Can you hear that?
The howling of a puppy somewhere in the back of the house is like nails on a chalkboard. Is she lost? Was it the signal to be let out? Come to think about it, where is the puppy? When you let her have the run of the house, you may not have been thinking about where she might end up on her sniffaris.
In searching for her, we waste time and energy, and unfortunately likely find a gift we need to clean up. It doesn’t take long, but we often end up questioning our decisions to give her so much space.
- Potty messes
- Chewed furniture
- Disappearing footwear
For many people, the solution is to lock the puppy up in the bathroom.
Unfortunately, that often leads to other issues like anxiety which GSPs are prone to.
Instead, crate training is your answer. You may eventually move to the bathroom, but in the beginning, a crate is your best option.
Training your puppy to use a crate is one of the best things you can do for her. By getting her comfortable with the crate, you do many things:
- Provides a safe space – Giving a dog a safe space is important, whether they’re 8 weeks old or 8 years. A crate doesn’t have to be locked for them to enter.
- House training – Dogs don’t like to go to the bathroom where they sleep. By limiting your puppy’s space, you can help potty train them.
- Safety – There are a lot of things around your house that aren’t safe, like staircases, power cords, and front doors. A crate will keep your puppy from getting into trouble while you’re away.
- Ease of Travel – A crate doesn’t necessarily have to be in your house. Having a crate in your car will make it easier for you to travel.
- Self-soothing – GSPs are prone to anxiety. A crate teaches your puppy that being alone isn’t the end of the world.
Crate training is one of the three most important things you can teach your puppy. Taking the time to understand the process is the first thing you should do when you bring her home. Be prepared for it so she can learn from day one.
