[Demetrius Joel]

my wife and I rescued a puppy from the shelter close to our home. I've never had a dog before. I pretty much have no clue on how to train them. Any recommendations? I want to crate train him.

[Nkc]

YouTube is your friend.

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by Demetrius Joel

my wife and I rescued a puppy from the shelter close to our home. I've never had a dog before. I pretty much have no clue on how to train them. Any recommendations? I want to crate train him.

Never having a dog before - I would strongly suggest taking some local training classes in your area. I know the YMCA and Community College areas typically have courses you can go to...as do some higher end shelters. Having an obedient puppy will make things much better for you. And, having your puppy around other dogs will help it socially.

Creates are good, although I've never used one. Just make sure that it is sized properly for your puppy's growth.

Good luck - owning a dog can be a big responsibility, and it will definitely change your life. But it's 100% worth it.

[ajw45]

Second the youtube comment. Key to crate training is making sure you get the proper sized crate or set-up a crate divider so your puppy doesn't have enough space to do their business in there. The second half of that is to you make sure to take the puppy out often. Most puppies need to go out every 2-4 hours so no sleeping through the night until they are older. It definitely can be a trying process but it's all worth it! Good luck!

[Cuz5150]

Dude............? You got a puppy? Your life just got wayyyyyyyy complicated

[gtron]

Originally Posted by Demetrius Joel

my wife and I rescued a puppy from the shelter close to our home. I've never had a dog before. I pretty much have no clue on how to train them. Any recommendations? I want to crate train him.

firest, congrats and i'm jelly. i miss my dogs.

the fact that you didn't research how to train a dog before you got one scares me. i hope (s)he doesn't end up back at the shelter or abused.

please, take this very serious. you are now that living breathing animals whole world. it will look to you for love and to eat. (s)he can do nothing with out your help. read, watch videos, and go to training school. find a school that trains the owner rather than the dog.

if you do it, it'll be the best thing that could happen to you. i'm excited for you! good luck and enjoy all the new love!

[Chrisruf911]

Crate training is great because it makes the dog a whole easier to travel with and they potty train very easily. I've got a 1 1/2 year old pug/Pomeranian and I got him at 5 weeks. I started crate traing at about 8 weeks and he never pees or craps in the house. The key is to get the dog use to the crate. Make it a comfortable size and put a little bed in there. Keep the dog in there for an hour or two at a time and take him outside immediately after letting him out. This system worked great for my pup.

[UncleWede]

I really resisted when the wife wanted to throw the dog in a cage. She (the dog) really likes it now though. It's her little cave where she takes all her stuff to hide.

At night, I tell her it's bed time by closing the door and hanging my robe over the top. If she needs to go in the middle of the night, she knows to rattle the cage a bit and I take her out. ANY time I need to go, I take her out and we both take a leak in the back yard. She gets to crap out there, I still have to come back inside

[Billup]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I really resisted when the wife wanted to throw the dog in a cage. She (the dog) really likes it now though. It's her little cave where she takes all her stuff to hide.

At night, I tell her it's bed time by closing the door and hanging my robe over the top. If she needs to go in the middle of the night, she knows to rattle the cage a bit and I take her out. ANY time I need to go, I take her out and we both take a leak in the back yard. She gets to crap out there, I still have to come back inside

Technicaallllyyyy you can do whatever you want. Just make sure the following is your wifes turn to be on doodie duty.

[Sara]

So you rescued him only to put him back in jail.

[KingOfJericho]

It's not jail, it's a training tool. In the wild, animals put themselves into small holes and crevaces because it makes them feel secure.

I crate trained my dog and she was very quickly house trained. I second the notion that you need a crate with a movable divider. Make it just big enough for them to turn around but not big enough for them to shit on one end and sleep on the other.

[wrickem]

I've had dogs my whole life and I hated the idea of crate training any dog, but this one was so bad when he was young, we had no choice. In combination with Petsmart's basic training classes where him and I BOTH had fun and learned a lot, he grew to be the BEST dog I've ever had. After about a year, his cage started to stay open all the time , and he usually just hangs out in his "safe spot cage" if we're not around (if he's not curled up on the sofa). Good luck with your new addition!

[Mr Tonka]

I'm not a fan of crates for dogs. But as a first time dog owner i think it's going to be a very useful and effective tool for the OP.

Don't use it for punishment, it should be a place they like to be and feel safe in.

[Lups]

All my dogs have been almost completely house trained by the mothers before I got them
I respect the people who take rescues but I have always bought dogs who come from environments I can trust will work with the demanding family I have.

As many of you know, the first 8 weeks mold the dog more than a lifetime of mistakes made by us owners. As a hobby I've trained dogs all my life and I have seen what a bad early start does to these.

To the training: The easiest way to get any dog of any age to act as wished is to wear them out. Puppies are easy, it basically will require a little time in a park. Older dogs will need to be made to use their brains. Just make getting food a job and all will be fine also in house training.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

It's not jail, it's a training tool. In the wild, animals put themselves into small holes and crevaces because it makes them feel secure.

I crate trained my dog and she was very quickly house trained. I second the notion that you need a crate with a movable divider. Make it just big enough for them to turn around but not big enough for them to shit on one end and sleep on the other.

Is the dog behind bars? Its jail!

[jlstyle]

I had many dogs in my life and sadly never have successfully trained a dog.
My dogs were wild and never in order...I think there must be a special hidden skill set to train a dog. Or do I have a ghost in my back that only dogs can see??????

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Is the dog behind bars? Its jail!

Then I guess your daughter sleeps in jail as well...

[Sara]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Then I guess your daughter sleeps in jail as well...

My bed doesnt have bars!

[KingOfJericho]

Weird...

[Demetrius Joel]

Thanks for all the feedback. All he wants to do is sleep and cuddle.

[hova00]

I have crate trained all of my dogs when they were pups. Once the puppy learns not to pee and poop in the house then the crate goes away and they have free reign of the house when we aren't around.

I wouldn't recommend crating a dog for long periods of time and also keep in mind that you don't want a crate to large that the dog can do its business on one end and sleep on the other but like others have said please do some research and learn the proper training for your pet.

[2011CrazE89]

Originally Posted by Demetrius Joel

Thanks for all the feedback. All he wants to do is sleep and cuddle.

Pics of puppy?