If you have a new puppy, there is likely so much love in your home you don’t even know what to do with it all. That is, until it all sinks in and you realize how much work it is to train a puppy the right way so you enjoy it as it gets older. One way to help you enjoy your puppy is to work with a crate and take the time to crate train your dog. There are several reasons why crate training is so helpful. The biggest being that you have a safe place for your puppy when you aren’t home to keep an eye on him/her. Blitz K9 Club is here to talk about some common mistakes that dog owners make when crate training that you should avoid.

Mistakes to Avoid When Crate Training

You will want to avoid making some costly mistakes as you crate train your puppy so that you can turn to the crate as a safe place that your dog enjoys spending time.
– Starting too Late: You want tot start crate training your puppy while the puppy is as young as possible. It can be difficult to train a puppy when you wait until the puppy has been at your home for several months. Get started the day that you bring your puppy home.
– Using It for Punishment: It is important that your crate is somewhere that the puppy feels they are safe rather than a place where they feel like they are spending time because they have misbehaved. Your want this to be a positive space for your dog.
– Incorrect Crate Size: The size of the crate is important as well. You don’t want a crate that is too large as the puppy will likely choose a corner of the crate to relieve themselves. You don’t want the crate to be too small either as this can lead to negative feelings for your dog when they are spending time in the crate. You want one that is just big enough for your dog to spread out and rest.
– Too Long in the Crate: You should avoid leaving your dog too long in a crate. When you’re working with a puppy, you can expect that they are able to hold their bladder for an hour per month they are in age. Even a working person should make arrangements to have their puppy let out of the crate to exercise and relieve themselves throughout the day.
– High Expectations: You need to be patient with your puppy. This is new for them too and it isn’t going to be successful on day one. Work with them regularly and you’ll get there.

Dog Obedience, Socialization & Behavioral Training in Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, Commerce Township and other areas within an hour of our home base of Waterford, Michigan

If you are having a difficult time training your dog, you can turn to Blitz K9 Club to help you train them out of bad behaviors. Call us today!