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Watch as Expert Dog Trainer Kathy Santo talks about how to crate train your puppy. She’ll go over everything from the philosophy behind the crate training method to precautions you should take to make sure that it’s a positive experience for the both of you.
Hi, I'm Kathy Santo with IAMS, and today we're going to talk about how to crate train your puppy. We'll begin with a general discussion on the philosophy supporting the crate training method. We'll review what you'll need, the steps involved in the process itself, and some possible troubles you may encounter along the way. Before you begin crate training, it helps to understand the philosophy behind this method. If your dog is properly crate trained, he'll view his crate as a private room with a view, a safe haven he can call his own, and a quiet place he can relax in. He won't see it as a rigid structure of confinement and punishment. In fact, it'll be just the opposite. In nature, wild dogs seek out and use their den as a home where they can hide from danger, sleep, and raise their young. In your home, the crate becomes your puppy's den, an ideal spot to sleep and stay out of harm's way. And for you, the benefits of crate training are house training, because your puppy won't like to soil the area where he sleeps, limited access to the rest of the house, where he learns the house rules, and transporting safely and easily in the car. Start crate training a few days after your puppy settles in. Before you can start crate training, you and your family members must understand that the create can never be used for punishment. Never leave your young puppy under six months in his crate for more than three hours. He'll get bored, have to go to the bathroom, and won't understand why he's been left alone in discomfort. As your dog gets older, he can be crated for longer periods of time, because his bladder isn't as small. But keep in mind he still needs a healthy portion of exercise and attention daily. If you and your family are unable to accommodate your puppy's exercise, feeding, and bathroom needs, consider hiring a dog walker or asking a neighbor or friend for assistance. After that, the crate should be a place he goes into voluntarily, with the door always open. There are a variety of crates available for purchase these days, each of which is designed for a different lifestyle need. When selecting a crate, you want to make sure it's just large enough for your puppy to be able to stand up, turn around, and lay down in comfortably. Because your puppy will grow quickly, I often recommend getting a crate that fits the size you expect your puppy to grow to, and simply block off the excess crate space, so your dog can't eliminate at one end and retreat to the other. The two most important things to remember while crate training are that it should be associated with something pleasant, and takes place in a series of small steps. The first step is to introduce your puppy to his crate. This will serve as his new den. Put bedding and chew toys in his crate, and let him investigate his area. If he chews or urinates on his bedding, permanently remove it. Observe and interact with your puppy while he's acclimating to his crate. This will help forge a sense of pack, and establish you as the pack leader. Encourage him to enter the crate with soft words and some treats. You can also pre-place some treats in the back corners and under the blankets to help make it a pleasant experience. Step two is to start feeding your puppy in his crate. Begin with the bowls near the opening of the crate. As your puppy becomes less reluctant to enter, slowly inch the food back every feeding, until you're placing it all the way in the back. When you get to the point where your puppy happily enters the crate, and stands in the back to eat, begin gently closing the crate door behind him while he's eating. At first, open the door immediately after he finishes. But after that, begin leaving the door closed a bit longer every time. If your puppy cries, you may have increased the time too fast. So decrease the length of it, and then slowly begin increasing it again. When he does cry, do not let him out until he stops, or he'll always do this to get his way. Once your puppy is used to eating his meals and waiting to be let out with no anxiety or crying, you can start confining him longer when you're home. To do so, call him over with a treat, and give it to him in his crate. Associating a command such as 'kennel' is important, so he understands the reward is a result of going in the crate. At first, you'll need to sit quietly next to him. If he's fine after 10 minutes, go into the other room for a bit, and then come back and let him out, only if he is calm and not crying. If he is crying, you'll have to wait until he's calm. Once you can leave him for about 30 minutes at a time without him getting upset, you can start leaving him there longer. Eventually, decrease the amount of reward you give him for entering the crate, so that saying the command word is sufficient. When you get home after being away for a long time, your puppy will likely be very excited to see you. It's important not to reward this behavior, or anticipating your arrival every day may be stressful for him. And lastly, make sure to crate your dog for short periods of time while you're home, or else he will associate crating with being left alone. I'm Kathy Santo with IAMS, and I hope that you found this helpful as you welcome your new addition to your family.
When it comes to maintaining the overall health of our dogs, we often overlook the importance of their gut health. This is where canine probiotics and prebiotics come into play. These are beneficial microbes that reside in your dog's gastrointestinal system, aiding in food digestion, fighting off potential pathogens, and bolstering the immune system.
Probiotics for dogs, derived from the Latin word 'for' (pro) and the Greek 'life' (bio), are friendly bacteria and yeasts that are essential for your dog's health. They are designed to restore and maintain a healthy balance of microflora in your dog's gut. The types of bacteria usually found in canine probiotics include:
Prebiotics may sound like the opposite of probiotics, but in reality, the two go hand in hand. Prebiotics are nutrients that nourish and promote the growth of these good bacteria already living in the colon. They are essential in ensuring that probiotics function at their optimal best.
Probiotics are a necessary addition to a dog’s diet. Here are a few benefits of this nutrient:
They are generally used when the balance of microbes in a dog's gut gets disrupted due to stress, dietary changes, or antibiotic use, leading to health problems including digestive upsets.
Probiotics for dogs have been shown to help manage diarrhea and improve gut health. They work by restoring the balance of good bacteria in your dog's gut, which can be disrupted due to various factors.
The benefits of probiotics for dogs extend beyond just good gut health. They can also aid in reducing the need for antibiotic treatment and shorten the duration of diarrhea. In fact, a 2009 Irish study found that supplementation with a specific strain of Bifidobacterium Animalis reduced diarrhea duration from seven to four days.
The answer is yes. Puppies can benefit from dog-specific probiotics. These can help them develop a balanced intestinal bacteria ecosystem, support a healthy immune system, and reduce the occurrence of diarrhea, constipation, and infections of the digestive tract.
Yes, it's critical to consult your vet before introducing probiotics or prebiotics for dogs into your pet's diet. There are many probiotic preparations out there, and not all of them are of high quality and backed up with evidence. Your vet will be able to advise the best option for your dog.
As the importance of gut health in dogs becomes more recognized, various supplements containing canine probiotics have emerged. One such supplement is our IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Digestive Health Supplement. This soft-chew food supplement is a blend of prebiotics and probiotics that ensures healthy digestion.
If your dog has been experiencing signs like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or vomiting, it might indicate that their digestive system is not functioning properly. In this case, a probiotic supplement with Bacillus Subtilis and Fructooligosaccharide can be a good investment. They help degrade organic matter in the feces, reducing ammonia production and fecal odor as well as nourish the good bacteria in the colon of the dog.
The benefits of probiotics for dogs are substantial. They help maintain a healthy gut, which plays a vital role in your dog's overall health. By incorporating probiotics into your dog's diet, you're taking a step towards ensuring that your furry friend leads a healthier, happier life.
