Crate Training Our Vizsla Puppy
My husband and I were so excited to bring home our red, furry bundle of joy.
What we really brought home was a red, furry bundle of energy! We knew before purchasing a Vizsla from the breeder what we were getting into as far as energy level goes.
The breeder's best advice to us regarding our new Vizsla was to exercise her everyday and get and use a crate.
Life saving advice! In general, bringing any puppy home for the first time, is an exciting experience, especially for the puppy.
She will run around the house exploring every inch.
Our Vizsla puppy was no different.
In order for the three of us to all get along, we needed to institute structure for the new pup.
That is where the crate came in.
The crate needs to be big enough for the puppy to lie down, stand and turn around.
At the beginning of the training, we needed for the puppy to associate the crate as a fun and pleasurable place to be.
So we put a couple of toys and treats in there to lure her in there each time we wanted her to go in there.
Another option is to place an old t-shirt (or socks, etc.
) with your scent on it, so the puppy is more comfortable with a familiar scent in the crate.
A soft fleece blanket or bed for the puppy to lie on is also recommended.
The crate will be used for in-between doggie bathroom breaks outside.
Dogs, in general, do not eliminate where they sleep, thus making housebreaking a little easier.
During the day, let your pup play with you for a little while, while teaching the sit command or the down command (or other beginner tricks) in short sessions.
Take her outside to do her business, then bring her in and put her in the crate.
Only leave her in there for 45 minutes to an hour before you let her out again.
This will also allow you to attend to your day and get some chores or errands done.
Our Vizsla loves her crate, even now, as an adult dog and even continues to eat her 2 meals a day in her crate! She'll even go in there for her own rest or down time.
And, eventually, you will know how long in-between bathroom breaks she will need, and you can gradually wean her off the crate.
Always remember, to train with positive reinforcement rather than negative methods.
If you're having trouble training your new pup, consult a reputable dog trainer who uses positive methods.
What we really brought home was a red, furry bundle of energy! We knew before purchasing a Vizsla from the breeder what we were getting into as far as energy level goes.
The breeder's best advice to us regarding our new Vizsla was to exercise her everyday and get and use a crate.
Life saving advice! In general, bringing any puppy home for the first time, is an exciting experience, especially for the puppy.
She will run around the house exploring every inch.
Our Vizsla puppy was no different.
In order for the three of us to all get along, we needed to institute structure for the new pup.
That is where the crate came in.
The crate needs to be big enough for the puppy to lie down, stand and turn around.
At the beginning of the training, we needed for the puppy to associate the crate as a fun and pleasurable place to be.
So we put a couple of toys and treats in there to lure her in there each time we wanted her to go in there.
Another option is to place an old t-shirt (or socks, etc.
) with your scent on it, so the puppy is more comfortable with a familiar scent in the crate.
A soft fleece blanket or bed for the puppy to lie on is also recommended.
The crate will be used for in-between doggie bathroom breaks outside.
Dogs, in general, do not eliminate where they sleep, thus making housebreaking a little easier.
During the day, let your pup play with you for a little while, while teaching the sit command or the down command (or other beginner tricks) in short sessions.
Take her outside to do her business, then bring her in and put her in the crate.
Only leave her in there for 45 minutes to an hour before you let her out again.
This will also allow you to attend to your day and get some chores or errands done.
Our Vizsla loves her crate, even now, as an adult dog and even continues to eat her 2 meals a day in her crate! She'll even go in there for her own rest or down time.
And, eventually, you will know how long in-between bathroom breaks she will need, and you can gradually wean her off the crate.
Always remember, to train with positive reinforcement rather than negative methods.
If you're having trouble training your new pup, consult a reputable dog trainer who uses positive methods.
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