Puppy Crate Training Routine

Welcome to puppy bootcamp. In this section we will go through a fantastic routine that will make your puppy the envy of all your friends! This section involves a lot of crate training. If you don't already have a crate, you might want to visit the crate pages on our website. We stock two different types of crate - the Fido Classic and the Fido Studio. The Fido Classic is a portable crate that you can use around the house as well as in the car, whereas the Fido Studio has been specially designed to be aesthetically pleasing, and so is a great option for the home.

Wake up: 07:00
Take your puppy outside to go to the toilet as soon as you come downstairs. The first thing puppies want to do when they wake up is empty their bladder.

First meal of the day with a side of crate training: 07.30 - 08.30
When you come back inside, offer your puppy their first meal of the day, along with a fresh bowl of clean water. Allow half an hour for you puppy to digest their food and then take them outside to use some energy and go to the toilet once again. Typically puppies need to go to the toilet between 10 and 30 minutes after they have eaten. Invite your puppy back into their crate to rest when you return, but you do not have to close the door if they are not entirely comfortable yet. Sit with them until they calm down, and then reward them. Hopefully your pup will want to rest, and they might even have a little snooze. If they fall asleep, close the door and supervise them until they wake up.

The Fido Studio is a great option for crate training your puppy in style!

Morning bonding: 10.30
Take your puppy outside to go to the toilet again, and then spend time with them indoors. It’s best if you can get the whole family involved so that they don’t get attached to just one person. Introduce play using toys, and fuss your pup as much as possible.

Midday meal: 12.00
Midday is your puppy’s second mealtime of the day. Make sure that you supervise them whilst they eat, and then prepare to take them outside to relieve themselves. Remember that puppies like to go to the toilet around 10 - 30 minutes after they have eaten.

Afternoon crate training: 14.00 - 14.30
Take your puppy outside so that they can relieve themselves again and give them a good amount of exercise. Once you have tired out your little pup invite them back into their crate when you return. Again, you do not have to close the door if your pup is not yet comfortable. Sit with them until they calm down, and then reward them once again. Hopefully your pup will fall asleep.

Evening meal and bonding: 17.00
Give your puppy their evening meal, and a fresh bowl of clean water. Try teaching your pup to sit and wait for their dinner until you tell them to begin. After they have finished eating, take your pup outside to go to the toilet. When you return indoors, spend some time bonding with them again. It is helpful if you can make this a daily family event so that the puppy gets equal amounts of attention from every family member.

Evening crate training: 19.00 - 19.30
Take your puppy outside to use a lot of energy. Play fetch with their favourite toys and run around with them so that they use all of their excess energy. This will help them to settle into the crate when you return, ready for the night ahead. When you get back to the house invite your puppy back into their crate. Sit with them until they are calm, and then reward them again. Your pup should fall asleep if you have given them enough exercise.

Bedtime: 21.00 - 22.00
Take your puppy outside to the toilet for one last time, and then put your puppy to bed in their crate when you return. This time you must close the door of the crate so that they don’t escape during the night. If they begin to whine it is important that you do not approach them otherwise they will think that they are being rewarded. Make a noise that they will associate with bad behaviour such as “tsst”, until they calm down. When they do calm down reward them with a treat.