CRATE TRAINING

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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