If you’re reading this, chances are you love your dog.
However, we have to remember that even though dogs are a part of our family, they are not human. They don’t always think the way we do. We probably wouldn’t enjoy chewing on sticks or peeing on trees, either, but that’s what their instincts tell them to do.
If crate training is done right, they will welcome the crate and view it as a den. It is meant to be your dog’s safe space, somewhere they can go when they feel overwhelmed. It’s a place for them to calm down and have quiet time.
Additionally, crate training can be a huge help when it comes to curing dogs of separation anxiety and house training.
The Humane Society agrees that dogs possess a natural instinct to search for a quiet place when they feel stressed. If no one tells them how to handle their anxiety, they’ll find less-than-ideal outlets, such as chewing on furniture, digging at doors, or barking excessively. This is especially true when you aren’t home and available to offer guidance. By crate training, they know exactly what to do and where to be when you aren’t there.
The American Kennel Club points out that crate training is a helpful potty-training tool because dogs do not want to go to the bathroom where they sleep. If your dog makes a mess in the house while you’re out, crating them may be the solution.
There are some important tips to keep in mind while crate training your pup:
- Make sure you choose the right crate.
Wire crates are the most popular choice, and unless your dog needs to be fully enclosed, they work just fine. Make sure you choose the right size. The dog’s crate should not be too small, but having too much room can be a problem, too. Namely, your dog will have a corner in which to use the bathroom.
We recommend a crate with inserts that allows you to adjust the size. That way, one crate can last from puppyhood to adulthood.
- Start slow and be positive.
Do not put your dog in the crate for eight hours on the first day. Take it slow. Give them a few days to explore the crate before shutting the door. Then shut the door for a few minutes. Reward calm behavior in the crate. Slowly work your way up to a few hours at a time, and make sure you don’t leave them in the crate for so long that they soil themselves.
- Be patient.
Depending on your dog’s age and temperament, crate training may take 6 days, or it may take 6 months. Just know that it’s worth the time and effort to give you the peace of mind that comes with a crate trained dog. It’s also worth it to your pet, who will have a calm and quiet place of their own in your home.
To be absolutely sure you succeed in all of your crate training goals, it’s best to hire a trainer. For all of your North Carolina dog training needs, there is no better choice than Sally Said So! Our in-home training is backed by vet referrals, and, more importantly, client referrals.
Contact us today for all of your North Carolina crate training needs!
The First Rule: Never Punish an Accident
Before anything else, this. The experts at Fetch by WebMD are clear that you should never punish a puppy for having an accident. It makes them afraid of you, and it sends a message you did not intend.
Think about what your dog actually learns. You wanted them to understand that going to the bathroom in the house is the problem. What they often conclude is that going to the bathroom at all is the problem — so they start hiding it from you, which makes housetraining considerably harder.
The same applies to rubbing a dog's nose in a mess. They cannot connect something they did twenty minutes ago with what is happening to them now. All they learn is that you are unpredictable.
If you catch your dog in the act, interrupt with a "No!" or a clap, then take them straight to where they should be going. Attach a potty command to the act, and reward every success in the right place — a treat, or simply praise and a pat.
How Often to Take Them Out
More often than most people expect. With a young dog, until they get the hang of it, that can mean every thirty minutes to an hour.
A regular feeding schedule makes a real difference here, because it makes your dog's needs predictable rather than a guessing game. As The Spruce Pets puts it: what goes in comes out.
One caveat on the crate itself. There is a small chance a dog will still defecate in there, and occasionally clean it up themselves. Unpleasant, but it is almost always a scheduling problem rather than a training one — it means they were left longer than they could manage.
Crate training and housetraining are the same project. A crate gives your dog a den — a safe, quiet place of their own — and that instinct to keep their den clean is precisely what makes housetraining work. This guide covers both.
Crating Your Dog
The crate will be used when you cannot supervise your dog. The crate should be a sanctuary, NOT a form of punishment. If you follow our advice, your dog will see their crate as a positive, calm, and quiet place. Set it up in a quiet area away from the busiest parts of the house. If that isn’t possible, you can cover the crate with a light sheet or blanket. If you cut off visual stimuli, it reduces anxiety about not being able to be with everyone. We will use “crate” as the command to go into the crate, but you can use any other command word that comes natural to you. Have a few treats handy for this process.
- Walk up to the crate with your dog on leash. Toss a treat into the back of the crate. Allow your dog to walk in at their own pace. Praise them when they walk in and allow them to come right back out. Repeat 10 times.
- Toss a treat into the back and when your dog steps into the crate say “crate.” Repeat 10 times.
- Your dog should anticipate a treat being thrown at this point. Act like you’re throwing a treat into the crate, but don’t actually throw the treat. Say “crate” at the same time. Your dog will go in and when it turns to face you praise it and give it the treat. Repeat until you can say “crate” with a pointing motion to the crate and your dog goes into the crate consistently.
- Ask “crate” and when your dog goes in close the door briefly. Reward through the bars. Say “release” and open the crate door. Repeat 10 times.
- Ask “crate,” close the door, praise your dog, and ask “sit.” Your dog will now learn to stay in the crate until released. When your dog sits, open the door. If your dog gets up before you say “release,” close the door. Basically, butt on the ground makes the door open, butt off the ground makes the door close. Repeat opening when your dog sits and closing when it breaks the stay until you can have the door open fully without your dog trying to escape. Say “release” and praise your dog.
- Teaching “sit” at doors works the same way. Sit = door opens / Getting up before being released = door closes ; you can do this at your front door, back door, etc.
- Wean off food by randomly rewarding your dog with food and mostly using verbal praise or petting.
You will send your dog to its crate by asking “crate” and you will take he or she out of the crate calmly by opening/closing the door depending on if it is sitting or trying to get out before being released.
Now you can crate your dog and release it from the crate calmly! Being able to crate your dog without anxiety when you’re home is a practical skill. Dogs with separation anxiety improve significantly with constructive crating. We find that separation anxiety develops while you’re with your dog and manifests when you’re separated. The best way to solve this is to make separation normal in a positive way.
*Not every dog will respond to crating positively. If this is the case, your trainer will recommend appropriate alternatives or methods for your dog.