Training Your New Puppy: Setting Up Your Puppy's Living Space

Choosing a Crate for Puppy Training

A perfect-sized crate is usually not going to be much bigger than your puppy for sleeping, but bear in mind that the puppy is going to grow.

It's important that your puppy is able to stretch out in the crate. However, you don't want to give him too much room to explore.

Many cages come with internal walls that allow you to change the size of the cage as the puppy grows. This is very helpful so you don't have to keep buying crates!

Put a comfy blanket in the crate, and your puppy will learn to love the crate as his safe place.

Using a Pen 

Now, you may choose to get a pen as well, which is usually about 6-feet-high and 6 feet by 6 feet in width. The idea is that this is where the puppy can wake up, get out of his crate and play…even if you're not watching him.

Your puppy will be safe in the pen and will be all set up if you put a little potty pad and some have some toys in there to play with.

Using Crate and Pen Together

Using a crate and pen together is very helpful in toilet training.

Both keep your puppy contained and relaxed, which makes it easy to pick your puppy up out of the crate or pen where he is and take him outside to the potty area on a routine basis.

So, that's one huge advantage of using a crate and a pen, and generally, the puppies love them.

The other advantage is that, in terms of money, the crate and the pen usually hold their value. If you buy them secondhand, you can usually sell them for the same price later on. You only need to use them for about six months.

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Basic Puppy Training: Where Should Your Puppy Sleep?

Deciding where your puppy sleeps can be tricky because a lot of it depends on how independent and confident your little puppy is.

If you think of it almost like a child or a young baby, some babies need to be in the room with you for the first few weeks or months, and some puppies do as well. They're much more relaxed if the crate is in your bedroom because they know you are close by.

However, you can always have the crate in your bedroom and then move the crate during the day so they can be with you or have a second crate in another room.

Bear that in mind.

Some Puppies Will Need To Be In Your Bedroom For Sleeping

You can still set the main area up with the pen in a room where you spend most of your time during the day.

Important note: Make sure you're not putting the puppy in an area where there's a large draft or where he's going to get too hot in direct sunlight. You need to make sure that the temperature is going to be maintained.

Or think about putting a plastic sheet underneath and, fingers crossed, the puppy doesn't start chewing it. If your puppy is on a carpeted area, and he starts peeing on it, it's very tricky to stop that.

The second thing to think about is safety.

You want to keep your puppy away from any sort of electric cables and any staircases if you've got a very small house. You do not want to give your puppy access to the whole house. Just one room is absolutely fine.

Having your puppy in one room allows you to start this whole process of just peering down to the other end of the house to check on your pup. When you come in, your puppy realizes it's not the end of the world that you've been gone.

The other main reason for not giving your puppy access to the whole house is, if you do, I guarantee you he'll travel down to the far end of the house, sneak behind a piece of furniture, and go potty there. Puppies are very sneaky little critters.

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Potty Training Your Puppy

Okay, that brings us to puppy potty training.

Now, with potty training, there's not one correct way of training your puppy. There are many different options, and the way you train your puppy often depends on what kind of home you live in.

If you've got a large garden that's easy to access, it might be realistic to set a schedule and take your puppy outside every day at the same times.

However, if there are lots of steps down to your garden and you want to use potty pads, there's nothing wrong with that. As your puppy gets older, he'll be able to hold his bladder longer, and you can make the transition to using the bathroom outdoors.

If you want to get my free toilet training course, then just click here, and I'll take you through a comprehensive training program with lots of videos showing you all the different setups.

One thing I would suggest though, regardless of what training approach you take, is to roll up any thick chunky pile carpets, valuable carpets, or any other rugs on your floor that your puppy would be tempted to use as a restroom.

Once the puppy starts peeing on a carpet, it is incredibly difficult to get that stain out of the rug and to break the habit. So, I've warned you…roll them up, and you can put them back down in six months when your puppy is trained.

The other thing with toilet training is to make sure that the outside area where your puppy is going to the toilet is very safe.

What I'm talking about is when you take your puppy outside, make sure he can't get into the house or escape through a fence. And you will even want to check to be sure there's not rat bait or anything like that on the ground that your puppy can get into.

Crate Training Puppies

Crate training offers your puppy a den of their own, a safe and comforting space where they can relax and feel secure. This not only helps with potty training by preventing accidents, but it also curbs destructive behavior by keeping them out of trouble when you're not around. Plus, having their own little haven helps puppies learn boundaries and settle down when needed, which is great for encouraging good behavior overall.

Making the Crate a Happy Place:

• Positive association is key: Use your puppy's favorite things (food, treats, toys) to create a positive connection with the crate.
  • Feed your puppy all meals inside the crate.
  • Provide engaging chew toys to keep them occupied.
• Create a comfortable environment:
  • Ensure the crate is warm, cozy, and includes soft bedding.
  • Place the crate in a safe, comfortable spot, away from drafts and extreme temperatures.
• Avoid negative associations: Never punish your puppy or display frustration while they are in the crate.

Keeping Your Puppy Calm:

• Exercise first: A tired puppy is more likely to settle down and rest in the crate. Make sure they've had plenty of physical activity and mental stimulation before crate time.
• Ensure basic needs are met: Make sure your puppy has been fed, watered, and has had the opportunity to eliminate before crating.

When to Let Your Puppy Out:

• Wait for calmness: The most important rule is to only let your puppy out when they are quiet and calm. This prevents them from learning that whining or barking leads to freedom.
• Pre-crate potty break: Always take your puppy outside to go potty right before crating to minimize accidents and whining.
• Ignore attention-seeking whining: If your puppy whines simply because they want out, do not give in, even if they've been in the crate for a while.
• Use calm energy: If your puppy is crying, sit calmly near the crate with your back turned to them. This avoids eye contact and exciting them, encouraging them to mirror your calm energy and settle down.
• Gradually increase duration: As your puppy gets used to the crate, gradually increase the amount of time they must remain quiet before being let out.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively crate train your puppy and create a positive and comfortable experience for them.

Socialization for Puppies

Socialize your puppy early and often! This helps them become confident and comfortable in various situations. Here's how:

• Focus on calmness:
  • Keep your puppy relaxed during socialization. If they show signs of fear (tail tucked, panting, lip licking), create more distance from the stimulus.
  • Project a calm and confident demeanor, as your puppy will mirror your emotions.

• Controlled exposure:
  • Gradually introduce your puppy to new experiences, starting with less intense situations and slowly increasing the level of stimulation.
  • Avoid overwhelming your puppy. Let them approach new things at their own pace and never force interactions.
• Positive experiences:
  • Ensure every socialization experience is positive. Use praise, treats, and toys to reward calm behavior and bravery.
  • End on a good note. If your puppy gets overwhelmed, remove them from the situation and end the session positively.
• Variety is key:
  • Expose your puppy to a wide range of sights, sounds, smells, people (different ages, sizes, appearances), and other animals.
  • Bring them to different environments (parks, streets, shops) and surfaces (grass, concrete). This gives you an opportunity to introduce loose leash training, too.

Using Positive Reinforcement Training on Puppies

Positive reinforcement transforms puppy training into a fun and rewarding experience for both of you! Instead of punishment, you focus on rewarding good behaviors like sitting, staying, or coming when called. This teaches your puppy what you want in a kind and encouraging way, making them eager to learn and strengthening your bond. 

• Reward good behavior: Focus on rewarding desired actions at a young age, like sitting calmly when meeting other dogs, with praise and treats. This teaches your puppy what you expect from them.
• Ignore unwanted or bad behavior: Discourage jumping or nipping by not responding to these behavior cues. This shows your puppy that these actions don't get them what they want.
• Start young: Begin using positive reinforcement techniques as early as possible to establish good habits from the beginning.
• Be consistent: Always reward desired behaviors immediately, so your puppy understands the connection between their actions and the positive reinforcement.
• Prevent future problems: By focusing on positive reinforcement, you can prevent common behavior problems and build a strong foundation for a happy relationship with your dog.

How to Ensure Your Puppy Remains Happy and Relaxed

A lot of ensuring your puppy stays calm and happy comes down to making sure you spend time with him to make sure that he is comfortable.

We've talked about making sure your puppy is warm enough and not too hot and that he has a nice cozy blanket to lie on.

You may also want to look at having a variety of dog toys (your puppy will love a chew toy!) that he can chew because it's the different textures of toys, which will really stimulate the puppy's mind.

You don't want to have all of the puppy's toys being made of the same product, such as plastic.

You want plastic rope, maybe a toy made with natural fibers in there, and a soft, fluffy toy that your pup can really sink his baby teeth into.

And, of course, remember to always leave water down for your dog.

Make sure your puppy has all of these things, and it will be easier for him to stay happy and relaxed.

Important Training Tip

The last thing I want to talk about is an important training tip that is especially important for puppies.

The tip is basically to let sleeping dogs lie, and there are three reasons why I have this rule.

Reason #1: Young Puppies Get Tired Easily

The first reason is that puppies will get very tired. They're going to be so stimulated by every new thing they encounter, and it's very easy for them to become overtired and exhausted.

Much like a newborn child, it's important to not “wake your baby.” He needs rest…and lots of it!

If you keep bothering your puppy when he's in his little bed trying to relax and switch off, it's easy for him to become tired and grumpy. So, if your puppy goes to bed, leave him there.

If you need to take him out for the bathroom, by all means go and pick him up and take him straight out. That's the one exception.

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Reason #2: Most Puppies Are Terrified of Children 

The second reason is that it's very easy for little puppies to be scared by young children.

Then, your puppy will learn to love that little area— whether it be a crate or a pen — as his little safety space.

One little tip you may try with the pen or the crate is to put a little blanket over the top because then it feels more like a little den to your puppy.

It will make it feel much safer. Puppies don't really like being out in the open, and neither do dogs. That's why many dogs like to go under a table or under a bed…it feels more like a den.

Reason #3: Puppies Need to Love Their Bed

The third reason is: if your puppy knows that they are is safe in their bed, they're going to learn to love their bed. This is a very important thing for your dog to learn to like…especially if you plan on crate training your dog.

All right. I hope all of this information helps!

And as I mentioned earlier, there are loads more videos about raising your puppy along with my Project Moses videos in The Online Dog Trainer program.

You get your first three days for just one dollar, so if you're interested, I encourage you to check it out now! You can also check The Puppy Coach program here.

Cheers, and have a great day!

~Doggy Dan