Training Your Dog To Use A Crate

Crate training your dog

There are many advantages to crate training your puppy or adult dog.  Most important is that it uses a dog’s natural instinct as a den animal.  A wolf or a wild dog’s den is his home, place to sleep, hide from danger, and where they raise a family.  The crate becomes your dog’s den when he is introduced to it correctly.

In addition to being an effective housebreaking tool, the crate can also reduce separation anxiety and keep him from dangerous or destructive behavior if he is running loose in the house.  A dog or puppy will use his crate as a little cave, or den, to feel safe and secure.  It will serve as a refuge for him from scary thunderstorms and is a safe way to transport him when traveling.

A crate should never be used for punishment, because he may come to fear it and refuse to enter it.  Also, your dog should never be in his crate for too long a period.  If a dog is crated for long periods, he can become depressed or anxious without exercise or human interaction. The best advice here is to take your dog for a good, long walk or an extended play time before he goes into his crate.  Puppies under six months of age should not be in the crate any more than three or four hours at a time, because they cannot hold their bladders for that length of time.  The same would apply to an older dog who is being housetrained.

Crate your dog with the door shut until he can be trusted not to destroy your house.  After that, it should be a place where he will go to voluntarily.

Types of crates vary, such as plastic (flight kennels), fabric on a collapsible rigid frame, and collapsible metal pens, and they are available at pet supply stores, pet supply catalogs, or online.

The crate should be large enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.  If your puppy is still growing, choose a crate size that will accommodate his estimated adult size.

Two important things to remember about crate training

1 .The crate should always be associated with something pleasant. Using small treats, praise, and a positive attitude are all important in beginning the crate training process.

2. The training should be done in small steps. Crate training may take days or weeks, depending on your dog’s age, temperament, and his history. It is very important to remain calm and patient during the process.

Placement and “Furnishings”

Treat the crate as if it is your dog’s furniture, and place it in a part of your house that he frequents and where you and the family spend a lot of time. Place a soft blanket or a dog bed in the crate, along with his favorite toys.  Some people put a worn shirt or piece of their clothing inside the crate so that the dog will sense a familiar scent.

Introducing  your dog to the crate

Keeping the door open during the first part of the process, place some of his favorite treats just inside the door of the crate.  Place the treats further and further toward the back of the crate so that he will learn to go all the way in and then praise him when he comes back out to you.  Use this to eventually get him to go willingly into the crate and then come back out, all the while praising him when he enters and also when he exits.  Be patient, as this part of the process may take days.  Please watch the video below to see how wonderfully this works!

Cesar Milan recommends feeding your pup in the crate as soon as he is willing to enter because this will help in teaching him to stay inside for extended lengths of time. Try placing his bowl in the back of the crate, and if he won’t go all the way back to eat start with the bowl closer to the front and eventually move it to the back with successive meals.  This is when he advises that the door can be shut during the pup’s meal.  When he is finished, open the door immediately the first time and then leave it shut a few minutes longer with each meal.

Extending the crate time

When your dog is in his crate without signs of stress, it’s time to lengthen his stay.  Put a favorite toy or treat in the crate, encourage him to enter, and then close the door.  Stay nearby for a while, then go into a different room for a few minutes so that he gets used to being alone in his crate.  When you return, sit nearby and do not open the door immediately.  Keep increasing the time of this process until your pup is able to stay in his crate for a half hour without your presence nearby.  When he’s able to do this you can begin leaving him crated for short periods when you leave the house.  Remember not to make your departures emotional or prolonged, but praise him for entering his crate and then leave quietly.  Keep your arrivals quiet and low-key to avoid his anxiety over your return.  Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you’re home so that he doesn’t associate crating with being left alone.

Crating your dog at night

If you want to crate your dog at night, use the same process with a treat and a command that you have created for him to associate with the crate.  You may need to move the crate into your bedroom or nearby if you have a pup who will need to go outside and eliminate during the night.  You’ll want to be able to hear him when he whines or barks to be let outside.   Older dogs who are crated at night should initially be kept nearby so that they don’t associate crating with social isolation.

Leaving and returning

The key is to keep the crating process completely normal and avoid excitement, both when you are leaving and on your return.  Encourage your pup to go into his crate and briefly praise him when he does.  When you come home and let him out of his crate, stay low-key and ignore any excited behavior that he may show.

Important Info

• Very young puppies under 9 weeks should not be crated, as they need to eliminate frequently
• Except for overnight, neither puppies nor dogs should be crated for more than 5 hours at a time (6 hours maximum)
• NEVER use the crate as a form of punishment. This will cause fear and resentment of the crate.
• Do not allow children to pet or handle your pup in his crate. This is his private sanctuary and it should be respected.
• Be sure that your pup has had some good exercise and has fully eliminated before going into his crate. This will avoid accidents in the crate.
• Cold water should always be available to your dog in his crate if he will be in there for more than two hours. A hamster-type water dispenser with cold water can be attached to the crate bars.
• Very Important!  Always remove your pup’s collar before putting him in his crate. Even flat buckle collars can get caught on the wire mesh or bars of the crate.  Use a safety, or break away collar if you must use a collar on your dog.  These are made by KeepSafe and PetSafe and are available on Amazon.com and Chewy.com.

• You may find that once your dog grows up, he will still prefer his crate for resting or “hanging out”, and some crates allow for the removal of the door once it is no longer used for the purpose of training.  In these cases, some dog owners have placed the crate in a place in their home where it is unobtrusive and is a part of the decor.

A crate can become your dog’s comfy den

Good luck in training your pup to use and love his crate!

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