It is very important that your attitude toward using a dog crate is a positive one ~ Remember, that you are doing your puppy a courtesy. "Crate training" will reduce fear, insecurity, and stress related problems for your puppy. It is also the fastest, most effective way of house breaking your puppy. Use a crate which is large enough for your puppy to stretch out, stand up and turn around comfortably ~ but not too big ~ or he'll have one spot for sleeping and one spot for elimination. The whole idea is that we don't like to sleep in a "yukky" area.. Keep the crate in a semi-private spot in a "people" area such as the kitchen or family room. This spot should be away from drafts and direct heat. Well before bedtime, place the pup in the crate and offer a treat. Close and lock the gate. Immediately establish a routine, using the crate for nap times and whenever the puppy must be left alone ~ 2-3 hours at the most. Take puppy directly from the crate to your chosen outside elimination spot, praise his performance, and go directly inside. The puppy will then be able to make the association. Your relationship with your puppy will be enhanced if you keep his life structured. Treat any resistance to crate confinement in a "no nonsense" manner. Remember, you are not being cruel. At the first sign of any separation responses ~ such as barking or howling ~ intervene with a sharply raised voice. The idea is that the pup associates its behavior with the startling raised voice. Some pups will not respond to a raised voice, but most will respond to the sounds of a shaker can ~ a coffee can with a few coins ~ or a newspaper slapped sharply against a door. Usually the pup settles quietly in the crate after three to eight attempts at emotional responses. After the puppy is quiet, keep it inside for about 10 minutes. Do not praise the pup immediately after releasing it. This can reinforce the desirability of leaving the crate. After an interval of 30-45 minutes, repeat the procedure. Extend the pup's quiet time to about 30 minutes. Then gradually extend your absent periods, and in a short time, you can be gone for several hours. Provide soft washable bedding ~ such as a towel or bath mat ~ and one safe chew toy in the crate. Other than treats, do not put food or water inside the crate. Remove the collar and tags to prevent possible entanglement. Each time you take your puppy out of the crate ~ take him ouside where you want the elimination to take place. It is very important to be patient & wait until the process has been completed ~ then praise your puppy. Feed the last meal of the day early in the evening & give no water after 8:00 P.M. if you can avoid it. Remember that a puppy's bladder is very small ~ so there is a need to take outside at least every 2-3 hours for the first few weeks. Always take your puppy outside immediately after leaving the crate, and after every meal , and after every drink of water, and after every play session ~ yada, yada, yada! ~ Decide on one word for your entire family to use regarding elimination. Consistency is the key here. "go potty" or "do your business" works well. Just be sure whatever you use is consistent. Night Time Hints: Your puppy should have already been put in the crate for his short crate training period. Just before you retire for the night ~ take him outside again ~ no nonsense ~ just "go potty" and back to bed. (After you praise him & kiss him good night , of course.) Put him back in the crate. If he cries (or I should say "when" he "howls" it will probably tear at your heartstrings. Just keep telling yourself that you are teaching him to be a good puppy and it is in his own best interest. Move him to the most remote area of your house if need be ~ and most importantly ~ resist the temptation to put him in bed with you. All puppies personalities vary but take heart ~ there is light at the end of the tunnel. You just can't see it yet. Cockapoos are very social, people oriented fuzz butts ~ that's why people love us so much ~ but we are also brave & durable & we will survive a few hours alone in a crate if you give us the opportunity. You will need to get up at least once during the night to take him outside ~ (for 2-3 weeks at most) Remember his bladder is very small. He won't want to have an accident and if he does, it is usually because he was physically incapable of holding it any longer.You will quickly learn to distinquish between the two types of sounds he makes. One is the "I'm lonely ~ please let me come sleep with you" cry ~ the other is much more franctic - sort of an "I have to pee" type of cry. When you take him outside in the middle of the night ~ again ~ "No Nonsense" ~ Just "go potty" - praise - quick kiss on the head - and back to sleep. Night! Night! - end of story until morning. In the morning it is best to save the "Hi Puppy" - "I love you" - "I missed you so-ooo much" routine until you have used the "no nonsense approach" concerning elimination. Take your puppy outside as usual - then praise after elimination - then do all the huggy, kissy good morning stuff. Remember ~ you don't want to make too big of a fuss upon release from the crate ~ it should a "matter of fact" kind of thing. Treats: It is best not to reward with a treat everytime for house breaking. We appreciate verbal praise & a pat on the head just as much. Puppies have the need to "go potty" several times daily. That's an awful lot of treats - and could lead to a really chubby puppy. It's best to keep the weight down ~ especially while the joints are still growing. Treats will no doubt be used as a reward during obedience training sessions - sit, stay, come, down,, quiet, etc. That's fine when done in moderation. It's really not that difficult to crate train & house break your puppy. We cockapoos are especially intelligent in these matters. Hey, I learned didn't I? ~ I hope this helps! Love, *Hanson* xxx--ooo--xxx P.S. Just an after thought ~ Some people have found that their puppies calm down much faster if the crate is placed in the bedroom next to the bed. If this works for you after all else has failed ~ great! Whatever works ~ works! If you run into problems ~ email my Mom & Dad ~ They are really nice people & they would be happy to try to help. They taught me everything I know... *smile*

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