We have seen that crates have their special uses, that some pets like to have a crate - with open door - as their own special sanctuary, but you will find that some puppies and dogs just do not like crates.
If you want to introduce your puppy or dog to crate training you must do so slowly and with the door open. Then if your pup is OK with that you can shut the door for a few seconds - and progress from there slowly. If, on the other hand, your dog or puppy shows signs of distress like chewing at the crate sides, crying or barking - it could well be that you will create stress and problems by trying to continue with the training.
It is easy to train without a crate. You will need to 'puppy proof' a room - checking out everything which is within the puppy's height range. Pay special attention to electrical and telephone wiring, kitchen bins, and other items which can be chewed. If you have had a toddler around the room and had to toddler proof it, then you get the idea!
If you do use a crate, use it as a bedding area, keep it small enough for the puppy to just stand and turn round in comfortably. Then remember that your pup won't want to soil its bed, so take it to its pads, or newspaper, or outside in the garden before you leave it in the crate.
When it is very young it can only 'hang on' for one or two hours... so do NOT keep it couped up in the crate for longer periods.
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Resources:
Books on the subject of training which I thoroughly recommend are It's Me or the Dog by Victoria Stilwell and The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell. Both are extremely comprehensive and, I think, should be in every dog owners library. They should be available new or used at Amazon so just click here for a selection of Dog Training Books
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