And today we're going to talk about how to

create train your puppy.

We'll begin with a general discussion on the philosophy

supporting the crate training method.

We'll review what you'll need, the steps involved in the

process itself, and some possible troubles you may

encounter along the way.

Before you begin crate training, it helps to

understand the philosophy behind this method.

If your dog is properly crate trained, he'll view his crate

as a private room with a view, a safe haven he can call his

own, and a quiet place he can relax in.

He won't see it as a rigid structure of confinement and

punishment.

In fact, it'll be just the opposite.

In nature, wild dogs seek out and use their den as a home

where they can hide from danger, sleep,

and raise their young.

In your home, the crate becomes your puppy's den, an

ideal spot to sleep and stay out of harm's way.

And for you, the benefits of crate training are--

house training, because your puppy won't like to soil the

area where he sleeps.

Limited access to the rest of the house where he learns the

house rules.

And transporting safely and easily in the car.

Start crate training a few days after your

puppy settles in.

Before you can start crate training, you and your family

members must understand that they create can never be used

for punishment.

Never leave your young puppy under six months in his crate

for more than three hours.

He'll get bored, have to go to the bathroom, and won't

understand why he's been left alone in discomfort.

As your dog gets older, he can be crated for longer periods

of time because his bladder isn't as small.

But keep in mind he still needs a healthy portion of

exercise and attention daily.

If you and your family are unable to accommodate your

puppy's exercise, feeding, and bathroom needs, consider

hiring a dog walker or asking a neighbor or friend for

assistance.

After that, the crate should be a place he goes into

voluntarily, with the door always open.

There are a variety of crates available for purchase these

days, each of which is designed for a different

lifestyle need.

When selecting a crate, you want to make sure it's just

large enough for your puppy to be able to stand up, turn

around, and lay down in comfortably.

Because your puppy will grow quickly, I often recommend

getting a crate that fits the size you expect your puppy to

grow to and simply block off the excess crate space so your

dog can't eliminate at one end and retreat to the other.

Now for the crate training process.

The two most important things to remember while crate

training are that it should be associated with something

pleasant and take place in a series of small steps.

The first step is to introduce your puppy to his crate.

This will serve as his new den.

Put bedding and chew toys in his crate and let him

investigate his area.

If he chews or urinates on his bedding,

permanently remove it.

Observe and interact with your puppy while he's acclimating

to his crate.

This will help forge a sense of pack and establish you as

the pack leader.

Encourage him to enter the crate with soft

words and some treats.

You can also pre-place some treats in the back corners and

under the blankets to help make it a pleasant experience.

Step two is to start feeding his puppy in his crate.

Begin with the bowls near the opening of the crate.

As your puppy becomes less reluctant to enter, slowly

inch the food back every feeding until you're placing

all the way in the back.

When you get to the point where your puppy happily

enters the crate and stands in the back to eat, begin gently

closing the crate door behind him while he's eating.

At first, opened the door immediately after he finishes.

But after that, begin leaving the door closed a bit longer

every time.

If your puppy cries, you may have increased the time too

fast. So decrease the length a bit and then slowly begin

increasing it again.

When he does cry, do not let him out until he stops or

he'll always do this to get his way.

Once you puppy is used to eating his meals and waiting

to be let out with no anxiety or crying, you can start

confining him longer when you're home.

To do so, call him over with a treat and give it

to him in his crate.

Associating a command such as "kennel" is important, so he

understands the reward is a result of going in the crate.

At first, you'll need to sit quietly next to him.

If he's fine after 10 minutes, go into the other for a bit.

And then come back and let him out only if he is

calm and not crying.

If he is crying, you'll have to wait until he's calm.

Once you can leave him for about 30 minutes at a time

without him getting upset, you can start

leaving him there longer.

Eventually decrease the amount of reward you give for

entering the crate so that saying the command word is

sufficient.

When you get home after being away for a long time, your

puppy will likely be very excited to see you.

It's important not to reward this behavior or anticipating

his arrival every day may be stressful for him.

And lastly, make sure to crate your dog for short periods of

time while your home or else he will associate crating with

being left alone.

I'm Kathy Santo for Iams with Howdini, and I hope that

you've found this helpful as you welcome your new addition

to your family.

For more information on puppy care and training, visit

iams.com/puppy.