Please forgive the crude photo, first of all.  This is Cha Cha, asleep on her back in her crate, this past August.  I’m sure you would’ve had no idea if I hadn’t explained it. (No worries – I have a new camera, better pics to come).

Ahem, back to business….

4 months old, in her crate

Prior to picking up Cha Cha from the breeder, I did my fair share of homework about the best way to manage a new dog. All of the literature I consumed – and this included websites, Yorkshire Terriers for Dummies, advice from friends – sang the praises of The Crate. I was informed that it not only helped behaviorally, but helped expedite housebreaking by leaps and bounds. Since one of my biggest anxieties was housebreaking my dog, I was all for it. So, I purchased Cha Cha a crate prior to picking her up.

It turned out to be far too small.

I purchased another crate, but I could not bring myself to keep her in there for long periods of time. At night, I’d coerce her into the crate with treats, shut the door, then go off to take a shower or get in bed myself. Sometimes she would whine, at other times she’d fix her bed (which is adorable to watch) and go to sleep. My largest struggle at that time was how to manage her during the day. I couldn’t fathom keeping her crated for the 10 hours I’m gone, besides she wasn’t old enough to hold her bladder all day. So I used my friends’ exercise pen. Cha Cha learned to escape from that…along with any other enclosure I used….enough to earn her the nickname “Shawshank”. By November, I had given up. I let her run roughshod all over the apartment and hoped I wouldn’t find a huge mess when I got home. She turned the dining room into her personal potty while I was gone. But since I was moving, I didn’t care so much.

In the same vein, BECAUSE I was moving, I knew I needed a better plan for my new residence. I decided to go back to the crate, and in addition purchased a spring-mounted puppy gate that she would not be able to squeeze through.  ($26 from PetSmart, best investment yet). I also purchased a water bottle that mounts to the side of the crate for my long days. Keep in mind, Cha Cha is now 9 months old and has the ability to “hold it” all day.

I was AMAZED at how quickly I began to see results. I sometimes feel terrible when I place her in the crate, but I return home and see that she is fine. I began with short stints — 2-3 hours at a time, just to get her acclimated to being in her “room”. I can count on one hand the number of accidents she has had since I began crate training…mind you, before this, accidents were a DAILY occurrence. So that is HUGE.

I keep her crate in the kitchen, which is also where she remains when the gate is up. I’ve interchanged using the gate and the crate…sometimes I’ll let her roam about the kitchen when I’ll only be gone a short time, and I’ll return home to find her laying happily in her crate. I will confess that she rarely goes in there voluntarily when she knows I’m about to leave, but I always give her treats and love. Now that she’s older, she understands that I am going to return.

My newest battle has been nighttime. I was letting her sleep in my bed, but she is so small that she often gets lost. I’ve found myself about to roll over on her a few times. Or I’ll wake up in the morning and find her on MY pillow. Or, I’ll be on the edge of the bed and she’s in the middle. Not to mention, I’d found myself rushing my morning routine trying to prevent any accidents from her before we go outside. For these reasons, I’ve revoked her bed privileges and have her sleeping in her bed…in the kitchen. She is less than happy about this. I’ll shut the gate and wish her a good night, and hear her whine and cry for another 15 minutes. It’s heartbreaking to hear — I have to turn up the tv — but eventually she stops and goes to sleep, without another peep until morning.

It’s not easy, and you’ll hear many differing views about crate training. But take it from me — it’s EXTREMELY effective!!!