Ashwin Lewis
Crate training is a popular method among dog owners for providing a safe, designated space for their dogs. It mimics the natural denning instincts of dogs, offering them a cozy and secure environment to rest. Crate training can also be an effective tool for house training, preventing destructive behaviors, and helping dogs feel calm during stressful situations like travel or vet visits. Crates make house training easier because dogs don’t like to soil their sleeping areas, so they will naturally avoid eliminating in their crate. However, some dog owners prefer to let their puppies sleep with them in bed. While this can strengthen the bond between owner and pet, it’s not always the best option for every dog or owner.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleeping arrangement | Crate, bed, or dog bed |
| Crate training | Mimics denning instincts, offers a secure environment, aids house training, prevents destructive behaviour, helps dogs feel calm during travel or vet visits, teaches bladder and bowel control |
| Crate training puppies | Easier to adapt to crate training, can quickly associate crate with comfort and safety |
| Crate training adult dogs | May take more time to adjust, may be more resistant to crate |
| Crate training process | Introduce crate, feed meals in crate, practice with longer crating periods, crate dog when leaving, crate dog at night |
| Crate size | Should allow dog to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably |
| Crate bedding | Should be soft and warm |
| Crate duration | Puppies under 6 months old should not be crated for more than 3-4 hours at a time, adult dogs should not be crated for more than 10 hours total per day |
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What You'll Learn
Crate training benefits
Crate training is a vital part of bringing a dog into your home and has many benefits for both puppies and older dogs. Here are some of the advantages of crate training:
Safety and Security
Crate training can give dogs a sense of security and peace of mind to owners. Dogs instinctively seek small spaces to create protective shelters for themselves. Crates provide a safe haven for dogs, satisfying their natural denning instinct. It helps them learn to self-soothe and deal with anxiety during stressful situations such as fireworks or thunderstorms. Crates also allow dogs to retreat to a familiar space when tired, unwell, or stressed.
House Training and Toilet Breaks
Crate training is an essential part of housebreaking puppies. Dogs instinctively keep their sleeping areas clean, so they learn to hold their bladders while in their crates. This makes house training easier and helps prevent accidents at night or when left alone.
Travel and Transportation
Crate training is beneficial for long-distance travel or vacations. It makes car rides more pleasant by allowing dogs to lie down and sleep without distracting the driver. It is also crucial for air travel, as many dogs need to be contained in crates when flying.
Emergency Preparedness
In an emergency, being able to quickly and efficiently evacuate your dog is vital. Crate training ensures your dog can get into a crate without hesitation, saving crucial time. It also reduces the risk of your dog getting lost or injured during an evacuation and increases the likelihood of your dog being able to stay with you in a shelter.
Vet and Grooming Visits
Crate training can make vet or grooming visits less stressful for your dog. It helps them feel more comfortable and secure in a confined space, which is often necessary during these appointments.
Illness and Surgery Recovery
Crate training is beneficial for dogs recovering from surgery or dealing with illnesses like incontinence or arthritis. It helps them relax and reduces the risk of accidentally aggravating their injuries.
Behaviour Management
Crate training can help prevent destructive behaviour and provide a safe space for your dog when you have guests or young children running around. It also allows you to confine your dog when needed, such as during mealtimes or when you have people over.
Rescue Dog Adjustment
For rescued dogs, a crate provides a safe and familiar space to adjust to new surroundings. It gives them a sense of territory and security, which is especially important for dogs with a traumatic past of neglect or abuse.
Hunting Dog Comfort
Crate training keeps hunting dogs comfortable during hunts and transport. It also benefits hunters by keeping wet and muddy dogs contained.
In conclusion, crate training offers numerous advantages for both puppies and adult dogs, including safety, security, house training, travel, emergency preparedness, and behaviour management. It is a valuable tool to ensure the well-being of your dog and provide them with a comfortable and calming space of their own.
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Crate training drawbacks
Crate training is a highly debated topic, with many dog trainers believing it is a good way to teach a dog boundaries and behaviours, and others seeing it as too harsh. It is important to consider the drawbacks of crate training before deciding whether to use it.
Physical Frustration
If a crate is too small, it can cause a dog physical frustration and stress. This can lead to excessive licking and the development of stress sores. A dog may also experience stress on its limbs if it is unable to stand properly in the crate.
Emotional Distress
Dogs, like humans, do not like being confined and can experience emotional discomfort and maladaptive behaviour if kept in a crate for too long. Prolonged isolation can lead to extended emotional discomfort and result in a dog developing a dislike for people.
Danger of Poor Assembly
If a crate is not assembled properly, it can collapse and cause physical harm to the dog. It is important to build the crate to the manufacturer's specifications to avoid this risk.
Inadequate Ventilation
Crates with bars that are too close together can restrict airflow and cause extreme discomfort for the dog. This can be particularly problematic for larger dog breeds, as they require more airflow to support their breathing.
Danger of Collar or Leash
If a dog is wearing a collar or leash, there is a risk of these getting caught on the bars of the crate, leading to strangulation. It is crucial to remove any collars or leashes before placing a dog in a crate.
Bladder Control Issues
Puppies under six months of age and adult dogs being housebroken should not be kept in a crate for more than 3-4 hours at a time, as they may not be able to control their bladders and bowels for longer than that.
In conclusion, while crate training can be an effective tool for dog owners, it is important to consider these drawbacks and ensure the crate is used in a safe, appropriate, and humane way.
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Crate training alternatives
Crate training is a popular method for keeping puppies calm, assisting with potty training, and keeping them safe and contained when travelling. However, some puppies may struggle with being in confined spaces, and there are alternative methods to help your puppy settle into your home.
Exercise Pen
An exercise pen provides more room for your puppy to move around, and can include all their essentials such as food, water, bedding, and toys. It also has space for a potty surface, reducing accidents in the house. You will need to train your puppy to get comfortable with being confined in the pen, especially if they will be in it for long periods.
Tethering
Tethering your puppy to you using a waist leash or other hands-free system allows you to catch accidents before they happen, and turn everyday activities into training activities. For example, you can train your puppy to lay quietly at your feet while you eat, or sit before greeting a family member.
Trailing Lead
If you don't want to have your puppy physically attached to you, you can use a trailing lead instead. This allows you to quickly gain control and redirect your puppy if they get into trouble. However, there is a risk of your puppy getting tangled around furniture, knocking things over, or tripping family members. To minimise these risks, use a nylon training lead without a handle, and ensure your puppy wears a harness.
Pet Sitter, Dog Walker, or Doggy Daycare
If you are unable to supervise your puppy directly, you can hire a pet sitter or dog walker, or send your puppy to doggy daycare. This option provides supervision, training, and assistance during the transition period, and can be ideal for dogs with separation anxiety or specific training needs. It also has the added benefit of socialising your pup with new people and other dogs.
Supervise at All Times
This option is the most difficult to perform successfully, and generally requires multiple family members to take turns. It is especially important during potty training, as accidents in the house can prolong the process. You will also need to puppy-proof your house by tucking away cords, covering trash cans, and picking up loose objects.
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Crate training adult dogs
Crate training can be a very useful tool for dog owners, and while it is often associated with puppies, it is possible to crate train an older dog. The process may be slower than with a puppy, but it can be done.
Reasons for Crate Training an Adult Dog
Crate training can be beneficial in a number of situations. It can be useful for safety and preparedness in emergencies and natural disasters, as well as for safe transportation and travel. It can also make trips to the veterinarian easier and safer, and can provide a safe space for your dog in stressful situations. It is also useful for confining your dog during illness or injury recovery.
Challenges of Training Older Dogs
Older dogs are creatures of habit, and it may be necessary to help them unlearn old habits before they can learn new ones. Training an older dog can be more challenging than crate training a puppy, as puppies are more open to new experiences. Adult dogs may also have negative associations with crates from past experiences, and will need extra patience and positive reinforcement during training. Senior dogs may also require modifications to the crate training process due to physical limitations or cognitive changes.
How to Crate Train an Older Dog
Choose the Right Crate and Location
Select a crate that is large enough for your dog to comfortably stand, turn around, and lie down in. If your dog is anxious, a plastic or wooden crate that provides more coverage may be best. For senior dogs with arthritis or mobility issues, choose a crate with easy access and a low step-in entry. Place the crate in a quiet, low-traffic area, such as a bedroom or living room, so your dog doesn't feel isolated.
Form Positive Associations with Treats
Leave the crate door open and toss treats inside to establish positive associations with the crate. Most dogs will enter the crate if treats are tossed towards the back. If your dog hesitates, try tossing treats into the middle of the crate instead. You can also hide extra special treats, like marrow bones or bully sticks, in the crate for them to discover.
Serve Meals in the Crate
Once your dog is comfortable entering the crate for treats, start feeding them their meals inside, still with the door open.
Try Closing the Door
When your dog is happily entering the crate for a food lure, you can start closing the door for very brief periods. Start with a few seconds, then let them out. Continue to toss treats into the crate to help them feel more comfortable.
Work up to Longer Periods of Crate Time
When your dog is content with being crated for a minute or two, you can start building up to longer periods. Give them a frozen stuffed KONG or other long-lasting and high-value chew to work on in their crate, which can provide 15-20 minutes of distraction. Gradually add a couple of minutes of crate time per training session, and start to briefly leave the room while they are crated.
Troubleshooting
If your dog is whining excessively, you may have moved too fast. Go back a few steps and slow down the process. Leaving the door open while tossing treats in can help build trust. If your dog has had negative past experiences with crates, try using a crate cover to shut out stressful stimuli, or a pheromone product to keep them calm.
When to Seek Expert Advice
If you've tried all the recommended steps and your dog is still struggling, you may need to seek advice from a professional trainer or veterinary behaviorist. There will be some dogs who simply cannot adjust to a crate, such as those with separation anxiety or confinement phobias. In these cases, you can skip crate training and use a dog-proofed room or another style of confinement instead.
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Crate training puppies
Crate training is a popular method among dog owners for providing a safe, designated space for their dogs. It can be an effective tool for house training, preventing destructive behaviours, and helping dogs feel calm during stressful situations like travel or vet visits. Crate training can also teach puppies to control their bladder and bowel movements, as they don't relieve themselves in the same space that they sleep.
The Introduction
When you bring your puppy home, provide them with ample opportunity to eliminate outside before bringing them indoors. After a bathroom break, place them in the area you have set up and toss a few treats into the crate. Let them explore their new space and resist the urge to force them to enter the crate. Eventually, they will walk into the crate and discover the treats. Praise them for going into the crate and continue to reload it with new treats for them to discover at least 10 times a day for the first week.
Feeding and Kongs
Teach your puppy to associate their crate with good things by feeding them every meal in the crate. You can stuff a Kong with their food and put it in the crate, hand-feed them in the crate through the bars, or simply put their food bowl in the crate. This will teach them that they get wonderful things in the crate. It is important to leave the crate door open while you teach them to associate the crate with positive experiences.
The First Few Nights
A puppy's first night in your home may be stressful as it is likely to be their first night alone. Most puppies are malleable enough to take a small crate training shortcut: have your puppy sleep in the crate each night. After their bedtime potty break, put them in the crate with a cozy bed and toys, and turn off the lights. Resist the urge to go back to them if they start whining. If you give in to the whining or barking, they will learn that it gets them attention and will cry longer and louder next time. Your pup will soon settle down and go to sleep.
Teaching Them to Spend Time in the Crate
Help your puppy continue to associate their crate with good things by giving them stuffed Kongs, Nylabones, or new toys only when they are in their crate. Stuff a Kong with peanut butter or cheese whiz and put it in the crate with your puppy, occasionally shutting the door. Any time they go into their crate on their own, praise them and drop a few treats into the crate. Before you know it, your pup will choose the crate as the preferred place to sleep in and chew on their toys.
Slowly Increasing the Time Alone
It is important to slowly increase the amount of time your puppy spends in their crate. Keeping in mind their age and how much time they can spend alone, start to expect longer periods of time crated. Crate them while you watch a television show, then let them out for a potty break and playtime. Remember to always provide them with a stuffed Kong, chew toys, and soft bedding when they are in the crate.
Teaching Them to Go in the Crate on Cue
You want your puppy to learn to go into their crate on cue so that as they grow, you don't need to physically put them in the crate. Toss treats into the crate while providing a hand signal and/or verbal signal for them to enter. When they do, praise them and reward them with more treats. Use your hand signal and/or verbal signal whenever they go into the crate, followed by a reward, and soon they'll learn what they mean!
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Frequently asked questions
Crate training is a popular method among dog owners as it provides a safe, designated space for their dogs. It mimics their natural denning instincts, offering a cozy and secure environment. It can also be an effective tool for house training, preventing destructive behaviors, and helping dogs feel calm during stressful situations like travel or vet visits.
Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your puppy's age, temperament, and past experiences. The first step is to introduce your puppy to the crate by placing it in an area where your family spends a lot of time. Put a soft blanket or bed inside and let the puppy explore the crate at their leisure. Encourage them to enter the crate by dropping treats nearby and then just inside the door. You can also try feeding them their meals inside the crate to create a positive association. Over time, gradually increase the length of time they spend in the crate.
Sleeping with your puppy can strengthen the bond between you and your pet. Puppies are used to sleeping in a warm, snuggled, co-breathing pile with their littermates, so sleeping with them can recreate that feeling of comfort and security. If you follow certain rules, such as limiting food and water intake after a certain time and having a long play session before bed, your puppy may be able to sleep through the night without needing to go to the bathroom.
Dogs don't sleep through the night like humans do—they shift, move, kick, readjust, and jump on and off the bed. If you're a light sleeper, this could disrupt your sleep. Puppies who aren't house-trained might also leave you an unwanted gift in the middle of the night. Additionally, once your puppy gets used to sleeping in your bed, it may be difficult to transition them to sleeping alone in a crate or dog bed later on.
