Crate Training for your Puppy

There are many reasons to crate train a puppy.  Puppies are like toddlers.  They should never be left unsupervised or have free run of your house.   You want to introduce your puppy to his crate immediately.  Use the crate to keep your puppy safe when no one can supervise him.  The crate should have a comfortable mat or blanket to sleep on and plenty of toys to chew on.  Keep a small bowl of water in the crate if you have to be gone awhile. Any kind of puppy training requires that you reward and praise your puppy each and every time he does the right thing.  Since puppies usually will not soil their crate unless they are left alone too long,  crate training can be an excellent way to establish a routine that increases the chances that your puppy will go potty in the right place.  Feed your puppy in his crate and then immediately take him outside to potty.  Every time you let the puppy out of the crate, take him out to potty.  Establish this routine and make sure everyone else follows this routine.  Reward your puppy for going potty outside.  Remember a reward can be praise.  A reward does not have to be in the form of food.