Crate training can be stressful on you and your puppy, but while your puppy was still in our care, we started crate training.  Continuing with crate training when they go home will be beneficial to both of you.  Your baby has already spent a few nights in a crate on their own, away from their littermates and mother.  When we place the puppies in the crate, we always give them the command to “kennel up”.  Prior to taking the puppies out of the crate the next morning, we give the simple command to "wait" so they learn to be patient.  Although you will find several sources that recommend removing all bedding and blankets from the crate, we actually recommend just the opposite.  We do not recommend placing beds in the crate with the puppy, as cotton batting and sponge can be ingested and cause a medical emergency.  We do recommend using small cheap fleece blankets, just enough to soak up any accidents that may occur.  It is much easier to throw a dirty blanket in the washer than it is to bathe a puppy. 

To make their time in the crate as pleasant as possible, we highly recommend some interactive toys.  We never recommend any type of rawhide be given to a dog of any age, the risk of ingesting a piece of rawhide that cannot be digested is too high.  Feeding too many treats in the crate when leaving your puppy for an extended period of time, can set the puppy up for failure when it comes to potty training.  Interactive toys similar to the ones listed below can keep their minds safely busy without filing their tummies.  

This is one of my personal favorites for busy puppy teeth!  Just be sure to order refills.

https://www.chewy.com/busy-buddy-bouncy-bone-treat/dp/48809?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Busy%20Buddy&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhpsZuKBtSaXrwqsEAlQtKyTu8KJdIXASqtBy26Oj9OBKphD2O1C35moaAkB9EALw_wcB

And you can’t beat the tried and true kong toy!  Just be sure as your puppy is growing to adjust the size of their Kong toy accordingly.  

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/puppy-kong-dog-toy-849405?cm_mmc=PSH-_-GGL-_-SPP-_-PME-_-PET-_-AQU-_-0-_-PM_GGL_FY20_SBU04_SH10_Home%26Away_DogToys_PLA-SMRT-_-0-_-0&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhptkB1RyPdPfv32lfAPA82UdcbyxsTENrfbDJmfo6_XDzu4C_4jNxhcaAubYEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


Small slices make great treats to go into the Kong toy.  It can also be diced into small pieces for training treats.  

https://www.chewy.com/redbarn-naturals-beef-recipe-dog-food/dp/45783?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Redbarn&utm_term=&show-search=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhpsYIM2fzAn9-NAC-_z_eCtAvAAXPNzL5jqV-_eCVZzlE2UMjz7iCXoaAs2qEALw_wcB

And there is nothing that our dogs LOVE more than a good old Candy Ham Bone.

https://www.chewy.com/redbarn-naturals-x-large-ham-bones/dp/45965

We often will leave the crate in view of the TV during the day to provide the puppy with visual and auditory stimuli.  If a TV is not readily in view, a radio can still provide a nice distraction for them.  

Crate training is essential to raising a well rounded dog.  As with all training done when they are puppies, the time spent working with them in those first few months will provide great reward in the years ahead.  
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We raise our puppies using the "Rule of 7's".  This simple rule is discussed further by Pat Hastings in Another Piece of the Puzzle: Puppy Development, a book that we recommend to all new puppy owners.  Following this rule makes sure that each of our puppies have done the following by seven weeks of age:

• Eaten out of seven different dishes (my personal favorite is the muffin pan)
• Eaten in seven different locations (crate, outside, in the kitchen, on the porch)
• Have met and been handled by seven different people (a variety of ages and personalities)
• Have been on seven different surfaces (vinyl, grass, cement, wood flooring, raised porch)
• Played with seven different objects (stuffed animals, balls, squeaky toys, rubber bones, milk cartons)
• Have been exposed to seven different challenges (agility tunnel, stairs, boxes)
• Lived in seven different locations (kitchen, porch, basement, front yard, back yard, barn)

The greater the variations in their positive experiences, the more well rounded the puppies become.  Over the years, as our program has developed, we have added two additional rules to the training of our puppies, which includes:

• Car rides
• Time away from mom and littermates; time in a crate

Car rides are another important part of puppy socialization here.  Every puppy accompanies us for several short road trips to town, they are not crated for the ride.  The first ride they are held by a family member and subsequent rides they advance to sitting in the seat by themselves.  We also believe that the puppies should each spend short amounts of time on their own away from their littermates and mother.  This time helps them to become more confident as an individual.  Each puppy will also spend a few nights in a crate alone before going to their new homes.  This is the beginning of crate training for them as we aim to make the transition into their new homes as seamless as possible.

 As simple as these rules seem, they do make a undeniable difference in the life of each and every puppy.  We highly recommend continuing with a few rules or goals in your home once your puppy arrives to continue their lifetime of learning and socialization.  Visit our Dog Blog post Rules for Life, for a few ideas.  

All of the puppies that we raise, undergo a series of exercises at a very young age known as Early Neurological Stimulation or ENS.  These stimulation exercises were developed by the world renowned Dr. Carmen Battaglia, known best for his publication Breeding Better Dogs.  His work with dog breeding, regarding inheritance and genetics has been the foundation of many successful breeding programs.  But it was his work with the United States Military as they sought assistance to develop a program to better prepare future military service dogs for duty that created the ENS exercises for puppies.  

This series of simple exercises performed from day 3 of a puppies life, through day 16 has been proven to decrease the dogs reaction to stress over the duration of their lifetime, as well as making them less prone to disease.  There are cardiovascular and adrenal benefits that are seen as well when ENS is initiated during this critical period of developement.  Performing ENS on our puppies gives them the best possible start to a happy healthy life, and it only takes about 30 seconds per day!

There are five separate exercises that are performed individually on each puppy.  The length of each exercise is only 3-5 seconds long, so it takes less than 30 seconds a day to make a lasting impact on their entire life!  The only supplies needed are a cold and damp hand towel and a Q-tip.

The first exercise that is performed is tactile stimulation, or simply tickling their toes with a Q-tip.  The puppy is held upright with one hand, while the Q-tip gently stimulates the pad and the toes of the paw.  I also personally feel this particular exercise helps to develop puppies and dogs that are accepting of their paws being handled, which is invaluable for a lifetime of easy nail trims and grooming.  

The second exercise is the puppy held in an upright position, firmly grasped in hand, but minimally supported, the puppies head is directly above it's tail for this exercise.  

Next the puppy is tipped upside down, it's head is now pointing toward the floor and tail is directly over the head.  

My personal favorite is holding the puppy in the supine position.  The puppy is gently cradled between both hands, laying on it's back with the nose pointed towards the ceiling.

And last but not least, the thermal stimulation exercise.  In this exercise we have a damp hand towel that has been placed in the refrigerator for at least 5 minutes, or in the freezer for about 30 seconds is laid on the ground and the puppy is then placed on the towel.  (This exercise should always be performed on the ground, as a puppy may wiggle off of a higher surface and be injured in a fall.) The puppies are not restrained from moving during the short 3-5 seconds that they are on the towel.

Following the stimulation exercises, the puppies go immediately back into the warm whelping box to cuddle with mom and their littermates.  We are committed to our dogs and therefor, committed to incorporating ENS into the life of every puppy that we raise.  

For more in depth information on Dr. Carmen Battaglia and his ENS exercises visit:
https://breedingbetterdogs.com/article/early-neurological-stimulation