It is a long stretch of time. Depending on your sleeping habits, crate training at night may be a long nightmare for little puppies. They just do not have the ability to hold it for long periods of time till they get older.
The biggest tip that can be given when you are crate training at night is to be patient. You may have to get up and take your dog outside long before morning arrives.
That is just the nature of nighttime crate training. When puppies get older, the interruption to your sleep will get less.
Need to crate train your rescue dog? Here is “How to Crate Train a Rescue Dog in Seven Steps”.
Tips For Nighttime Crate Training
Crate Location
This is an important factor in nighttime crate training. You do not want to stress your puppy out by leaving it alone in a bare and vacant room. One option is to keep your puppy’s crate near you or in the same room.
Just add a fan for some white noise so other noises won’t keep him or her awake at night. Or find a room where they won’t feel abandoned and has less outside noise that will bother your pup.
Create a Nighttime Crate Schedule
You do not want to leave your puppy in the crate for too long. Their bladders etc., just can’t wait all night before they can go to the bathroom.
While your puppy will outgrow this lack of control, it is best to create and keep to a schedule so they can be let out throughout the night.
Let Your Puppy Get Used to The Crate
The best way to get them to accept this crate training is to let them sniff around and see that it is not a threat to them. Let your puppy explore for a bit first.
Also, you can use their favorite snacks to entice them to go inside. Just do not close the door them as that may have a negative effect on your puppy. Keep the door open for the first night or two to help your pet relax and enjoy its enclosure.
Make the Experience a Positive One
Do not use the crate as a nighttime punishment. That will just defeat your training. Using it as punishment will be confusing to your pet.
You want your dog to be inside the crate so make it a positive experience. Provide food, water, toys, and a comfortable bed to sleep on and so on. The more positive reinforcement you can give the better the dog will appreciate the crate.
Use the Crate as a Mealtime Location
This will help with any positive associations your pet will get with their crate. Once they learn they will receive food and water in their crate the happier they should be.
This will help you keep any dog food mess restricted to one little area. That will help make cleanup a little easier.
Be Ready to Sacrifice
You need to be prepared to wake up every 2 hours to take your puppy outside. It is a minor sacrifice if your dog is to be house-trained properly.
The good news is that the older your puppy gets, the fewer times you have to wake up at night. The sacrifice should only last for a few months.
What To Do When My Puppy Is Crying During Crate Training? Click here to learn more.
Types of Crates You Can Use
There are 3 basic types of crates you can buy. They all have their good and bad points and which one you buy is up to you and your lifestyle. Not to mention your budget,
1. Metal Crates- Long-lasting, strong, durable, and will hold your pet inside without too much trouble. However, if you travel a lot, they can be heavy and take up a lot of space.
These crates come with a wide variety of accessories so you can pick the perfect one for your pet and living situation. They also have great airflow.
2. Plastic Crates- They may not be as durable and strong as metal crates but they are also a good option. They are plane approved so you can bring them along when you are traveling with your pet by plane.
They also come with solid walls so your pet can feel safe and secure once inside. Plus, they are lightweight.
3. Fabric Crates- Are not the best option but they will do in a pinch. If your puppy is a chewer, this may not be the best crate option for them. It is easy for your puppy to eat something they shouldn’t with this type of enclosure.
However, for older dogs, these crates may be the perfect choice to keep them comfortable in a car.
Some Final Words
Night-time crate training is going to take a lot of patience as well as sacrifice. It is a long time for a dog to be locked up, so you have to make some alterations to your sleeping schedule.
But once they are trained, the sacrifice will be worth it. Just pick the right crate for your dog.
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