I endorse the use of a crate and the brand I
suggest is MidWest. Over the years I have purchased many crates, all
of them have been Midwest and they have lasted me 20+ years. I still
feel these are the best crates for dogs and especially the giant breeds,
the Colossal Crate is a must for all of my Great Dane puppy
buyers. The information below is supplied by MidWest Crates - Muncie
Indiana. To Purchase a crate go to Midwest
Crates.
Why Crate Train?
Dogs in the wild live in a den which provides protection and a great
deal of psychological satisfaction. All dogs, therefore, have a strong
natural tendency to seek out this type of shelter.
In your home, if your dog has no place to call his own, he will make
feeble attempts to curl up under a table, a chair or some other choice
location.
When you use a MIDWEST Home, you give your puppy a place to feel secure...something
to get his back up against. He won't feel isolated because the pet
home provides essential visibility & ventilation. Just like a
baby in a playpen.
You will also be taking advantage of his natural instinct to keep
his home clean, therefore, when he has to “go” he will try
to hold it until you can take him outside to the proper area.
This will teach him a schedule and help him eliminate accidents.
With a MIDWEST Home, your puppy will have fewer behavioral problems
like excessive barking and chewing.
But most of all, by providing him a safe and secure home, he’ll
happier and more self-confident and most of all...he will never have
separation anxiety.
How To Crate Train
Step 1: Acquaint your puppy with his new home
Simply start from early puppyhood and have your puppy sleep and rest
in his home. Almost without trying he will train himself to seek security
and comfort inside his little "dog room."
Encourage your puppy to go into his home on his own. If necessary,
toss a little treat in the home. DON’T FORCE HIM! He may quickly
back out or be shy, but that’s normal. Just take it slowly. At
first, don’t close the door on him, let him go in and out on
his own.
Once he is happy and unafraid of his new home, simply restrain him
at the door with your hand. Make him stay in the home for a few minutes,
then gradually increase the time and be sure to praise him!
Once he is comfortable with this, (probably a few hours or days of
short training sessions) simply restrain him at the door with the
door—again praising him lavishly. Soon he will be secure in his
home with the door closed. Slowly you can get further and further
away from him, always praising his accepting behavior. Eventually,
the pup will sit quietly and sleep in his home with the door closed.
Step 2: Direct His/Her Elimination (pottying)
Understand that little puppies need to “go” about every
2-4 hours. On a schedule, (such as after feeding, before bedtime,
first thing in morning) let your puppy out, teach him the route to
the door, praise him at the door and take him out to the part of the
yard you want him to use. Very quickly, you are teaching him an elimination
schedule that will stay with him for the rest of his life.
As your puppy gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually leave him
in his home for longer periods of time because he can “hold it”
longer. Soon he can be home in his home all day, if necessary, until
someone arrives to let him out.
Some of the DO's and DON'Ts of Crate Training
DO... ...buy a MIDWEST Home large enough for your dog when
he grows up. However, if the home is too big when your pup is small,
he may eliminate in one corner, then go to another corner to sleep.
MIDWEST Divider Panels are available to solve this problem.
...get your pup used to his new home gradually.
...provide soft, washable bedding in the home so that it is comfortable
and warm. Make the inside of the home as cozy as you can. Keep it
clean and free of fleas.
...supervise your pup anytime he is free in your home. Supervision
is what allows you to direct behavior. Chewing, elimination, barking,
and all other behaviors are all dependent on your direction. If allowed
to be unsupervised, he will begin to direct his own behavior and schedule.
DON'T.....leave your very young pup in his home all day. At
6 weeks, a pup can hold his bladder about 4 hours, by 8 weeks—5
hours, by 12 weeks—6 hours and by 5-6 months a pup should be
able to "hold it" for an 8 hour work day.
...put “housebreaking pads” or newspaper in your pet’s
home. We are trying to take advantage of the pup’s natural instinct
NOT to go in his home.
...let your new pup roam through your house unsupervised. Keep an
eye on him so that when he sniffs and circles (an indication he is
about to go) you can quickly and gently guide him to the door and
outside.
...force your new pup into the home for the first time. Plan on taking
plenty of quality time with him the first few days to get him accustomed
to his new surroundings.
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT punish your pup by putting or forcing him
into his home. Your pup’s home should be his secure place, it
should not be associated with punishment, fear, or anything negative.
To purchase go hereMid-West
Crates
