According to a 2024 survey, about one-fourth of dog owners have crates for their furry four-legged friends. Most of them use crates for puppies, especially those under six months old. If you’re in the process of doing puppy training in Houston, TX, consider incorporating a crate into the mix.
One of the challenges you may face while using a crate for a puppy is figuring out the best way to go about it when you’re out for most of the day. For those working in Houston, TX, the thought of crate training might feel offputting. You can avoid common pitfalls by coming up with the right plan from the start.
Need help? The dog training experts from Peace Love Dogs have compiled some proven tips for crate training a puppy while working that should help you enjoy positive results. Check them out below.
Create a Comfortable Crate Setup for Training a Puppy
One key to a strong start to crate training is ensuring that your puppy has a comfortable crate to call their own from the get-go. Purchase a high-quality crate and ensure it’s the right size for your puppy to set a good precedent.
Here is how to determine how big your puppy’s crate should be:
- Measure your puppy’s height.
- Measure your puppy’s length.
- Add approximately four inches to each measurement.
- Choose a high-quality crate that will fit your puppy based on your calculations.
Your puppy should be able to stand, sit, and lie in their crate without it being too cramped. At the same time, you shouldn’t leave too much extra space in a puppy’s crate. This could inadvertently cause them to have accidents in their crate and make housetraining a puppy an even taller task.
Invest in the Right Tools for Crate Training a Puppy
In addition to picking up the right crate for your puppy, you should invest in other tools you’ll need to create a positive association with this crate. You should, for example, spring for a comfy bed for your puppy’s crate. You should also consider investing in other tools that will make a puppy look forward to getting into their crate when the time comes.
These tools should include:
- Soft toys, such as a Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat stuffed toy
- A non-spill bowl for water
- A white noise machine
- A Kong with peanut butter inside
To be clear, you don’t want to stick too many items in a puppy’s crate. This could backfire when crate training a puppy while working in Houston, TX, by overstimulating them. It could also create unintended safety issues if you aren’t careful.
Start Crate Training a Puppy on a Weekend
If possible, steer clear of diving headfirst into crate training a puppy while working. Instead, begin the crate training process on a weekend to make it more pleasant for both you and your puppy.
Provide a gradual introduction for your puppy when they’re using a crate for the first time. Place your puppy into their new crate for a few minutes at a time and pay close attention to how they respond.
If your puppy hasn’t ever been in a crate before, they may whine initially. This might tempt you to run right over to their crate and let them out, but this could lay the foundation for bad habits to form.
Let them continue to whine if they do it, and wait until they finish whining to retrieve them from their crate. Repeat this process over two weekend days. You should start to see your puppy getting used to their crate as long as you demonstrate patience and consistency throughout the weekend.
You might also want to go as far as to create a feeding and reward system as you’re crate training a puppy. You can, for instance, offer your puppy a treat every time they climb into their crate on their own as you train them. This will help them form a positive association with their crate.
Come Up With a Monitoring System for Crate Training a Puppy While Working in Houston, TX
With a little luck, you may be able to get your puppy feeling comfortable about spending extended periods in their crate within a single weekend. However, you won’t know how comfortable they are until you start crate training a puppy while working in Houston, TX.
Buy a camera that will enable you to monitor your puppy when you leave home. This will let you know how well your puppy is adjusting to being in their crate throughout the workday.
If you find they’re whining a lot when you’re gone, you may need to employ separation anxiety prevention strategies for a puppy. Examples include:
- Putting your puppy’s favorite toy into their crate
- Leaving a piece of clothing you wore recently in their crate
- Turning on background music near their crate
Rely on a Professional Dog Trainer To Assist With Crate Training a Puppy
Crate training a puppy while working in Houston, TX, is easier said than done for some dog owners. Certain puppies don’t take to their crates as well as other puppies.
If you experience any struggles while crate training a puppy, lean on the puppy training experts from Peace Love Dogs for help. We leverage the latest dog training methods to make puppies and even older dogs feel more at home when they’re safe inside their crates.
Contact Us for Help With Crate Training a Puppy While Working in Houston, TX
Are you having a hard time crate training a puppy while working in Houston, TX? If so, remember that Peace Love Dogs is always here to offer the assistance you need and help you avoid common puppy training mistakes.
We offer many dog training services, including basic obedience training, potty training, leash training, and, of course, crate training. Give us a call at (346) 639-3629 today to take advantage of the training services we can provide for you and your puppy.
