment, but rather as a training tool and a place for the dog to go when it needs to be alone. The crate will become its den, and your pet will not soil its den deliberately, but accidents can happen. After the dog goes in and comes out a few times, take it outside to the place in the yard where you want it to relieve itself. Say its name and the phrase "Go potty" so that it can associate the outdoors with urination and defecation. This must be done every time you take your dog outside. Do not play with your pet outdoors until after crate training and housebreaking are completed. If you don't have a yard, you will need to take the dog outside for a walk so that it can urinate and defecate.

Reward your dog with a small treat and praise after the animal relieves itself. When praising your pet, always use its name. Take the animal back indoors and return it to the crate for a nap; keep your pet out to play only if you have time to keep an eye on it while doing so. You do not want it to have an accident in the house. Return your dog to the crate when you are done playing with it.

Take the dog outside every time it wakes up and about 10 to 30 minutes after it eats and drinks. Keep up with the praise, continuing the crate training and housetraining as the dog continues to learn. Crate training that is constant can be accomplished in a few weeks, but you will still need to keep up with reminding it to go outdoors to relieve itself so it doesn't forget. As the dog grows, it will be able to hold its bladder longer, and outdoor breaks will level off to four to five times a day, depending on the dog and how well you trained it.