by Cindi Clarke

Created on: May 21, 2009   Last Updated: May 22, 2009

You have just gotten a new addition to the family, one that has four paws, and suddenly your life has turned upside down. On the one hand you want to spend as much time with the puppy as possible, training it and getting it socialized with your family and or other pets. But you also realize that sometimes it is not possible to keep your eyes on the puppy while still managing to not burn dinner or overflow the tub as you give your two legged children a bath. What are you going to do that will keep whatever sanity and serenity you have?

The best and safest way to deal with times that you cannot watch or be near your puppy to prevent accidents or an injury is to introduce them to crate training. Crates, when used correctly, can be the best thing for your puppy and your sanity.

When crate training your puppy, the most important thing to remember is that it is intended to be a safe place for your dog. It should not be used as a form of punishment or for a time-out or your puppy will resent it and associate it with a negative experience. If you leave the door to the crate open, you will often find that your puppy naturally gravitates to it and will spend time inside on its own. It has become its cave where it feels secure. You can enhance that sense of security by partially covering the crate on the top and two sides with a towel or blanket so that it feels sheltered, but still giving it a view of what is going on and giving it some air flow through the crate. Put a blanket, towel or an old pillow in the crate for bedding, preferably something that is easily washable, and a few toys. Your puppy will be comfortable and entertained while they are in the crate whether the door is open or closed. Make sure the crate is large enough for your puppy to turn and move around easily without feeling cramped. Depending on the breed, you may want to have more than one crate available to upgrade as your small, cute, adorable 12-pound puppy suddenly grows into a 60-pound puppy by the time it is six months old.

While most dogs will not soil where they sleep, the responsible pet owner who is crate training their dog will understand that there are limitations to how long a dog can hold its need to eliminate or urinate, just like people have limits. Expecting your new puppy to hold it for a 12- or 14-hour day while you are working is unrealistic. If you are going to keep your puppy in a crate while you are working, you need to make arrangements to allow the puppy

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