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Returning home from a hard day's work, among the most priceless things one can look forward to is a poo- and pee-free couch, slippers, table legs, etc. But in terms of your budget, it is hardly priceless at all since it can be made possible by consistent, vigilant and firm crate training. A dog with proper Cockapoo training will think of the crate as a safe and secure place to spend time in whenever needed.
But, if anything can possibly go wrong in crate training, the following list sums up where Murphy's Laws can ruin things.
Too Much Time In the Crate: This best applies to those who view the crate as a cure-all solution. With improper use, the crate makes the dog feel trapped and frustrated. A dog crated all day while you work and at night, too, to sleep essentially is cramped over a very long period of time. A puppy under six months of age ought not stay in a crate fr more than three or four hours at a time. Their bladders and bowels are too immature to be in their control for longer periods of time.
Whining: If your dog whines or cries to be let out at night, then it is either because it wants to be outside the crate (and stay near you), or it wants to be let outside in order to "go." Remember though that the dog is capable of testing you, so ignoring the whining for several minutes can do the trick. But should the dog's whining continue after it has been ignored for several minutes, then try to use the phrase the dog has come to associate to its going out to poo or pee. If the dog responds excitedly, then there is indeed a reason to bring the dog outside. In any case, struggle to resist bringing the dog out if your convinced it does not need to eliminate; otherwise the dog will learn what it takes to overcome you. Yelling and pounding the crate also will only make things worse.
Separation anxiety: A crate as a remedy to separation anxiety may fall under Cockapoo training, but it requires consulting the right experts and some very careful planning. Without the planning part, a crate may indeed trim your dog's destructive potential, but it may hurt itself trying to bolt the crate. You may want to consult a professional animal behavior specialist for help.
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