Western Mass
Dog Training
DIY Puppy Guide
and Reference Library
4) Crate Training
Crate Training Dos
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Start by being next to the crate whenever your puppy is crated. Your puppy needs to know you are there when first learning to relax in the crate.
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Be available to offer physical touch (but no eye contact). If your puppy whines, reassure it by letting it smell and touch your fingers, but don't engage with eye contact or your puppy will anticipate attention.
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Crate when unsupervised: Always use a crate or confined space when your puppy is unsupervised to prevent learning bad behaviors and ensure safety.
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Gradual introduction: follow a gradual crate training protocol to instill positive associations, introducing the crate in small, incremental steps to help your puppy love its crate.
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Versatile training tool: leverage the crate for multiple training objectives, including teaching impulse control, frustration tolerance, appropriate car behaviors, door manners, and relaxation, and for preventing separation anxiety and undesirable behaviors.
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All-encompassing crate activities: initially, direct all meals and indoor enrichment activities into the crate, encompassing play, training sessions, and food toy usage. This strategy fosters positive associations by associating all enjoyable experiences with the crate.
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Pre-crating relaxation: engage your puppy in activities that tire your puppy before crating, ensuring a calmer state before crate time.
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Addressing past negativity: Assess and address any previous negative crate experiences, gradually reshaping your puppy's perception.
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Manage whining appropriately: If it could signify a need to eliminate, promptly potty your puppy and swiftly return it to the crate without any rewarding activities or speaking during the break.
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Correct crate size: Ensure the crate's size permits comfortable standing, turning, and lying down without additional space for potty accidents.
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Remove collars and gear: These can get caught on the crate and create a hazard.
Crate Training Don'ts
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No punishment in the crate: Ensure the crate remains a positive space for your puppy.
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Don't force your puppy into the crate and leave it: Gradually condition your puppy to enjoy crate time by having them sleep next to you while in the crate. Keep your fingers in it if necessary to soothe your puppy, but avoid eye contact.
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Don’t assume your puppy has a positive crate association: Always work on reinforcing positive associations.
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Never let puppy out if it is whining or barking. It will learn immediately that is how it gets out. If you think your puppy has to go, don’t provide any positive attention, eye contact, or rewarding activities during the break.
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Don’t use the wrong crate size: Provide enough space for sleeping and turning around comfortably, but no more.
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Don't exceed crate duration: Ensure your puppy isn’t crated beyond its capacity to 'hold it.' (See “Potty Training” page). Puppies should never be left home alone all day in a crate.
Overview
Crate training is invaluable for managing and training puppies, especially for fostering relaxation and a regulated nervous system. It's crucial in situations without supervision and facilitates easier boarding arrangements while preserving your sanity.
Puppies need extensive crate time for rest and learning. They need approximately 18 to 20 hours of sleepper day! Hyperactivity often indicates overtiredness; a well-rested puppy is more attentive and well-behaved. Start training sessions post-nap for enhanced receptiveness.
Conditioning your puppy to enjoy crate time with you nearby before teaching your puppy to be physically away from you is crucial. Eventually, your puppy will need to learn to be comfortable being alone in the crate, but first it needs to get comfortable with confinement. Dogs are naturally "den" animals and should enjoy a safe space for sleeping, however, they are not naturally "alone." Therefore, you want to separate the training into two stages: first, teaching the puppy to enjoy sleeping in the crate with you nearby, then independence from you.
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After your puppy can get deep rest with you being present near the crate, you will gradually increase the distance from you when crated - first in the same room, then leaving the room. This "independence training" is essential for raising a stable dog. If your puppy is constantly at your side or always in your direct sight, it can lead to severe separation anxiety and potentially result in destructive behavior and professional training expenses in the future.
Avoid reinforcing unwanted behaviors, and establish an elimination schedule ahead of your puppy's immediate needs. This approach helps differentiate genuine needs from protests or stress-related fussing while in the crate. Refraining from rewarding such behavior avoids sending the wrong message, steering your puppy away from associating unwanted actions with attention.
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Our first-line protocol for crate training:
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Start conditioning your puppy to the crate with the door open: Begin with some training time for as long as your puppy can focus, then a little playing, and then some outdoor time on a long line.
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Return and continue engaging with them in the crate until they start to get sleepy: Use food and chew toys, and games from the “Redirect and Distract with Games” page. If you need to, keep putting them back in the crate until they eventually fall asleep, staying by their side with the door open.
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Address whining with physical touch/no eye contact during the first week. While you are establishing your routine the first week, your puppy will want to know where you are at all times. That's okay. Be sure to be right next to the crate, and comfort them if they whine by putting your hand in the crate for them to smells and touch. A portable crate with a handle is ideal for moving around the house! Don't make eye contact, as that can arouse them into hoping they will come out for attention with you.
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Quietly close the door after they fall sleep: Stay next to them while they sleep and open the door when they wake up, and potty them.
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Schedule naps every hour or so for puppies under 12 weeks: Always let your puppy out at an energetic low point (not during any protesting), but try and push them to stay in for the time you had planned. As they get older, time between naps can gradually increase over time.
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Transition to creating some distance once you puppy enjoys relaxing in its crate. Once your puppy is accustomed to sleeping in the crate and feeling safe when they wake up, you can start putting small distances between you and the crate during naps.
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Trouble shooting tips:
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Allow some protesting: Minimal intervention encourages emotional self-regulation. Consider giving them up to 10 minutes to work through their emotions.
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Implement "place" training within the crate if necessary: Refer to the “Relaxation” library page for guidance. Gradually progress by closing the door and extending duration over time.
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If your puppy exhibits self-mutilation, destroys bedding, or displays panting, it indicates excessive stress. Revert to a more gradual training approach outlined in the additional resources at the end.
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Teaching door manners​
Once acclimated to the crate, train your puppy to wait at the crate door for a release cue (OK, free or break, along with a body gesture). Use this method to teach them to wait at other doors too.
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Follow these steps:
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Use a ‘Wait’ command: Open the crate door while instructing your puppy to wait.
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Enforce waiting behavior: Gently close the door whenever they move to exit.
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Reinforce calm behavior: Repeat closing the door until your puppy waits calmly. Ideally, until it offers a sit and eye contact.
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Release with a verbal command and body gesture: Open the door and let your puppy exit.
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Practice at all doors: Apply the same technique getting in and out of the car, going outside, etc.
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Additional resources:
Article on incremental conditioning approach: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/training/dog-crate-expectations/.
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Article on additional conditioning: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/training/crate-training-to-keep-your-dog-content/
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Podcast on getting through the night: https://dogsthat.com/podcast/48/