Puppies should be crate trained. Crates provide a safe environment for your puppy when you are unable to supervise it. As "den" animals, wild dogs spend their time hunting and playing, but they also have a safe place to sleep, a "den." Usually dogs choose to be with us; yet, at times, a crate is the perfect solution, for instance:

A. When the dog is not feeling well or is injured and must be kept still,

B. If it is usually "just the two of you" and your entire family just came for a visit (especially if children are visiting and the puppy is not used to them.)

C. When your visitors are people who do not like or who would rather not be around dogs.

First, get a crate appropriate in size and strength for your dog. It can be metal or plastic. Dogs trained to crates early usually never challenge them. Choose a crate on the basis of (1) size and age your dog, (2) convenience, and (3) budget.

A dog should be able to lay flat on its side, legs extended, in any crate. However, when housebreaking a puppy, a crate should be only large enough for the puppy to lie down in and no larger. Go ahead and buy a crate large enough for your dog when it is grown; however, be prepared to block off part of the crate until the puppy grows. Some crates come equipped with a "divider," but, as an alternative, even a cardboard box can be used until the puppy is housebroken. (If you choose cardboard boxes you will need "spares" so the crate can be kept clean and sanitary and, if your puppy shreds the cardboard box, you will need to immediately find something else to use before the puppy establishes a pattern of destructive behavior.)

Crate train the puppy by placing it in the crate whenever you are unavailable to supervise it. Initially, you may want to put something in the crate for the puppy to lay on, along with a few toys. Follow the directions below and start leaving the puppy in the crate for short periods, gradually increase the amount of time the puppy is in the crate. Remember the following simple rules and your puppy should be housebroken quickly:

RULE #1: While housebreaking your puppy, NEVER leave it unsupervised. If it has an "accident" clap your hands loudly and say "NO!" and immediately take the puppy out and encourage it to finish its elimination outside. Do not punish the puppy in any other way for its mistake, otherwise you will teach it to sneak away from you and eliminate. If this happens, housebreaking the puppy will become a much more difficult and time-consuming task.

RULE #2: Introduce your puppy to its crate slowly by encouraging it to investigate the crate. Tie the door open, place treats and toys inside the crate. Do not force or shove the puppy into the crate and remember to praise and reward your puppy for any attempt to go inside the crate. Actual entry into the kennel by the puppy should be especially rewarded. Once your puppy is going into the crate voluntarily, untie the door and let it close. Do not lock the puppy in the crate initially, let it understand that it can come back out by pushing on the door. Once the puppy understands this, start locking the crate for a minute or so before letting your puppy out. Gradually build the time to longer and longer periods, but never exceed the amount of time appropriate for your puppy’s age and health.

RULE #3: Always take puppy outside immediately upon taking it out of the crate! Once outside, the puppy should eliminate but be patient. If the puppy does not eliminate after 10 minutes, put it back in the crate and wait 30 minutes and try again. When the puppy finally eliminates OUTSIDE, praise it. Praise means walk up to the puppy, give it a treat, pat it gently and say "good dog!" in a cheerful, happy tone. If your puppy is six to eight weeks of age, do this every two hours, gradually lengthening the time between trips to four hours by six months and eight to 10 hours by one year. Asking a dog to wait beyond 10 to 12 hours, even as an adult, is asking for trouble. You may want to ask your veterinarian how long your puppy should be able to "wait" before eliminating and do not exceed the time your vet recommends. Helpful hint: Keep the grass cut short in the puppy's elimination area.

RULE #4: Never leave a fed and watered puppy in a crate without taking it out and having it eliminate FIRST and then going back after a short time to take it out AGAIN. Put your puppy on a feeding and watering schedule. Feed and water your puppy by putting the food and water down, leaving it for 15 minutes, and then picking it up until the next scheduled time. Every time the puppy eats OR drinks, give it an opportunity to eliminate before putting it back in the crate. This gives you more control over when your puppy will next eliminate.

RULE #5: Except in cases of actual EMERGENCY, never take your puppy out of the crate when it is whining or barking, because it will learn to whine and bark incessantly while in the crate.