Your puppy will come to view his crate as his own personal "den," a safe and private place where he can go to be alone and feel secure, according to Jack and Wendy Volhard in the second edition of "Dog Training for Dummies." As a bonus, he'll be less likely to have an overnight accident, as long as you take the time to crate train him with patience and positive reinforcement.
Things You'll Need
- Dog crate Soft old blankets or towels Stuffed animal
Instructions
Choose a crate that allows your puppy to stand, turn around and stretch out but is not so large that she can romp from end to end. You may select a crate large enough to hold your dog comfortably when she is an adult and use cardboard to block off excess space at the back.
Supply lots of soft bedding in the crate for your puppy. If he's not yet housebroken, use old towels or blankets that you can wash or dispose of if an accident occurs. Crate training a puppy at night encourages him to wait until you let him out in the morning to go to the bathroom because dogs do not like soiling the place where they sleep.
Feed your puppy at least two hours before you put her in her crate for the night. Feeding her closer to bedtime may result in an overnight accident. There are two times when a puppy is likely to use the bathroom: after she finishes eating and immediately upon waking.
Walk your puppy just before putting him into his crate for the night. Until he is an adult, he may find it difficult to control his bathroom habits, so make sure he goes just before bedtime to reduce the risk of his soiling his crate.
Give your puppy a stuffed animal or another favorite toy to keep her company overnight. Avoid giving him anything he can eat, like a rawhide chew or milk bone, which might trigger a need to go to the bathroom.
Talk encouragingly to your puppy when you put him into his crate for the night. Use a soft tone of voice and take the time to pet him. Making bedtime pleasurable will reduce the risk of your puppy resisting his crate.
Let your puppy out of her crate first thing in the morning and immediately take her outside to use the bathroom. Carry a very young puppy outside, or she may relieve herself indoors as soon as she exits the crate.
Leave the door of your puppy's crate open during the day to encourage him to enter and lie down on his own.