Crate Training
When determining if a dog was eligible to stay with me for Campus Training, I always ask if the dog is crate trained. A “crate-trained” dog will enter the crate when told, remain in the crate for reasonable periods of time without barking, scratching, or pawing, and exit the crate calmly.
I am a trainer who loves crates! I love them because I know that my dog and my home are both safe when I’m out. Being free and alone in the house can be stressful for a dog—especially a dog or pup that is new to your home. Your dog’s attempts to alleviate his own stress can result in reactive barking at people and vehicles passing outside your house, potty accidents, scratched doors, chewed furniture, and potential injury to your dog. If your dog is getting enough exercise every day, he or she doesn’t need to be free in the house while you’re out. However, even if you are eventually planning to allow your dog freedom in the house, you are doing your dog a disservice if you do not do some basic crate training. All responsible trainers do it. Vets do it. Groomers do it. Boarding facilities do it. You should do it too, because at some point, your dog will need to be crated. With the right preparation and training, your dog can be conditioned to view crate time as a calming, positive experience.
CRATE FAQs
Can a dog be too old to crate train? No dog is too old to crate train. Of course, it is ideal to introduce your dog to the crate as a puppy. But if you have an adult dog with no crate experience, you can still crate train.
What size crate should I use? The crate should be big enough for your dog or puppy to turn around in, but small enough that they cannot use one end for sleeping and the other for “accidents.” If you are starting with a puppy that will change dramatically in size, you may want to look for the style of crate that has a divider that can adjust the space of the crate as your puppy grows to adult size.
Should I put a bed in the crate? Until you are confident that your dog will remain comfortable and calm, do not put bedding in the crate. Anxious dogs or young pups might chew –and eat–the bedding, leading to a trip to the vet. Once your pup has matured out of the chewing stage or your adult dog has acclimated to the crate, you can put in a pad or bed.
How do I introduce the crate? Generally, use food or treats to introduce the crate. Give the crate command and toss a treat so your dog enters. At the beginning, release your dog almost immediately. Repeat this process at intervals throughout the day. Gradually increase the amount of time the pup or dog stays in the crate. Every time my dogs go in their crates. they get something to nibble on. If they are only in there for a short time, maybe it’s a cookie; longer times require more entertainment, so a bully stick or Kong with a frozen treat in it will do just fine. In addition, puppies should be fed all of their meals in the crate. This way the crate becomes a good place to go. If your puppy walks away from the bowl with food in it, then remove the bowl until your next scheduled feeding. Water should be offered 5-6 times per day but never left in the crate.
How long should my dog be crated? A young dog or puppy can hold its urine for 20 minutes for every month they are alive. So, a 3-month-old puppy needs to go out at least every hour. Plan your time out of the house accordingly. If you can’t be home, you MUST find a dog walker or sitter to take your pup out and give him exercise until he is older. By six months, your pup should be able to be crated for two hours at a time. By a year, your dog should be able to be crated for 4-6 hours if necessary.
In addition to meeting your dog or pup’s potty needs, the key to successfully increasing the time on crating is making sure your dog is mentally and physically tired when you place him in the crate. Remember that physical activity alone will not tire your dog. You must also tire him mentally. Whether you take a long walk or throw the ball in the yard, incorporate training and mental challenges and stimulation. Physical activity alone only increases stamina. Truly tiring your dog requires physical and mental exercise.
The first extended crate session should be when you are at home. Give the dog or pup a bully stick or chew treat and leave the room. Try to return and release your dog before the chew is done. I like to open the door while they are still enjoying it because I don’t want to release them when they are finished and impatient and excited to get out. That reinforces that good things happen inside and rewards the stay instead of the come.
Similarly, if you are using a crate with a puppy, do NOT wait until they are barking or crying to alert you to the need to go out. Instead, set an alarm for yourself to take the puppy out before the need to go out becomes urgent. This way you are not teaching your dog that vocalization will get the door open. That being said, it is inevitable, that some pups are going to express their displeasure at being left alone. Your puppy must learn to settle. If you have introduced the crate, know that he has a bully stick, that he has relieved himself outside and that he has enough physical and mental exercise, let him cry it out for whatever time period you have worked your way up to. He must learn to be OK being alone.
Do I need to crate at night? Yes, you need to crate your puppy at bedtime as well. If you let him sleep in your bed, he is going to have an even harder time adjusting to the crate. I always have a crate in my bedroom and another in the main part of the house. If you need an extra crate, you can find crates used on Facebook most of the time. If you purchase a second-hand crate, make sure that it is secure and disinfect it when you bring it home.
What else should I do? Practice crate time with the door open. As part of my Platform Training Program, puppies and dogs learn to stay in the crate when the door opens with a command like stay or wait. The treat is always given while he is still in the crate not upon calling him out of the crate. If you practice the stay while the pup is in the crate with the door open and you are in the room, he is less likely to associate the crate with your departure. This training also reinforces that he should not charge out of the crate when you open the door.
Make sure the crate is in an area that minimizes external stimuli. As much as possible, crate your dog where he cannot hear the mail truck, passers-by, or other noises or motions that will cause a reaction. Do provide some low-level background noise. I always have the radio or television on when my dogs are in the crate. I don’t want them sitting alone in silence. If it’s evening, there is always a dim light on somewhere for them. Ambient noise and light can be reassuring and will reduce their reaction to outside noise and motion.
As often as possible, incorporate a go to crate command in your training sessions. Even if you are not doing a full training session, send your dog to his crate at various times throughout the day. Begin by luring the pup to the crate by tossing a treat in and then reward with another treat in the crate and release. In time, your dog will anticipate the treat and go to the crate on command without you tossing a treat in. Reward this behavior in the crate and release. The more times your dog associates the crate with positive outcomes, the smoother your crate training will be. As with all training, repetition and consistency are key!
At what age can I stop crating? Every dog is different. Dogs with anxiety may need to be crated whenever you are out of the house. However, even if your dog is calm, you should continue using the crate on occasion to ensure he continues to have positive associations. Some of my clients find that they keep the crate available with the door open throughout their dog’s life because it is the dog’s “spot’ where he can go and get out of the action and chill. Like any training tool, your goal should be to have your dog accept and understand the appropriate behaviors, so you can use the tool when you need it. Teaching your dog to go to the crate on command, remain in it calmly, and exit calmly, reinforces the basic behaviors that you want to foster in all areas of his life.
The crate can be your best training tool if you start it off on the right foot. And ensuring that your dog has ongoing positive associations with a crate ensures that whatever circumstances arise, the crate is a source of comfort, not additional stress.