Crate Train Your Pup!

Happy 2024! New year, New Pup, New training!
Let me jump into puppy basics with you and encourage you to CRATE TRAIN your pup! As we have discovered here on the Homestead, crate training is helpful for you, your pup and the whole family!

Here are the why’s behind crate training, the “what” of crate training and we’ll finish it up with a w…. How-To! 

The “why’s” behind my advice to start puppy basics this year with crate training are many, but end up with a happy pup and happy owner.

Firstly we must consider puppy nature, dogs naturally have a desire to own their own den, have a cozy safe place to retreat to when life gets overwhelming.

When you have successfully trained your puppy to love his crate it will be a cozy safe place for him to relax after maybe spending time in a big family with noise and lots of kids  love’n on him.
It helps him understand his place, where he belongs when say dinner is being set and the family isn’t ready to play ball right now.

The crate appeals to a family dog’s desire  to understand place and home. To use my beagle Dante as an example, he absolutely loves kids and has a blast running around with the boys, but he also enjoys the end of the day quiet time he gets in his crate knowing that he won’t be disturbed or in the way, no one will follow him there, he is safe.

But there is a very practical side to crate training your puppy.

Life doesn’t slow when you get your new pup, and you may want to travel sometime in the future. This is made easy for you and your pup when he is already relaxed and used to spending time in his crate, also knows how to keep it clean, this makes vet visits easier and less stressful!

I plan on taking Dante to multiple dog shows this year to get him a championship title. Car travel would be no fun at all if he was howling the whole way!

Training your dog in puppy basics begins with crate training. This useful tool helps with potty training, house breaking, bark training, and gives structure to a puppy’s day. 
-Remember a trained dog is a happy dog! 🙂

But in order to move forward with this advice to crate train your pup I must be clear on what the crate is and what the create is not! 

The crate is not a means of discipline, it is not a place to “park you pup” for long periods of time, not your dog’s only spot in life and not even something you need for your pup’s whole life! None of our dogs here on the homestead live in a crate, they were trained and moved on. 

What a crate is however is a Training Tool, and Travel home, and a Safe Spot. 

Now onto the “How-To” of Crate training. 

First of all you need a crate that is the right size for your pup, not too big and not too small. You may think bigger the better, but this is not the case! A dog’s den is cozy and close, if your pup’s crate is too big he might feel like he has space to go potty in it which is not fun for both of you.
Too small and he will be cramped, uncomfortable and hate it! So get a crate that fits your pup, you might need to size up when your golden retriever puppy grows and no longer fits the size small. I have some links to some good crates at the bottom.

Next you need to train your pup to love his crate. 

I would feed my dogs in their crates, beagles love food and connecting their crate to food is always a good idea. I would also recommend keeping your pup’s scented blanket that comes in our puppy starter bag we give out, this has been rubbed on momma and gives the new crate a homey smell. 

Always say a command when your puppy goes into his crate. I use “Kennel” as my word.
That way I can tell Dante “Kennel” and he immediately goes into his crate which is very helpful and cute to see him waiting there when I come to give him his dinner. 

Something important with crate training is that you must enforce the crate!-No bark and be let out.

When your pup first goes into the crate he might get bored and try barking to be let out, you must enforce the crate. For an example you might want to let him out to play or something. But as soon as he starts barking you have to wait until he quiets down. Tell him “no” and once he stops, go ahead and let him free, training him that a quiet pup gets out and barking is not allowed. 

You must not push your puppy too far though. Introduce him gradually to longer periods of time spent in the crate. Puppies need potty breaks every 2 hours in the beginning and even when you have fully crate trained your dog never let him go longer than 10 hours in a crate even with potty breaks!

All this to say that I hope you do choose to crate train your new puppy and that you train them well!
This is such a useful tool for you and also your pup, making a happy, trained, well rounded addition to your family!

Enjoy your beautiful new pups this year! And let me know in the comments if this is helpful and if you took my advice to Crate Train Your Pup! 

Happy new year!

~Jenni Rose
Breeder and dog lover at Rosehaven Homestead

Galatians 6:9 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Here are a few links to Crates for Golden Retrievers and Beagles

Beagles: Start small, then go to medium size crate.

Chewey Covered Crate for New Puppy-Small
Amazon 24 in Wire Crate Set-Medium, Full grown Beagle
Heavy Duty Crate -North 40

Golden Retrievers: Go from Medium to Large Crate.

Best Puppy Covered Plastic Crate
Amazon Wire Crate with Cover

If you need more help choosing the right size crate for your pup
Here is a good article