Crate Training Dogs: The Right Way and the Wrong Way - Part Two

Part2: Does your puppy want to be crate trained?

Yes! in fact, he does. Your puppy or dog will soon see his crate as a place of security, IF it's approached correctly.

The crate is NEVER to be used as a punishment. Introduce it gradually and gently; make the crate and your pet's puppy potty training a positive and happy experience and he will come to view his crate like Linus views his blanket.

Make sure your puppy has a balance of crate time and activity time. He needs ample exercise to be healthy. This is an important part to crate training dogs and puppy potty training.

Being in the crate too much will have a negative effect on his personality and puppy behavior. And being loose all the time will get him into trouble and may also serve to make him feel insecure and overwhelmed.

A Few Crate Training Dogs Tips:
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1. If you can't supervise, your pup needs to be in the crate.

This goes for dogs as well. Until your dog or puppy is reliable with each stage of puppy potty training, freedom should be limited.

This doesn't mean your pet should be in the crate all the time, but instead watched at all times. And make sure your puppy or dog gets ample exercise during this time. DON'T use the crate TOO much. This can also be detrimental to your puppy's or dog's physical and mental well-being.

In Puppy Potty Training I give an example of a step by step schedule for crate training puppies.

2.The crate should be an appropriate size for the weight and size of your puppy.

For crate training puppies you may have to find one that is adjustable, however I'm not a fan of these as they're not enclosed and don't promote the feeling of security near as much as the enclosed crates.

If using an enclosed crate during puppy potty training, then you can block off the back portion of the crate with something and allow more room as your puppy grows. Make sure that whatever you use to customize the size of your crate is safe and secure and won't pose any danger to your puppy.

For crate training dogs all you need to do is make sure it's an appropriate size for the dog. He needs to be able to turn around comfortably but not be able to go to one end of the crate and do his business and then return to a clean end. With puppies and dogs this is an important thing to remember when choosing a crate size.

3. For every month of the age of your puppy, that is how to get an idea of how long he can be crated at one time, (months to hours +1)

4. Never use the crate as punishment. Never bang on the crate to make your puppy stop whining. This can cause other behavior problems to be exhibited.

The Biggest Contributors to Behavior Problems:
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Yelling, scolding, hitting, swatting, especially rubbing his nose in it (which is the worst), or getting upset at your puppy or dog only causes him to become fearful of you, and to be confused (usually both). And this makes potty training much more difficult for both of you.

These archaic methods are the biggest contributors to problem dog behavior, (not just in their puppy stages, but lasting an entire lifetime). Real Training causes your dog to "learn", and a puppy or dog can't "learn" if they're afraid and/or confused.

The Best News About Appropriate Crate Training:
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The greatest thing about my effective but gentle method of crate training dogs, (or crate training puppies) for puppy potty training is that you will be building the loving relationship you've always wanted with your dog based on positive and rewarding experiences together as opposed to him doing things out of fear, pain or punishment.

Instead of performing because he is "forced", your puppy or dog will come to please you naturally. This makes the dog's behavior much more reliable and consistent and gives him a more confident and cooperative personality.

Successfully crate training dogs, (and crate training puppies) can be done very simply through the natural and gentle methods I explain in Puppy Potty Training.

My gentle and effective methods of puppy potty training, applied in crate training dogs, will build a positive relationship of cooperation between you and your dog during his puppy pottytraining stage.

It's very possible to get your puppy potty trained without having to use punishment and without having to clean up messes all the time.

My typical experience with a new puppy is anywhere between 1 and 4 accidents-total. And the results are always a very reliably potty trained, healthy and happy canine companion.

Kathleen Amaro is the owner of http://www.puppy-potty-training.com. Her instantly downloadable ebook "25 Secrets to Raising the Perfect Puppy" not only tells you how to raise the perfect puppy, it presents the exact methods of how to crate train your puppy or dog using only positive and healthy learning techniques.