Many different crate options.

How To Crate Train Your Baby

Crate training your weim may take some time and effort, but can be useful in a variety of situations. You can use the crate to limit his access to the house until he learns all the house rules - like what he can and can't chew on and where he can and can't eliminate .Like putting baby in a play pen. You might want to do it while you are cooking or taking a shower. Anytime the puppy can’t be supervised.A crate is also a safe way of transporting your dog in the car, as well as a way of taking him places where he may not be welcome to run freely. If you properly train your dog to use the crate, he'll think of it as his safe place and will be happy to spend time there when needed.

Selecting a crate: Crates will be plastic, (often called flight kennels or Vari-Kennels) or collapsible, metal pens. They come in different sizes and can be purchased at most pet supply stores. Your dog's crate should be just large enough for him to stand up and turn around.

The crate training process:

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences. It's important to keep a few things in mind while crate training. They like their crate to be like a den with a blanket halfway over it. They like it clean. The cleaner you can keep it, the cleaner they will keep it.The crate should always be associated with something pleasant, and training should take place in a series of small steps - don't go too fast. . Do not communicate after your puppy has been put in the kennel other than, saying kennelup, or good. something simple. No eye contact, no talking. Act like he is not there. If you give him the slightest attention positive or negative, he will want more. Only attention is when he is outside of the crate. If whining and barking is going on it’s cause they want out. Don't give in, otherwise you'll teach your dog to whine loudly to get what he wants. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse.. This is a SLOW PROCESS. With lots of good things in and around the crate. If there is action going on and you put your weim up, there is a good chance he will cry and whine, he wants to be a part of it. Crate train when there is nothing exciting going on and he has played out his wiggles. Kids are outside, everyone is sitting and watching a movie. When ever it is quiet and no distractions. Sometimes, They like to hear some soothing music or the Television on to keep them company and drowned out any outside noise. Especially when you are away and maybe sometimes at night.

 Introducing your dog to the crate:

Preferably put the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room (maybe one in your room as well to make it easy to take puppy out and bring him back in, it will be easier for him to go back to sleep knowing you are near (like a little kid) you will need to be able to hear them whine to go to the potty. Put a soft blanket/towel/bed in the crate. Puppies love to be warm, Get a heating pad and put under part of the crate, where he can't get it or have a small heater pointed toward his sleeping spot again, where he cant get to it. you might want to set a pen up around the crate. that way when your baby can't be played with, he can go in his pen to play and eventually gravitate to his bed in his crate on his own, when he is sleepy, play with him in his pen area make sure he has lots of challenging toys or treat balls to keep his mind off of whats really going on. Bring your dog over to the crate and just sit by it and play together near it. Make sure the crate door is securely fastened open, so it won't hit your dog and frighten him. Do not shut the crate door until your puppy is ready, this takes weeks (it's like putting a kid who is scared of the dark, in a strange room and turning the lights off and shutting the door, it will be cry time and freak out time.) To encourage your baby to go into the crate, drop some small food treats near it, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate. If he refuses to go all the way in at first, that's okay - don't force him to enter. Continue tossing treats/toys into the crate until your dog will walk calmly all the way into the crate to get the food/toy. If he isn't interested in treats, try tossing a favorite toy in the crate. This step may take a few minutes or as long as several days. Just work at it a few times a day for a short time. Just playing around make it a game. 

After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding him his regular meals near the crate. This will create a pleasant association with the crate. If your dog is readily entering the crate when you begin Step 2, put the food dish all the way at the back of the crate. If your dog is still reluctant to enter the crate, put the dish only as far inside as he will readily go without becoming fearful or anxious. Each time you feed him, place the dish a little further back in the crate.

Once your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat his meal, you can close the door while he's eating. At first, open the door as soon as he finishes his meal. With each successive feeding, leave the door closed a few minutes longer, until he's staying in the crate for 10 minutes or so after eating. If he begins to whine to be let out, you may have increased the length of time too quickly. Next time, try leaving him in the crate for a shorter time period. If he does whine or cry in the crate, it's imperative that you not let him out until he stops. Otherwise, he'll learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine, so he'll keep doing it.Feeding your dog his meals in the crate only until he is crate trained. then you will not need that bribery tool.

 Conditioning your dog to the crate for longer time periods

After your dog is eating his regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine him there for short time periods while you're home. Give him a command to enter such as, "kennel up" Or “Bed.” Use something short. Encourage him by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand. After your dog enters the crate, say Good, give him the treat and close the door. Do not communicate after that. No eye contact, no talking. Act like he is not there. If you give him the slightest attention, he will want more. Only attention is when he is outside of the crate. Crate time is his time. Make sure he has Few special toys in there that will keep his mind occupied and busy. Maybe peanut butter in a Kong Toy. That’s Special He only gets his Extra special toys when he is put up.

Sit quietly near the crate for five to 10 minutes ignoring him and then go into another room for a few minutes. Act like nothing is going on and stay calm, cool and collected. You are a confident leader. Return sit quietly again for a short time, then let him out of the crate, only if he is being good. Repeat this process a few times a day. With each repetition, gradually increase the length of time you leave him in the crate and the length of time you're out of his sight. When y’all have played hard and you think he is getting sleeping go sit by the crate maybe he will go to his comfy bed on his own. Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you out of sight the majority of the time, you can begin leaving him crated when you're gone for short time periods and/or letting him sleep there at night. This may take several days or several weeks.

Crating your dog when left alone After your dog is spending about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving him crated for short periods when you leave the house. Put him in the crate using your regular command and a treat. You might also want to leave him with a few safe toys in the crate (see how to use dogs toys).

You'll want to vary at what point in your "getting ready to leave" routine you put your dog in the crate. Although he shouldn't be crated for a long time before you leave, you can crate him anywhere from five to 20 minutes prior to leaving. Don't make your departures emotional and prolonged, but matter-of-

fact. Say Good briefly, give him a treat for entering the crate and then leave quietly. Make sure it is clean and has his special toys.

When you return home, Act like he is not there. Tell everyone, no eye contact and don’t talk to him. Keep arrivals low key. When he is calm and quiet, he can come be a part of the family. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you’re home so he doesn't associate crating with being left alone. Your dog should not be left alone in the crate for more than four to five hours at a time during the day.

Crating your dog at night Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat. Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night, and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when he whines to be let outside. Older dogs, too, should initially be kept nearby so that crating doesn't become associated with social isolation. Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with his crate near you, you can begin to gradually move it to the location you prefer.

Potential problems

Too much time in the crate

A crate isn't a magical solution. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated. For example, if your dog is crated all day while you're at work and then crated again all night, he's spending too much time in too small a space. Other arrangements should be made to accommodate his physical and emotional needs. Also remember that puppies under six months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders and bowels for longer periods.

Whining: If your dog whines or cries while in the crate at night, it may be difficult to decide whether he's whining to be let out of the crate, or whether he needs to be let outside to eliminate. If you followed the training procedures outlined above, your dog hasn't been rewarded for whining in the past by being released from his crate. Try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, he'll probably stop whining soon. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse.

If the whining continues after you've ignored him for several minutes (15), use the phrase he associates with going outside to eliminate. If he responds and becomes excited, take him outside. This should be a trip with a purpose, not play time. If you're convinced that your dog doesn't need to eliminate, the best response is to ignore him until he stops whining. Don't give in, otherwise you'll teach your dog to whine loudly to get what he wants.

If you've progressed gradually through the training steps and haven't done too much too fast, you'll be less likely to encounter this problem. If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to start the crate training process over again.

Separation anxiety

Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety won't solve the problem. A crate may prevent your dog from being destructive, but he may injure himself in an attempt to escape from the crate. Separation anxiety problems can only be resolved with counter-conditioning and desensitization procedures.