Crate Training Your Puppy

How to Crate Train Your Puppy / Adult Dog

Crate training can be synonymous with potty training, but not all dog owners use crates solely for housebreaking purposes, though it certainly does help. Unless you work at home, odds are you’re gone for a good portion of the day, and crate training your dog gives her a safe place to be while you’re away from the house.

Since dogs are “den” lovers – i.e., they like a safe, secure place to sleep – crate training is a natural way to feed the dog’s natural instincts. However, actually executing this can be hard, especially if you’re starting with an adult dog or an unusually unruly puppy.

The keys to crate training your dog are the same as achieving any other desired behavior: timing and consistency. Consistency is very important in crate training – whether you’re starting with an 8-week-old pup or an older dog – because at first the dog will most likely try any and all behaviors in order to NOT be inside the crate. Fighting the crate – at first – is normal, because even though dogs are den-dwellers, maybe your pup didn’t want to be a den-dweller right now. In other words, you’re exerting your authority over the dog and it’ll be an adjustment. (Even with an older dog which might be very well-behaved, because this is a new behavior.)

First of all, whether you have a young puppy or an older dog, start by placing the crate or kennel in a family-friendly environment – where you and the dog normally hang out. (I.e., not in the deep, dank corner of the basement where you most likely don’t enjoy spending time.) Open the crate door, and leave it be…in the middle of the living room, by the dining room table, wherever, and go about your business.

The dog will most likely be curious but hesitant to venture inside, but this is ok. This is the “acclimatization” stage. Once your dog is used to seeing the crate, to the point where he doesn’t spook at it or give it a wide berth anymore – which could take some time – place his favorite toy or treat inside. Then walk away. Don’t make a big deal of it – if he goes in, he goes in. If you want to stay there and wait until he does go in to praise him, that’s fine – but keep in mind you’ll most likely be holding your breath (or exhibiting some other form of anticipation), and dogs are VERY adept at reading body language, so you might actually be imparting to him a sense of nervousness which he’ll then associate with the kennel.

After the dog goes in and out of the crate without hesitation, start closing the door while she’s inside. To start, only close the door for a few seconds, then praise her when she’s quiet (if she makes noise at all), then let her out again. Be sure to stay in the room with her, but keep increasing the amount of time she’s inside and praise her for being quiet, then let her out.

If the dog makes noise while inside the crate, stay in the room but ignore him until he quiets down. Then praise him and let him out. This could be the hardest part with some dogs – especially puppies – as they’re not used to being held against their will somewhere and will probably let you know they’re not happy! They can do this by barking, whining, howling, scrabbling or biting at the kennel walls, but be strong and don’t give in – this is where being consistent pays – because if you do, the dog will have just learned that when he makes any type of noise, you’ll cave and let him out.

Once your dog can quietly and calmly remain in the crate (with the door closed) while you’re in the room, start leaving for brief intervals. You might have to start the process over again, since now the new element is being inside the crate and all alone in the room. Repeat the drill as before – praise the dog when you come back into the room and she’s still quiet; then let her out. This will – gradually – wean your dog away from the anxiety of being in a place all by himself. Again, dogs like secure, cozy places for sleeping so this is reinforcing nature.

The part most people find the hardest is to outwait the puppy – or even an adult dog – while they’re barking / howling / whining in the crate. It can be hard to ignore your dog, but you must let them know being in the crate, calm and quiet, is the desired behavior, and that nothing will happen no matter how much of a din they create! Timing is important, because a) you want to gradually increase the amount of time the dog is in the crate, but b) you don’t want to inadvertently let the dog out if they start to bark / make noise.

If this is done correctly, you’ll find that the amount of time your puppy makes noise in the crate will shorten and (sometimes gradually) stop altogether. Eventually, you’ll find your dog will enjoy their time in the kennel, as again, it’s in their nature to seek out safe and secure places. In fact, if you leave the crate door open all the time – as you should – you’ll notice your dog will voluntarily go in to relax or sleep in the solitude of their “den”.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, crate training can also be used for potty training your puppy. The same concepts apply, but instead of merely wanting a place for your dog to remain quietly while you’re away, you also want them to be learning to hold their bladder/bowels for longer periods of time.

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