We just got a cutie beagle pup. I would like to cage train her however I have not had a dog since I was a small child.
Answers:
Prepare the crate for the pup with a comfy place to lay down and a chew toy. We did crate training only at nite and once in a while when we needed to leave during the day time. When your pup is under 6 months, keep in mind that she can't hold it for very long, and even at nite, you will need to make sure she goes out every couple of hours to potty. By the time she's 4 months, she will likely be able to make it thru most nites without needing to go out.
The hardest part, is getting thru those first few nites of crying. It's so tempting to let her out to appease her whimjpers, but stick to it and soon she'll be a little happy camper and even come to enjoy her crate.
We only use a crate until our pups reach a point where the random chewing of everything stops and potty training is complete. Once that is done, we no longer use a crate.
Don't do cage training unless you really have no other choice. It is bad for dogs both physically and emotionally. If you feel the need to confine her to a small area, maybe you could just put up gates to the entrances of a room in your house.
Get rid of the cage. Find someone to take the dog and get a goldfish. You have no business with a dog. Cage training is for absolute idiots. I don't mean to be too hard on you, but get serious-what is the cage for? Do you plan to put the animal in a cage? Please do not do that.
Crate training is the best faver you will ever do for your dog.
Here is a good article that explanes both the how and the why of crate traing.
http://www.retrievertraining.net/crate/k.
Crate training is actually very comforting to a dog. They like the idea of knowing they have their OWN space. Also, you can never completely puppy-proof a home, so it's safest if they are kenneled when you are away.
Put the kennel in the living room. They don't like to feel excluded from the "action"!
Try to get a blanket with the mother's scent on it. If you didn't recently get the dog, use an old shirt. Wear it around for a day or so, to get it smelling like you. Put that in the kennel, along with some toys. I feed my dogs in their kennels, but I do not leave food in there. I feed them, then play with them, then let them out to potty, then put them to bed. Hope that helps some.
You're making a great decision by crate training your puppy. ALL of the professional trainers I know and work with recommend it.
After extensive research, I decided to create train both of my dogs and I thought it was wonderful. The dogs loved their crates and the only reason I gave them up was to make extra room in my house when they were no longer needed. The dogs still replaced their crates with a similar area - choosing to lay under furniture and in "den"-like areas. Make sure to not leave the puppy in for too long, expecially when the pup is young and the bladder is small. Also, never send the dog to the crate for punishment - the crate should always be a happy place for the dog.
You said you have a beagle - I'm sure you're learning that these are quite stubborn little puppies - very smart - so you must be consistent with whatever you do!
Good luck and give your puppy lots of hugs!!
Beagles are great, but stubborn as mules. When you do start training, don't give up!
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