Crate Training
When it comes to housetraining your dog, the crate is your best friend. Don't view it as a cage or a jail (though it can become one if you abuse it). View it as a tool for housetraining and a safe haven that your poodle can call his own.
Getting Him Used to the Crate
From his first day home, your poodle's new life with you should include his crate. But if your poodle isn't thrilled with the crate, you can take some steps to make him more comfortable with it.
Leave the crate door open when he isn't in it. Every now and then toss a treat inside, so that when he walks by he'll smell the treat, go in, and get rewarded. If that's not enough to make him feel better about the crate, feed him his meals in his crate to change his associations with it.
If your poodle won't get anywhere near the crate, use a clicker to shape him into entering it. Start with rewarding even a tiny step in the direction of the crate (starting as close to the crate as he's willing to be). If he steps toward the crate, click and treat. Do it again when he makes another step. If he actually sticks his head in there, click, then shower him with treats (trainers call this a jackpot). Keep gradually sensitizing your dog to the crate, in short training sessions, until he's willingly going in.
Once he's in the crate, close the door for a few seconds, click if he's quiet about it, then let him out. If he fusses in the crate, don't open the door until he's quiet. Click the moment of quiet, give him a treat, then let him out. You want to reward quiet behavior in the crate, not fussing. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave him in the crate with the door closed.
Alert!
Because of their natural den instinct, dogs do not want to soil where they sleep. This makes a crate is a great tool for housetraining, since your dog will do everything she can to keep from having an accident in the crate. That's why it's imperative that you not leave her in the crate so long she's forced to soil it.
How Long Is Too Long?
Don't crate your poodle puppy for more than a couple of hours if he's very young. A rule of thumb is that a dog can be crated for one hour per month of age.
Be sure to give him something to do when he's in his crate. This way you can turn the crate into Disneyland, rather than Folsom Prison. Give your pup a Kong toy stuffed with his food or with peanut butter. He'll spend a happy hour or so cleaning it out and then will settle in for a nap. If your poodle has a special toy he likes to sleep with, put it in there with him for security.
Fact
The biggest mistake people make with housetraining is to let their dog out in the yard alone. You must accompany your poodle to the yard, watch her eliminate, then reward her. The rewards help your poodle understand what you want and motivate her to do her business outdoors.
Bedtime Crating
Until your poodle is fully housetrained, keep him in his crate, in your bedroom, while you sleep. (Again, ignore any protestations on his part.) Be sure to take him out to potty right before bed. And take him out again the instant you get up in the morning. If your puppy cries in the night and you think he needs to go out, respond quickly. Carry him outside to potty, praise him if he does his duty, and bring him right back in to his crate. Nighttime breaks should be about going to the bathroom and nothing else. If he cries after you've just taken him out and you're sure that's not the reason for his crying, ignore him. He'll settle back down.
Essential
Most dogs can last through the night without having to potty long before they have bladder control during the day. If you get up to go to the bathroom in the night, however, be prepared to take your poodle out too. If you've awakened her, it's only fair to offer her the opportunity to relieve herself.
Beyond Housetraining
Once your poodle is reliably housetrained, don't put away his crate. The crate is more than a housetraining tool. It's a safe refuge your poodle can use his whole life. A side benefit to having your poodle accustomed to being in the crate is that you'll be able to crate him when workers come to the house or when you just need him not to be underfoot. You'll also be able to take your crate with you when you travel with your poodle and know he's comfortable in it.
If your poodle objects to being crated, ignore his objections. Don't yell at him or whack the top of the crate. (Can you imagine a better way to promote bad associations with the crate and destroy it as a safe haven?) And by no means should you let him out while he's complaining. Any of these reactions will promote future complaining. Only let him out of the crate when he's being quiet.
