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Step
1: Choose a Proper Crate
- Ensuring your pup will
be comfortable in his crate
is your first important
step. Crate styles vary
widely, with differences in
material, size and price.
Most crates range in price
from $25 to $200, which is
well worth it when
considering the damage your
Teacup Yorkie Puppy could do
in your home if left
unattended—to your furniture
or to himself.
- You'll want your Teacup
Yorkie Puppy to be able
stand and turn around inside
his crate. Also be sure he
can enter and exit without
bumping his back on the top
or the door frame - an
important consideration for
taller breeds.
- He should also be able
to lie down fully in the
crate you choose.
- Presuming your Teacup
Yorkie Puppy will grow (some
quite a bit), it's best to
purchase a crate that will
accommodate your dog as an
adult. Many crates come with
removable dividers to create
a smaller space in a larger
kennel while your Teacup
Yorkie Puppy is younger.
- You can easily make
the space smaller while
he is still a Teacup
Yorkie Puppy by adding
towels or using
cardboard to block off a
section.
- Of course you can also
start with a smaller crate
and graduate to a larger
size over time. If the crate
is too big, you pup may
simply use a corner of it as
the bathroom, which will
defeat its purpose!
- Check with your vet if
you're not sure which crate
to get.
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Step
2: Introduce Your Dog to His Crate
- At first, your dog's
crate will seem like a
foreign place. Introduce
your pet slowly to his
temporary home, and make it
as appealing as possible.
- Start crate training at
the beginning of the day, so
your Teacup Yorkie Puppy has
a whole day to get used to
the new crate.
- Be sure to place the
crate in an area where you
or your family tend to
congregate. This way he
won't feel isolated or
banished from all the fun.
- Line the crate with a
soft towel or blanket so it
will be a warm, inviting
place.
- You'll also want to
place a treat and some toys
both inside the crate and
outside its door to entice
your pup to go inside and
check it out.
- When trying to get your
Teacup Yorkie Puppy to
explore his crate for the
first time, talk to him in a
"happy tone of voice" and
keep the door open so he can
wander in and out.
- Some dogs like a towel
or blanket draped on top and
over their crates to
increase their sense of
privacy
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Start
Slow
- Remember, crate training
takes patience! Rushing your
Teacup Yorkie Puppy's crate
acclimatization risks making
her associate her crate with
bad memories.
- At first, keep your pup
in her crate for very short
periods, around 10-15
minutes. Remain close by, so
your Teacup Yorkie Puppy
doesn't feel abandoned.
- If your Teacup Yorkie
Puppy has willingly entered
the crate, it's okay to shut
the door.
- Then start leaving your
pup in the crate while you
go into another room.
Remember, don't leave her
alone for more than 15
minutes or so at first.
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Meals
Inside
- Mealtime can be another
way to get your pup used to
the new crate.
- Try feeding your pup her
meals inside her crate, so
she will begin to develop
good associations with it.
- After she's done eating,
try shutting the door for
short periods, extending the
time she stays in her crate
after meals by a little bit
each time.
- If your dog starts to
whine or cry after a bit,
keep the door shut for a
shorter period next time, as
you may have kept her pent
up for too long this time
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Step
4: Leave Your Pup Alone in the Crate
- Now that your pup is
used to her crate, you can
start leaving the house for
longer periods of time.
- Continue using your
command to tell your pup to
enter her crate, and give
her a treat to encourage
her.
- You can crate your pup
anywhere between 5 and 20
minutes before you plan to
leave.
- Avoid a major emotional
goodbye when leaving your
pup so she doesn't think
it's a big deal that you're
leaving. Avoid emotional
homecomings as well. This
will make coming and going
as boring as possible and
easier for the dog and for
you - that's the goal.
- And keep putting your
pup in her crate for short
intervals while you are home
so she doesn't begin to
think that every time she
goes in her crate it means
you're leaving her.
- Puppies who are 8-16
weeks old should not be left
in a crate for more than an
hour, unless they're
sleeping there overnight.
- Older puppies should not
be left alone in their
crates for more than 3-4
hours.
- Adult dogs should not be
left for more than 6-8
hours.
- Even an adult dog
who may be able to "hold
it" for an extended
period is not going to
be happy in a crate all
day if she hasn't had a
long walk or some play
time, too.
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Step
5: The Crate as Pup's #1 Safe Place
- When your pup is
acclimated to its crate, she
may retreat to it to avoid
guests or hide from a scary
noise, like the vaccuum or a
loud thunderstorm.
- Once your pup enjoys
spending time in her crate,
it will be that much easier
to travel, either when
flying with your pet or on a
car ride.
- You can also let your
pup hang out in her crate in
your hotel room to avoid
damage and to acclimate your
pet to a new environment.
- You may wish to use your
pup's crate as a place to
introduce her to new people.
- Children who want to
play with your pup should be
told that if your dog
retreats to her crate she
should be left alone.
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Step
6: Address Common Crating Problems
- Crate training is not
for everyone, but if you are
aware of some of the
potential pitfalls of crate
training, you may be able to
address them before they
become problems.
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Soiling the Crate
- Even though most Teacup
Yorkie Puppy think of their
crates as "their space,"
squelching their desire to
soil where they sleep, it
doesn't always work that
way.
- Your crate might be too
big, making your dog think
that going to the bathroom
in one corner of it is okay.
- Try adding bedding
slowly so that thick
blankets aren't initially
"acting like a diaper" so
that your pup doesn't notice
the smell or wetness.
- Don't yell at your dog,
force his nose in his
elimination, or physically
reprimand him if you notice
he has soiled his crate.
Because you're noticing it
after the fact, your dog
won't understand why you're
upset, and may start to
associate his crate with bad
behavior.
- When your dog does go to
the bathroom in the proper
place, praise him
excessively so he knows that
he has done the right thing
and will want to repeat the
behavior.
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