Crate Training your puppy
Crates can be really useful in the first few months of having a new puppy.
A crate is a safe place, like a den, and should be comfortable and welcoming, a place where your puppy will choose to hang out.
Covering the crate can be useful in helping puppy to settle.
Having the radio or television on in the background can also help puppy to settle.
Why use a dog crate for your puppy?
Using a crate helps ensure the pup gets enough rest and sleep, most need about 18 to 20 hours a day, and can help with toilet training.
A crate can help pup settle on their own and learn to be independent.
Having a dog that is able to settle in a crate is also very useful if they need to spend time at the vet’s.
Crates are often used as a safe space for travel.
A dog will settle much more easily and cope with a potentially stressful situation, if they are already happy in a crate.
A dog crate is never used as a punishment.
It’s important to introduce your puppy to the crate in the correct way.
Encouraging pup to enter the crate of their own accord by placing some of their daily food allowance or some treats in the crate will help them understand that it is a good place to be.
You can get puppy used to having the door closed by closing it briefly and rewarding pup well with the door closed and then opening it.
Rewarding when the door is closed helps pup associate the closed door with good things and helps them feel comfortable.
My experience with crate training
Lex, my english springer spaniel, had surgery at 13 months old and, due to complications which occurred after surgery, had a period of crate rest which lasted for 3 months.
Initially, he really did not like the crate at all and we used high value food, mainly chicken, that he really liked, to get him used to the idea.
It was well worth the effort because he was able to settle happily in the crate during his recovery.
We still have the dog crate and he chooses to go in there sometimes to relax and snooze.
Toilet training your puppy
Puppies don’t know about toilet training - we have to show them what we want.
How to toilet train your puppy
The good news is that if you go all in on toilet training you can, in most cases, achieve really good results in 3 weeks.
Remember that very young puppies may not have the neurological ability to control their bladder and bowel until about 12 weeks.
I’m not suggesting that we leave toilet training until then, it just might help understand why some puppies take a little longer to get the idea.
It’s also worth knowing, that in some cases, smaller dogs can take longer to be fully house trained.
What do I have to do to toilet train my puppy?
Probably the single most important factor in achieving a pup who is toilet trained in a short space of time, is for the owner to be really vigilant.
The goal is that our puppy will alert us to when they need to go to the toilet, but to start with, we need to be very observant and offer the pup the opportunity to toilet frequently.
A toilet break is needed after any change of activity, for example, after eating or drinking, after play, and when the pup wakes up from sleeping.
Aside from these times, you might notice little signs that they need to toilet, such as sniffing, spinning and agitation.
When puppy needs to toilet
It is my preference to take my puppy outside in the garden to toilet; I choose a specific area where they can sniff and toilet comfortably.
This is a calm interaction, we don’t want to make it exciting because this will distract the pup from what they need to do.
Likewise, if your pup is running around and playing, it might be good idea to put them on a lead, so they are less distracted.
I add in a verbal cue, I say ‘quickly, quickly’, adding a cue can be really useful later on.
Once they toilet, I reward calmly with a small treat and verbal praise. I wait a few moments before taking pup back inside.
Some clever pups will realise that if you take them straight back inside after toileting, their exploration ends and this may lead them to delay toileting!
Consider where your puppy is when they need to toilet
It’s important to consider where your pup is in the house, as this relates to their activity and the amount of supervision they need and will ultimately effect their success.
If your pup spends time in a crate, they will not need much supervision - they are unlikely to toilet in the crate -you will just need to take pup out after eating or drinking and when they wake from sleeping.
If they are in a puppy pen, they will need more supervision as they have more room to move around and therefore more choice in what they do - they are more likely to toilet in a pen than in a crate.
If the pup has free range in a room or larger part of the house, they will need close supervision as they have more choice about where to go and what to do.
Puppy toilet accidents will happen
There will be accidents, the best thing to do is to soak up the puddle with disposable towels and clean the area with an enzyme cleaner to remove all traces, otherwise the pup is likely to return to the area and soil there again.
There is no benefit to getting upset about accidents, the pup did not do it to upset you, they are not being naughty, they are learning, and with your guidance they will soon be fully toilet trained.
Are you a new or first time puppy owner?
Ginny was my first puppy. She came to us at 11 weeks old. I had wanted a boxer for years, she was literally a dream come true!
I had read up online about what to expect and what equipment I needed. I bought food, a crate and some toys, but I was clueless! I certainly wasn’t prepared for the feelings I had when she arrived. which weren’t dissimilar to how I felt when bringing home a new baby!
Puppy Blues
I didn’t know it at the time but ‘Puppy Blues’ is a thing.
During the initial weeks, it can feel as if your life has been turned upside down, there’s extra mess to deal with, puppy crying and possibly difficulty settling.
Then there’s anxiety about whether you’re doing things right, depleted physical and emotional energy which can lead to overwhelm.
Add sleep deprivation into the mix and it’s not surprising that some new puppy owners regret getting the puppy.
What to do when you get a new puppy
Hiring a trainer for support during this period, can be a real help, and our Welcome Home Puppy Bundle package (3 sessions) is ideal for new puppy owners.
The first session can take place before your puppy comes home, if you wish, and can help with things like setting up the environment and choosing equipment.
If you have no experience of having a puppy this will give you an opportunity to ask questions so that you are better prepared for your new arrival.
If you prefer, the first session can be soon after your puppy comes home.
Hopefully by this time, you will be feeling more confident; however, your puppy will be growing and changing, with new challenges to consider.
The adventures of an urban gundog
This morning I took Bruce, my english springer spaniel, to Lloyd Park in South Croydon, together with our friend, Sue, and her cocker spaniel, Rosie.
Lloyd Park is a popular spot with dog walkers, it’s easy to find and has its own tram stop on Route 3, New Addington to Wimbledon.
There is a free car park, you can stay for 3 hours but you must obtain a ticket from the machine and display it on your windscreen or you could get a penalty notice.
The park can also be accessed from Deepdene and Mapledale Avenue in the north.
The park is 114 acres, a mixture of grassland, trees and woodland and there is plenty of space for you to walk and play with your dog.
Prior to our visit, there had been a lot of rain and some areas were quite muddy.
Towards the northern edge of the park there is a line of natural springs which emerge during wet weather, this area is known as the Squashes because it can get really wet - a pair of waterproof boots is useful.
There is a café which sells a wide variety of sweet and savoury snacks and meals.
There is also an ice cream parlour which also sells ice cream including a dog friendly variety.
There are plenty of tables both inside and outside.
We visited during the school holidays on a lovely bright morning and sat outside, it was busy but not too crowded.
Fresh water is provided for dogs and there are toilet and baby change facilities available during café opening times.
We recommend Lloyd Park for a lovely walk with your dog.
Dog Hydrotherapy
As a young dog Lex, my english springer spaniel, had a painful orthopedic condition which affected his left shoulder (humeral head).
He had surgery in 2020 and recovered well.
One day, last summer, after a training session when he had been retrieving over a fence, he was very dejected and off his food.
The vet diagnosed him with a painful shoulder and said as he was such a young dog, we shouldn’t restrict his exercise, instead we should let him do his usual activity and treat him with pain medications if and when required.
He also thought it would be beneficial to do some hydrotherapy to enable him to exercise without impact on the joint and help maintain muscle mass and build fitness.
We had a referral went along to Gem & Evie's Hydrotherapy for dogs in Surrey (gemandevies.co.uk)
What we got from hydrotherapy
Lex is a high drive working springer and he finds everything exciting and the same was true for hydrotherapy!
The way it works is the dog is showered before swimming to warm up the muscles and remove any dirt from the coat to prevent contaminating the pool.
The first few visits, Lex wouldn’t stand on the shower tray so he was showered on mat on the floor.
Siew Lian was very patient and did not rush him.
After showering, Lex had the buoyancy aid put on and he was ready to go.
He loved the water and he loved swimming.
During the course of the sessions, he became much more comfortable with the environment, once he was showered and ready, he was up the slope and into the pool.
He also adjusted to taking short breaks between swimming and began to enjoy staying still while Siew Lian gave him a massage
Hydrotherapy was very beneficial for Lex both in terms of his physical and mental wellbeing.
Your Dog and the Law
I went to a meeting hosted by Croydon Companion Dog Club with Tara Boswell, from the Croydon Council Dog Warden Service
It was a really interesting and informative meeting and I learnt a lot about how the law applies to dog ownership.
Your dog must have a collar and tag
A dog must wear a collar and tag stating the name and address of the owner when in a public place, an owner can be fined up to £5000 (yes, that is correct!) if the dog is found in a public place without a collar and tag with these details.
Your dog must be microchipped
Any dog over the age of 8 weeks should have a microchip. There’s a fine of £500 if a dog doesn’t have a microchip or if the dog is registered on a database that is not on the government’s list.
Remember to keep the details on the chip up to date so that if your dog does go missing there is a better chance of being reunited.
Sometimes the chip can move, it’s a good idea to check the chip every now and then to make sure it’s still in place. A vet, dog warden or dog rescue centre can do this for you.
Read more: Get your dog microchipped
Your dog must be on a lead
Dogs must be on a lead on all roads.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies to all dogs, no matter the breed, and covers a dog’s behaviour in both public spaces and private property including at home and in the garden.
It is a criminal offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control, the dog does not need to bite or injure someone to be deemed out of control. It may be that someone is worried it might injure them.
Read more: Dangerous dogs
What is expected of dog owners
It’s good to know what is expected of us as dog owners. Training our dogs to stay close when out and about and to come back when called are great ways to reduce the likelihood of an untoward event.
If you need help with training, please fill in our contact form for a free 15 minute consultation.