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Crate Training Your Siberian Husky Pup or German Shepherd Pup
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Pictured Here: The Doerr Family with Curly the Cocker Spaniel and Counts Cove's Big Boy Doerr at Mossbrae Falls in Mount Shasta, California
Crate Training Instructions for Nighttime:
- Calm Your Pup - by giving him/her a nice warm bath before bedtime.
- Soothe Your Pup - by Towel Drying him/her until they are reasonably dry.
- Comfort Your Pup - by Quietly Rocking him/her for about 10 minutes.
- Secure Your Pup - by swaddling him/her in a dry towel and placing him/her gently in their crate.
- Provide Adequate Space - But NOT too much space. Their crate should be large enough to stand up, turn around and lie down in. The incentive for not messing his/her crate, is that he/she will then have to lie it his/her own mess, which he/she will avoid if at all possible. A series 200 crate is the perfect size for an 8-week old pup and it measures approximately 15x18x25. However, if you want to purchase an adult size crate for the pup to grow into, you will need to either section it off, or place an empty box or container in the back of the crate to decrease the size for the purposes of crate training.
- Place Your Pup at Eye Level - For the very best results - either Place the crate on your bed, or get your sleeping bag out and pick a comfortable spot on the floor next to your pup’s crate where he/she can see you. If you choose this option, your pup will possibly sleep through the night without interruption.
The next best option is to Place the crate next to your bed, where you can drop down your hand for comforting, if necessary. If you choose this alternative option, your pup will likely wake you up for 3 or 4 potty breaks during the night. It is extremely important that the person who is tending the pup is a light sleeper so that they can promptly respond to the pup’s needs for these potty breaks. Remember your pup is only as good as you allow him to be. If you aren’t there to let him out of his crate when he needs to eliminate, he can only hold it for so long before he will have and accident. If this happens, you will only have yourself to blame AND it will be that much more difficult the next time he needs to go, as he may at any point decide that you would prefer to have him mess in his crate instead of wake you up! Please be careful what habits you allow your dog to adopt.
- Take the Pup Out For Potty Breaks - When the pup makes any noise or starts moving around in his crate, this is a sign that he needs to eliminate. You will want to take an old towel and wrap him in it and CARRY him outside to the potty place. The reason for this is two fold; 1) the night air is cold and we all know what happens when you have to use the restroom and cold air hits you, 2) if you allow the pup to walk outside to the potty place, he will stop at the first available spot that is outside his crate to eliminate.
- Be Patient - Be sure to allow your pup ample time to eliminate. They will typically poop twice a day, usually at dawn and dusk. They will urinate first and then poop as much as 10-15 minutes afterwards. If you want to speed up this process a bit, get your pup to chase you as you run around the yard. A little exercise does wonders.
- Take Your Pup Back To Bed - You can allow your pup to follow you back into your house and into his crate without much worry of him piddling along the way.
Pictured Here: Counts Cove's Pup belonging to the Weinman Family of San Diego
- Tuck Your Pup In - Cover the crate with a towel or blanket to create a den atmosphere.
- Repetition is the Key to Success - Repeat this process each time your pups wakes up, cries or moves about in his crate.
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