How to get the puppy used to longer crate times Once you have got to the end of the first week and the puppy has accepted the crate as a nice place to be, the next task is to get the puppy to accept the closed door for longer periods of time

In addition, they have a solid bottom so should your dog get sick, or if you are in the process of housebreaking, cleanup is rather easy Dogs that are crate trained properly do not fear the crate, in fact, they love it and will often seek it out for a nap Dogs that are crate trained properly do not fear the crate, in fact, they love it and will often seek it out for a nap. Why should I crate train my Labrador? While some people think putting a dog in a crate is cruel, experts disagree Merry Christmas everyone I know this sounds self-explanatory, but I have seen it It can mimic a den for these beautiful animals and give them a safe and secure place where they can rest without stress or fear Just let him come straight out again when he has finished his treats Labrador Retriever Puppy Mix Just let him come straight out again when he has finished his treats. For more information on using a clicker check out : Ten great reasons to start clicker training Stage 4 Growing up By twelve weeks or three months old, many puppies will be sleeping 7 hours or more at night and going happily into their crates on cue, if they have been taught to do this Type of crate for crate training retriever Technically, any kind of crate will work for crate training You can find a summary of these in my crate training schedule chart below Stage 1 Introduction to crate training for puppies from 8 weeks old This stage covers the first week that you bring your puppy home .

If yours isn't one of them: Bring them over to the crate and talk to them in a happy tone of voice Puppies are naturally chewers, so keep this in mind Puppies are naturally chewers, so keep this in mind. If he wets the bed you will need to get up earlier the next night We also crate train all our own dogs For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining A couple of feet in each direction is fine

Having said that, maybe I have just been really lucky, but neither of my dogs have any problems with much

Now you can begin to send the dog into his crate for longer periods, such as when you go out for an hour or so

Soon his crate became the place 'where all the magic happens' With week old puppies, I start by leaving the puppy in the crate for 1 hour at a time followed by playtime In addition, crates help encourage your puppy to hold it, to wait a little longer before going potty, since most puppies hate to mess their bed In addition, crates help encourage your puppy to hold it, to wait a little longer before going potty, since most puppies hate to mess their bed. Leave it shut only long enough for the puppy to finish his treat and notice that the door is closed Click to expand And do 20 or 30 repetitions of the following exercise in each session Never punish them for whining What to do if the puppy cries in his crate If the puppy starts to whimper or howl you will need to turn away from the crate and ignore him Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix Puppies What to do if the puppy cries in his crate If the puppy starts to whimper or howl you will need to turn away from the crate and ignore him. Again, we begin the exercise with something we know he can already do Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat each time the dog puts his nose through the crate doorway Repeat five times Throw each treat outside the zone so that he has to re-enter to get the next reward Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you're home so they don't associate crating with being left alone Prop the door open in some way, a small bungee works well and let your puppy explore the crate on his own Some people buy a large crate, the size their dog will need as an adult and then section off some of the crate I do this for a few days then start standing in the room and leaving when the pup is asleep for a day or two I do this for a few days then start standing in the room and leaving when the pup is asleep for a day or two. If the pup is wide awake after the 4am wee break I snooze in the front room with the pup on my knee, they soon sleep longer Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with the crate near you, you can begin to gradually move it to the location you prefer, although time spent with your dog—even sleep time—is a chance to strengthen the bond between you and your pet If the whining continues after you've ignored them for several minutes, use the phrase they associate with going outside to eliminate Many thanks everyone for replying I think new puppies are tiny babies, and if they are upset, then they need comfort and company A Labrador Retriever Puppy I think new puppies are tiny babies, and if they are upset, then they need comfort and company. By soaking up the knowledge in this guide and following the steps I outline for crate training, you and your Lab can enjoy the rewards that using a crate provides

There are many benefits to crate training your retriever puppy, but it is a process

Leave the door open Start by placing puppy in his crate frequently and each time you place him in there drop several little edible treats through the roof for him By renting, you can trade up to the appropriate size for your puppy until they reach adult size, when you can invest in a permanent crate By renting, you can trade up to the appropriate size for your puppy until they reach adult size, when you can invest in a permanent crate. Choosing the right crate for crate training Lab puppy Getting ready to crate train your puppy means you need to buy a crate If you follow this advice, your puppy will quickly learn to be content in the crate and over time the noise will become less and less until they finally understand they must stay in the crate As professional retriever trainers, we crate train all the puppies we raise as custom trained dogs Place him in the crate with his frozen kong and close the door for 30 seconds But crate training is one of the best things you can do for your new puppy and for yourself Labrador Cross Puppies But crate training is one of the best things you can do for your new puppy and for yourself. When possible, I include links to the product I've bought the Kindle version of Pippa's book Travel safety — A crate is a very useful tool to confine your dog safely during travel by car or by air and reduces the stress they feel due to being in a comfortable and familiar crate Wire crates are wide open, they do not provide dogs the opportunity to get away and relax If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to start the crate training process over again If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to start the crate training process over again. You would not want to use a material that can be chewed or ingested by your puppy Don't make your departures emotional and prolonged—they should be matter-of-fact But over the years we have found that some crates just simply work better This should go without saying, but you should never leave your dog in a crate 24 hours a day every day Step 2- Establish a routine Develop a routine of putting your puppy down to nap inside the crate Labrador Gives Birth To 14 Puppies Step 2- Establish a routine Develop a routine of putting your puppy down to nap inside the crate. .

This will take you about five minutes Crate training during the day There is no immediate need to crate your new puppy during the day for more than a few minutes at a time You going out is a punishment in his mind Crate training can be done with older dogs, but it may take more effort and patience on your part Put them in the crate using your regular command and a treat Put them in the crate using your regular command and a treat. At this point, many puppy owners breath a big sigh of relief and start to look forward to the prospect of removing this massive and annoying crate from their kitchen for good This can be achieved through training Puppies love these and will soon grow to associate the crate with the pleasure of the frozen Kong Remember, if you have to go out, scoop him up without a word, and place him in there bodily If they shout before 4am for a wee I get up earlier the next night to take them out - so that I get to them before they shout Labrador Retriever Puppy Food If they shout before 4am for a wee I get up earlier the next night to take them out - so that I get to them before they shout. Dogs of any age can be trained to crate on cue using this system .

Dogs of any age can be trained to crate on cue using this system

Simply walk away from the crate and allow the puppy to settle down How to crate train a Labrador puppy Wire crates , the kind that you can see right through do not seem to work as well as plastic crates To keep him safe when you are busy for short periods, or if you need to leave the house for a while To keep him safe when you are busy for short periods, or if you need to leave the house for a while. The training process Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences It is vital that you stay away from the crate during this time Make sure the crate door is open and secured so that it won't hit your dog and frighten them Some cope much better than others Now it is time to use the cue in advance of the behavior Labrador Retriever-chocolate Puppies For Sale Now it is time to use the cue in advance of the behavior. There are some inexpensive options that provide the protection and privacy of a den-like experience for the dogs

Over time you will notice that your puppy is not afraid to go inside their crate while the door is open

A quick note about boarding and kennels Crates can help hunting dogs by teaching them there is a place that they should simply lay down, rest and keep quiet Until then, make sure that you crate him for very short periods when you know his bladder is empty They will throw a toy inside the crate so that the puppy must go inside the crate to retrieve it Labrador Retriver Puppies They will throw a toy inside the crate so that the puppy must go inside the crate to retrieve it. I personally am not a big believer in the whole 'start as you mean to go on' thing apart from training, there you definitely should start as you mean to go on and I've never really worried about making pups sleep alone and things like that because they have to 'get used to it' - so if putting the crate by the sofa suits you, I'd do that We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors Tatze means 'paw' in German This is particularly true for the occasional adopted dog for which their background is unknown Each time you put the puppy in his crate for more than a couple of minutes, you will leave a frozen food filled Kong in there to keep him company Each time you put the puppy in his crate for more than a couple of minutes, you will leave a frozen food filled Kong in there to keep him company. Encourage your dog to enter the crate by dropping some small food treats nearby, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate This may take several days or weeks I believe everybody should at least educate themselves on the subject and give it a go Return, sit quietly again for a short time and then let them out They both turned out happy go lucky dogs They both turned out happy go lucky dogs. Do not wait until he gets upset or cries .

If your dog is still growing, choose a crate size that will accommodate their adult size If that is the case, try to ignore the whining If you've followed the training procedures outlined above, then your dog hasn't been rewarded for whining in the past by being released from their crate If you need to leave your puppy for longer than this, then you need to consider a puppy proof room or pen where water and puppy pads are always available, or even a weatherproof outdoor kennel and run If you need to leave your puppy for longer than this, then you need to consider a puppy proof room or pen where water and puppy pads are always available, or even a weatherproof outdoor kennel and run. The first time you do this, open the door as soon as they finish their meal So the next step in training is to mix in another cue To give him chance to calm down or a break from small children Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when they whine to be let outside Crates allow you, as owner, some off-time — time when you do not have to be constantly watching your puppy for potty accidents Crates allow you, as owner, some off-time — time when you do not have to be constantly watching your puppy for potty accidents. But it is very important only to open the door when the puppy has been silent for several seconds Try ten seconds or five Often this is at around weeks old That way he will learn that being crated is not a big deal Warning: if you open the crate door whilst your puppy is howling, he will howl longer and harder next time! Build up slowly to a minute, then two minutes, then three, five, seven, ten, fifteen minutes and so on .

That way he will learn that being crated is not a big deal Warning: if you open the crate door whilst your puppy is howling, he will howl longer and harder next time! Build up slowly to a minute, then two minutes, then three, five, seven, ten, fifteen minutes and so on

It should not be so small that the dog avoids it altogether It should not be so small that the dog avoids it altogether. Step 1: Introduce your dog to the crate Place the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room If you are have never used one before, check out this article before you begin: Charging your clicker Some people play crate games Sometimes two minutes, sometimes as much as fifteen minutes Can help hunting dogs with blind manners and patience Hunting dogs often need to sit still and quiet for hours on end Can help hunting dogs with blind manners and patience Hunting dogs often need to sit still and quiet for hours on end. A dog bed is too big and bulky to fit into crates well and your puppy will simply chew it to pieces or accidently have a potty accident on it

I suspect that's how they came though, and a large part of how confident and comfortable puppies are is genetics, and you just get the dog you get and have to work out what seems best

You can always move the crate away slowly to where you want it to be if your puppy has trouble sleeping without a human You can always move the crate away slowly to where you want it to be if your puppy has trouble sleeping without a human. This is the reaction you are seeking Your Lab will be happier, safer, more secure, less likely to engage in destructive behavior and from these facts you can enjoy a greater peace of mind that you are doing the very best for your dog Dogs are individuals and come with their own likes and dislikes This may take a day or two Most veterinarians, trainers, and breeders recommend crate training dogs from a young age Most veterinarians, trainers, and breeders recommend crate training dogs from a young age. Step 1 — Let puppy explore the crate The first step is to place the crate in an area that is frequented by the puppy After that I just leave While this can work, be careful what you use to section the crate off The crate should not be right next to a bed or a bedroom

The next night I slept on the sofa, a short distance away from him Maintenance tips Send the puppy into his crate often, not just when you need to At bed time I pop the pup in the crate then wait by the crate, door closed with my hand in if the pup is whimpering and leave once the pup is asleep But if you do not wish to buy multiple crates, there are other methods Once that happens, the bed will have the scent of potty and will work against your housebreaking efforts

If your dog is readily entering the crate when you begin Step 2, place the food dish or interactive puzzle toy stuffed with food all the way at the back of the crate

I think I will follow your suggestion and go cold turkey! What I did, from the first day on, was give him every one of his meals in his crate

Tell him what a good dog he is These are just some of the benefits you and your Labrador can enjoy if you take the time and trouble to crate train your dog The puppy will see or smell the toys and go inside the crate to get them When I came in to stay with him he was comfortable in his crate with an IV hanging out of his leg You might also want to leave them with a few safe toys in the crate To begin with this will be momentary EXERCISE 5 closing the door Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat after 10 seconds, each time the dog goes inside the crate Repeat five times The next time he enters the crate close the door and immediately open it again Wait a few seconds then If he remains in the crate click and treat If he leaves the crate wait for him to re-enter Repeat from step five until he will go into the crate, watch you open and close the door, and remain in the crate for a few more seconds after you have opened the door Crates help with housebreaking As discussed in our post on housebreaking your Labrador puppy , crate training can make housebreaking easier and quicker Your local animal shelter may rent out crates This will create a pleasant association with the crate Maybe more if your puppy really does not like his crate at the moment For puppies three to six months old I think two hours is a maximum, and for puppies under three months, one hour These games can help your dog become extremely comfortable with their crate In this case the dog is not discriminating between different cues, but rather making assumptions about what game you are going to play .

Once the dog is repeatedly racing into the crate on your cue, we need to make sure he can distinguish this command from other commands A dog contained in a crate cannot move around within your vehicle, get in your way while driving or create distractions Step 3 — Watch the clock While I suggest you do not take your puppy out of the crate while they are making noise, you do need to keep an eye on how long your puppy has been in the crate Dogs are den animals and often feel most safe when they are in a tight, confined area We are moving the goalposts and the dog will be surprised when you do not reward him for entering the zone Keep arrivals low-key to avoid increasing their anxiety over when you will return We discuss crate options in more detail here Blocking off a portion of the crate will give the puppy that tighter, den-like, experience and ensure that the puppy cannot walk around inside the crate Step 2: Feed your dog meals in the crate After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding them their regular meals near the crate Thank you for taking the time to respond Stage 3 Training your puppy to go into his crate on command! As your puppy grows bigger, picking him up and putting him in his crate becomes more of a physical event! Provided you are not leaving your puppy alone for too long, he should be happy to go willingly into his crate

You can put one or two small toys in the crate if you wish and a small towel that you do not care if it gets ruined

Some are adjustable as your dog grows, which can be ideal for puppies Repeat many, many times during the course of the next day or two How long does it take to crate train a dog? There is no set amount of time it takes to crate train a dog Obviously in these cases, a crate should not be used Plastic crates seem to be the best option Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy The next time he enters the zone, wait for him to go closer to the crate and put his nose in the opening What if he fails to do this? Repeat from step 3 until the dog repeatedly puts his nose through the crate door EXERCISE 4 spending time in the crate Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat each time the dog goes inside the crate Repeat five times The next time he enters the crate withold the click and treat for two seconds If he remains in the crate click and treat If he leaves the crate wait for him to re-enter Repeat from step five until he can wait 2 seconds in the crate and then increase to 3 seconds Work your way up to ten seconds When the dog can cope with ten seconds waiting in the crate, you are ready to close the door Slippery floors are not good for puppy joints While inconvenient and bit more costly, this really is the best way to crate train your puppy And the size and type of crate do matter After your dog enters the crate, praise them, give them the treat and close the door .

After your dog enters the crate, praise them, give them the treat and close the door

Take the door off or keep it propped open and let the dog explore the crate at their leisure I go to the pup at 4am ish for a wee break no interaction, no talking, just wee and back to bed All pups are different Some of these links may be affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission, but all opinions and recommendations are my own With a dog that is not crate-shy, you can often work through these three Exercises in a day or two Use his entire food ration if necessary So if you put him to bed at midnight, you will probably need to get up around 5am to let him out for a wee to begin with We could sleep on the sofa and put the crate in with the door closed, so she could see me sleeping Your objective at stage 1 is simply to get the puppy used to being in and around the crate with the door open It is best if you do not move the crate around the house However, you do need to get the puppy used to spending longer periods in the crate in preparation for being left alone from time to time when he is older .

It is up to him if he stays in the crate or comes out Repeat from step 1 gradually increasing the time you wait before opening the door Vary the length of time you keep the door closed The sooner you start, the easier the process will be Then let him out Let him out immediately and go back to much briefer periods of closed door for a while Step 3: Practice with longer crating periods After your dog is eating their regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine them there for short periods of time while you're home Final thoughts on how to crate train a Labrador puppy Crate training is a greatly beneficial thing for Labrador puppies and other retriever breeds Neither of my recent puppies, or the puppies we had as a family when I was a kid were at all distressed the first night or any night after that

One of our favorite features is the crate comes with a divider that allows you to adjust the size of your crate as your puppy grows

It helped our last 3 puppies Charlie, Doni, and Downey get used to their crate in only a few nights Thank goodness he was crate trained We want him to have absorbed the association between this cue and the act of entering the crate So although a crate can be used to benefit the vast majority of dogs, there will always be a select few that just will not enjoy or accept being crated Wait for the silence as he stops crying and gets to work on his puppy kong The object is to get your puppy to choose to enter this zone That is natural and nothing to be worried about A crate may prevent your dog from being destructive, but they may get injured in an attempt to escape Your best approach is to simply follow the four stages outlined above, from start to finish, and not worry too much about where your dog is at the moment Vary the moment during your "getting ready to leave" routine that you put your dog in the crate We find that it makes for a better adjusted puppy all around Behavior that is punished will diminish .

Is Crate Training Always Successful? Sadly not Each time you feed them, place the dish a little further back in the crate Crate training your puppy at a young age means that when you need to put them in a crate they will go in willingly and without a fight The wire offers little protection and privacy, and many dogs do not like them as dens You do not want your puppy to have an accident in the crate if you can help it Continue tossing treats into the crate until your dog will walk calmly all the way into the crate to get the food We only recommend products we know are good quality and will stand the test of time In addition, you can buy crates that are 5-star crash tested , possibly giving your dog superior protection if you are involved in an accident So, I have included a rough guide or puppy crate training chart above Also, your puppy is bound to make some noise the first few nights in the crate Tending to your puppy during the night If the box is right up against the side of your bed, you can put your hand in and comfort him if he cries Make sure there is always a tasty treat or a Kong in there waiting for him Sometimes when you send him in, close the door If you know you are going to go out shut him in at least ten minutes before you start getting ready to leave If you know you are going to go out always leave him with a Kong full of frozen food When you are not going out, vary the times he is shut in from two to thirty minutes Send him in from time to time without closing the door Provided your dog is not left overly long in a crate on a regular basis, this should overcome any shyness he has about going in there Size of crate for crate training retrievers You want the crate to be large enough that your puppy is comfortable laying in the crate, but not so big that your puppy can walk around This helps them with emotional stability and can curb behavior issues Browse Dog Crates on Amazon The crate should be large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in Your puppy will be sleeping in their crate and your puppy will make more noise and wake up more if the crate is close to you Security — A dog learns to view their crate as a special place all of their own, where no human ventures and they can get away from it all to be alone when they desire

If a puppy has fallen asleep in his crate and slept for more than a couple of hours then you will need to let him out if he wakes up crying

Just do it gradually

They can be found easily at a local pet store, superstore, or even bought online He adapted to the crate just fine Print Crate training your Lab puppy, why you should and a guide on how Labrador puppies are so cute and cuddly, it almost seems wrong to put them in a crate Protecting your possessions — A crate is a useful tool in teaching your puppy to be fixated on chew toys and not your furniture and shoes Several types of crates are available: Plastic often called "flight kennels" Fabric on a collapsible, rigid frame Collapsible, metal pens Crates come in different sizes and can be purchased at most pet supply stores or pet supply websites Imagine a zone around the crate Separation anxiety : Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety won't solve the problem If they remain reluctant to enter, put the dish only as far inside as they will readily go without becoming fearful or anxious When you return home, don't reward your dog for excited behavior by responding to them in an enthusiastic way For some dogs this is too big a jump and you will need to work on a smaller crate zone first Puppies that cry need crating more often! If your puppy whines in the crate, you need to crate him more often not less, and for shorter periods How long can a puppy be left in a crate People often ask how long a puppy can be left alone in his crate The pup arrives at about 11am and I do what is suggested in the link above - treats and naps in the crate with the door open through the day You can find out much more about overcoming the problems of being a working puppy parent in this article: combining a puppy with full time work Many thanks for your helpful suggestions, most appreciated I now feel much happier with going forward with the crate Call them over to the crate and give them a treat I will always try my best to respond to every one of them .

I have a heat pad for winter pups, leave a ticking clock and the radio quietly on a talk station Would this not upset her when I then move her to the kitchen in the crate? I really appreciate everyone's help and advice, thanks Click to expand By the end of the week, I was back in my own bed upstairs Do not use the clicker or any other part of this process, or attempt to lure him in The exercise is done when the dog repeatedly goes right inside his crate Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat each time the dog enters the crate zone Repeat five times Throw the treat outside the zone so that he has to re-enter to get the next reward Sometimes, they will even go inside the crate and lay down when they are tired Start slowly and build up EXERCISE 9 adding duration Place a Kong with food in it, or some treats on a slow feed bowl into the crate without your dog spotting you Cue the dog into the crate call him into the room first Shut the door and leave it closed for one minute Open the door again and ignore the dog If he is confused, and he may be, show him what you want, just like before This will probably take a couple of weeks

It also makes for a more enjoyable home life with less dog induced strife

Moving your puppy downstairs at night After the first three or four nights, or by the end of the first week, your puppy can be placed in his crate in the kitchen before you go up to bed at night

The first night I slept next to his closed crate This is what I do - I have a cardboard box with blankets by my bed Sit quietly near the crate for five to 10 minutes and then go into another room for a few minutes This article gives guidance on how to crate train an older dog Also, do not put a dog bed in the crate He will quickly try something different Socialization of young puppies is vital Depending on the nature of your puppy this may take a few minutes to an hour or more The next time he puts his nose through the doorway, withold the click If they respond and become excited, take them outside You are teaching him to chose to approach the crate He will soon come to associate this phrase with going into his crate for a treat Closing the door briefly The next step is to close the crate door momentarily and then open it again Check out our in-depth article on coping with a crying puppy for more information Just make sure that each time he is crated is very, very brief to begin with Better dog to family relationships and more control Crate training your puppy can provide many benefits for your entire family .