How to crate train your dog. Dog crates can be a great way to give your pet a safe space and keep them secure in the house at night and even transport them. Sign up to our newsletter. Training your dog to use a crate Our vets have put together some advice on how to crate-train your dog.
Step two — feeding and closing the door Once your dog is happily spending time in the crate without any worries, you can start to feed them their meals in the crate. Step three — increase the time the door is closed As your dog gets used to the door being closed while they eat, you can gradually increase the amount of time the door is closed for. Step five — staying in the crate outside feeding time Once your dog can happily stay in their crate with the door shut after eating and you can step away from their side, you can start to train them to be in the crate outside of feeding time as well.
How to use a crate Once your dog is relaxed spending time in their crate, you can use it for longer periods such as overnight or while you are out. Top tips for crate training Always be consistent and persevere. Never use the crate as punishment. Make sure your dog has access to their crate most of the time so it becomes part of their environment, rather than only going in when you are out.
If your dog starts whining, barking or getting excited while the crate door is closed, try to wait until they stop then reward them for quiet behaviour. If your dog seems stressed or anxious at any point in the training, go back a step. Let your dog out to go to the toilet before putting them in their crate for any period of time to avoid accidents.
Reward-based training Our vets recommend using reward-based training to train your dog. Read more. Clicker training Clicker training can be a great way to train your dog - remember to only used reward-based methods. More info. Tasty treats Thinking of using treats for training? Shop now. It's easy to do! This is just teaching your dog that the sound you make means to perform that behavior.
Repetition is key here, as well as consistency on your part. Don't change your verbal cue halfway through, and try not to repeat the verbal cue this tends to be the hardest part for us humans.
While it may not happen the first time, the goal is to be able to leave your puppy in a closed crate for 15 minutes without stress. You can build up to this longer duration a few different ways. Combine the two techniques below for the fastest crate training process.
Use a stuffed Toppl or Kong toy as the reward for getting into and staying in the crate. Place the toy in the crate with them and then shut the door briefly. Aim for just seconds or so to start. Then open the door, trade them for the toy using a few treats outside of the crate, and remove the stuffed toy. Hang out near the crate doing nothing for about 10 seconds, and then repeat!
Add on more time in the crate with the door closed as they progress. My favorite stuffable toys for crate practice are the Kong and the West Paw Toppl. The Kong is a classic it's literally in the name but heads up that it can take some practice for dogs, and especially puppies, to learn how to "de-stuff" a Kong. If they aren't successful, the small opening can cause frustration and they then lose interest in stuffed toys.
I usually begin with the Toppl, which has a larger opening and is easier to get all the yummy stuff out before increasing the difficulty level with a Kong. Bonus: the Toppl is also easier for us humans to stuff and then clean after each use, and both are dishwasher safe!
Similar to how you shaped getting into the crate, you can shape adding duration and staying in the crate. Don't worry about clicking for a longer time in the crate, focus instead on intermittently dropping a treat in the crate as you slowly increase the duration. Here's a video showing Fozzie Bear practicing duration:.
Notice how I give him a treat inside the crate after I open the door? I love how he doesn't just rush out of the crate the instant the door opens, so I want to reward that nice stay behavior! Repeat Step 3, except increase distance instead of duration. Close the crate door with your puppy inside, walk halfway across the room, return, open the crate and make a trade for the puzzle toy or drop a treat in the crate. Repeat this until you are able to walk out of sight and return without your dog feeling stressed.
Check out Fozzie Bear in this video where I introduce adding distance. You'll notice that I start with just leaving some yummy chews in the crate, but since he wasn't interested in them during this session, I switched to scattering treats in the crate instead. Add duration to the distance. Start with increments of 15—30 seconds while you walk around the house in and out of sight until you reach 5 minutes.
Then increase to 5— 10 minute increments at a time. Your dog should be enjoying their toy or food puzzle and seem comfortable. If not, make the step easier by leaving for a shorter amount of time, before extending the duration to make it more challenging again.
Once your dog is comfortable being left in the crate for 15 minutes with their toy or food puzzle, you can start adding additional elements to the training:. Crating your puppy at night is often the best choice when it comes to sleeping arrangements. Doing so benefits their potty training and helps build a solid sleeping schedule and routine. Not to mention that it keeps them safe and out of trouble if they decide they want to explore and chew on things while you're asleep.
As your puppy matures and after they are completely housetrained, then you can think about whether having them sleep in the bed with you or on their own bed on the floor works best for your preferences and lifestyle. At its core, a crate is a great short-term way to train and manage your dog, while building a safe, cozy space for your pup that makes him feel more secure.
It can also be helpful in potty training and for limiting access to parts of the house as needed. While crate training a puppy may take time and effort, it has benefits for dog owners, too.
While training can be easier on younger dogs, when done correctly, you can train dogs at all ages to feel comfortable in their crate. Pet supply stores and online vendors sell a wide variety of crates in all sizes and materials including plastic, wire, and mesh. Each style has its own advantages: wire crates are portable and collapse for storage, whereas plastic crates are great for travel, and feel especially den-like to your pup. And finally, mesh crates provide privacy and are great for travel, but some dogs tend to chew through them.
Nastanski recommends putting it in a room where you spend a lot of time, but away from foot traffic. Set it up with a bed, a blanket, and one or two toys. Draping a blanket over a wire crate can also create a more den-like feel for your pup.
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