WHY CRATE TRAIN?

• Dogs instinctively want to seek shelter, even in the house. If not provided they will create it themselves under a table, chair or bed.
• Crates are the quickest and easiest way to housetrain your dog. Your puppy's mother has already trained him not to eliminate in the den. Most dogs will do anything to avoid eliminating in their dens. Therefore, confining your puppy in his crate for scheduled periods of time encourages him to "hold it." You can make the crate more den-like and safe with crate covers and bumpers. 
• eBay store  PetDreams  sells three piece cratewear sets (crate cover, mat pad and bumper) that also comes with a free detailed crate training brouchure.
• When traveling in your car, crates provide safety for you, your passengers and your dog. Using Crate Bumpers protects your dog during sudden stops and turns.

WHEN TO CRATE TRAIN?

• Puppies usually arrive at their new homes at 8 weeks of age. Just like babies they cannot control their bladders until they mature. This is usually between 3 and 6 months. Be patient and expect accidents. Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior!
• Introduce your puppy to his crate the first day he arrives home. The best time is when he's tired. You can put treats and toys inside the crate, which will entice him to go in on his own. When he enters the crate give him a lot of praise. You can use a special word or phrase for his crate such as "go to crate" or "go to bed" and he will soon understand.
• Always keep a close watch on your puppy. Until he's housetrained, it's helpful to keep him on  a leash when he's not crated. This way he cannot sneak off and have an accident when you are not looking.
• NEVER put housebreaking pads of newspaper inside your crate. It is important to take advantage of your puppy's natural instinct not to soil his den.

PLEASE REMEMBER:

Crates are the fastest and most humane method of housetraining a dog. However, they are not comfortable and they can be unsafe. Cratewear can provide your dog with the Safety & Comfort he deserves. In addition, Cratewear makes the kennel attractive in your home and transforms it into a lifetime den your dog will love!

Please DO NOT abuse the crate. Like you, dogs do not want or deserve to be locked up all day. Once your dog is properly trained his kennel door should be left open or removed for him to come and go as he pleases. We also recommend using Plexiglas on top of the crate (but under the crate cover) to provide a table-like surface to be decorated. Crates are a dog's room, NOT their house. If you're having trouble housetraining a dog please contact us and we will be happy to find help near you.