Common Misconception Archives

Crate training, also called kennel training, teaches a dog to spend time in a plastic, wooden or wire enclosure called a dog crate. A common misconception is that this is cruel, when in fact dogs actually love the security of the crate.

The crate simulates the den environment of a wolf, so not only is crate training humane, it actually draws on natural canine behavior.

When should you start crate training? On the first night you bring your pup home. You should of course have already bought a crate, and hopefully you got one with a sliding panel. Adjust the panel so that you give the puppy just enough space to lie down and turn around. Don’t be tempted to give the pup more space than that.

Use a soft towel as bedding, rather than a blanket. The towel will be just as comfortable, but better at mopping up any spills.If you got your pup from a breeder, ask if he has a strip of bedding which has her mother’s scent on it. The scent will help to pup relax and settle in quicker.

Put the crate in an area that will allow the pup to interact with the family. Don’t put the crate in a secluded spot as the puppy will feel isolated and take longer to settle. Remember that dogs are social creatures by nature.

At night you should put the crate in your bedroom – at least in the early weeks. The puppy will kick up a fuss at first. This is only to be expected, as she’ll be frightened by her new surroundings and most likely missing her mom and littermates.

Don’t feel you have to respond to every whimper though. Do this and she’ll soon figure out how to get you to come running.

Before you know it she’ll be quite happy to sleep in her crate. As she settles into the household you can start thinking about moving her out of your bedroom at night. She won’t like this at first and won’t be afraid to let you know it, but hang tough and she’ll soon accept the new situation.

Soon the crate will be her favorite spot in to whole house, and you’ll find it’s where she prefers sleeping.

Another benefit of crate training is that it makes potty training so much easier. Dogs are hygienic animals. They will not ‘go’ in their sleeping area. So crate training teaches your puppy to ‘hold it in’, from an early age.

Remember though that a puppy does not have the control of an adult dog, so give her regular toilet breaks every hour or so.

If she starts making a fuss and wanting to go out, get her outdoors right away. Give lots of praise when she relieves herself outside and your potty training will be much easier.

Read more about crate training puppies, dog behavior, dog health and other interesting dog advice at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com.

Some dogs just absolutely refuse to become house trained. No matter how long and hard you have tried to implement techniques to get your dog to use the bathroom in the proper areas, he still chooses to be “vengeful” towards you by not following your instructions, right?

Wrong! The common misconception that your dog is trying to be vindictive and countermine your housetraining efforts by refusing to follow the rules is a complete myth.

Dogs only have the capacity for simple, direct emotions, such as being happy, sad, or scared. Their minds are not capable of plotting ways to seek revenge for that swat on his rear, or how you scolded him an hour ago.

Dogs do, however, remember and draw upon past experiences that they associate with current situations. But it is important to understand that these associations only create an emotion in which they will feel when going through a similar experience.

In other words, lets say that you punish your dog for urinating on the front porch. If you continue to scold him for this behavior then eventually your dog will become fearful of using the bathroom outside. All he knows is that he is “outside”, not on the front porch. Your efforts will countermine your housetraining goals.

For this reason alone, it is important never to punish or yell at your dog when he uses the bathroom inside the house. Most housetraining problems actually stem from owners who completely instill fear in their pets when they go potty on the floor. This creates enough trauma to completely halt all of your housetraining efforts.

The key is trying not to react. Instead, remove your dog from the room and take him outside in a very calm and relaxed manner. Be sure that he does not see you cleaning up his mess. Quietly clean the area and be sure to use an enzyme-containing house cleaner. Vinegar or liquid soap will do just fine as well. By completely removing all of the older, this helps reduce your dog’s need to urinate and mark the same spot over and over.

Tip: Avoid using ammonia because the smell is very similar to that of a dog’s urine and can stimulate him to pee in the same area.

When all else fails, schedule a visit with your veterinarian so that the doctor can do a complete health checkup of your dog to make sure that there is not a health-related reason for his inability to become house trained.

Some dogs can be harboring illnesses that may prove to be the cause of not having the ability to control their bowel movements. Such illnesses could be caused by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or the most common reason: a urinary tract infection.

House Training: Is Your Dog Refusing To Follow Your House Training Rules?

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