We will cover the steps to successful nighttime crate training in the next section in detail. Because first, we need to enlighten pet parents like you about what perks night time crate training brings to the table.
I. Provides Safety & Security
A crate serves as a secure den for your puppy. This is where they can retreat if feeling overwhelmed or anxious. It keeps them from wandering off unsupervised at nighttime when everyone is supposed to be sleeping – saving them from potential accidents. When a puppy is young, leaving them out at night would be the same as leaving a baby out of their crib at night.
II. Preventing Destructive Behavior
Some dogs have behavioral issues that can cause excessive chewing or any other kind of destruction. Crate training them means limiting their horizon to create havoc. Since nighttime is unsupervised time, confinement is the safest option to prevent destructive behavior and potential hazards.
III. Helpful In Night Time Potty Training
The best tool to potty train a puppy at night is a crate. Dogs have a natural instinct not to soil their place of sleep. Based on this, a crate helps dogs control their bladder and bowel movements. Since they associate their crate with their den, they do their best not to soil it, thus aiding in potty training.
IV. Lets You Have A Peaceful Night Snooze
Nighttime crate training makes sure that you and your pup snooze like a pair of synchronized snore machines. A cozy den gives your puppy a safe and secure space that relaxes them and keeps those midnight mischief urges at bay. In return, you get to have that undisturbed slumber you were aching for. Sweet dreams guaranteed!
The Golden Rules Of Crate Training You Should Never Forget
Crate training your pup for the day routine and night routine has different approaches but the basics remain the same for both. So before we jump in into the whole night training process, here is a little reinforcement of the basics of crate training.
See if you are following these important rules.
1. Not Using It As A Punishment
A crate should not be used as a punishment. Period. You don’t want to associate their “me time” nook with fear. So it should never be used as a place of penalizing or as a direct result of any wrongdoing on their part.
Using a crate this way will have a negative effect. This might accidentally make our puppies dislike or even fear the crate when we’re actually trying to teach them that it’s a cozy and comfortable spot.
Here’s another way to go about it. If you know you’re going to be super busy and won’t have time to keep an eye on your puppy, it’s best to put them in their crate ahead of time. This way, you’re stopping any naughty shenanigans before they happen, instead of reacting afterward and punishing them by putting them in the crate.
2. Choosing The Right Crate Size
This is crucial and can make or break the situation. Yes, we are talking about the size. Make sure your dog is safe and comfortable while choosing the right size. The best way is to measure your dog from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.
Similarly, in a sitting position, measure them from the floor to the top of the head. Add 4 inches to both dimensions. A crate should be big enough for your puppy to sit, stand, and turn comfortably. That’s it. Bigger space means more chances of accidents that you intend to avoid.
Some crates come with a handy divider. When you have a puppy, you can use the divider to create a smaller space inside the crate. This helps with potty training by limiting their movement area. Once they’re fully grown, you can easily remove the divider and give them the whole crate to stretch out and relax in.