Protection Dog Sales - Blog

Crate Training 101 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The subject of crate training is a common one in my private dog training practice. There are many reasons to use a crate with a new puppy. Some are good, some are bad, and some are ugly.

One good reason for crate training is making the safety and well being of the puppy your first concern. When you bring a new puppy into a new environment, it takes time for the puppy to adjust and learn the ways of the world. For the puppy’s own safety, it is best that the puppy be confined when you are not there to supervise them.

Another good reason is habit. Dogs are creatures of habit. Establishing good habits quickly with a new puppy or dog will make training much easier and minimize stress on both the puppy and the owner. By crate training, you have very strict control over what behaviors the puppy can and cannot do in your absence. Bad habits such as chewing and house soiling have no chance to become established.

A bad reason to crate your puppy is the belief that your puppy will learn something from being crated. They will not learn anything. Controlling a puppy does not teach the puppy the right thing to do. You will still have to teach correct behavior. However, controlling the puppy does allow you the time to teach without taking chances with their safety and without putting pressure on yourself to watch them all the time.

Crating will not housebreak your puppy. You will still have to take the puppy outside and reward them for going in the right place. Later, when they are old enough to be held accountable for their behavior, they will need to learn that using your house as a bathroom causes discomfort. In short, crating will not teach your dog to be housebroken, but it will control the puppy and give you time to establish good habits that lead directly to housebreaking and reliability in the house.

An ugly reason to crate your puppy is punishment. Using the puppy’s crate, his home away from home, as a way to punish him for misbehavior is not only ineffective, but can create serious long-term problems. The crate is never going to be an effective way to correct behavior. Dogs are not wired to understand that kind of cause and effect. At best you will make the dog anxious and unhappy. At worst you can create avoidance of the crate, fear of confinement, or even protest aggression.

Properly raised and trained, a puppy or dog will willingly go into their crate and stay there quietly for many hours when unattended. I am often asked about crate training, so here are a few basic do’s and don’ts.

Crate Size Matters
Make sure your crate is properly sized for your dog. The crate is not a playroom. A crate that is too large is just as much of a problem as one that is too small.

A crate should feel like a den. If a dog were seeking safety and comfort, they would go into a small enclosed area with limited access from the outside. They would not lay out in the open where they could be approached from all sides.

For this reason, I prefer plastic crates over wire ones. I choose one that is just large enough for the dog to go in, turn around, and lay down comfortably.

What Not to Put in the Crate
Do not put bedding or household items in the puppy’s crate unless it is an approved chew or toy.
This includes shoes, shirts, rags, or other comfort items.

You do not want the puppy learning that these things are acceptable to chew. It is easier to prevent a bad habit than it is to fix one later.

Reward Quiet Behavior
Be sure to reward your puppy for being quiet in the crate. I use calm praise and drop a few treats into the crate when the puppy is quiet.
Sometimes this causes the puppy to bark again looking for more treats, but they soon learn that rewards only come when they are being quiet.

Do Not Let the Puppy Out While Barking
Never let your puppy out of the crate while he is barking or scratching at the door.
This will only encourage more barking and scratching.

Even if you plan to let the puppy out, unlock the door but wait until the puppy is quiet before opening it. Then open the door quickly so the puppy learns that being quiet is what gets him out.

How Long Does Crate Training Take?
There is no formula for this. Every puppy has a different temperament.

Harder, more driven puppies often take several days to settle down and accept the crate.
Some puppies accept it immediately and never make a sound.

Both types of puppies have merit. This stage tells you something about the puppy’s mental attitude, and that information can be useful later in training.

How I Start Crate Training
When I first start crating a puppy, I make sure a few things are in place.

The puppy should be comfortable, not too hot or too cold, not hungry, and not in need of going to the bathroom.

Then I put the puppy in the crate with little or no fanfare and walk away.
No baby talk, no fuss. Just put the puppy in the crate and leave.

If the house is not big enough to get far enough away from the noise, I will even crate the puppy in the garage or my car if the weather allows. Cold weather is usually fine as long as the puppy is dry and protected from wind, but hot weather is never acceptable. A puppy’s normal body temperature is around 102 degrees, so caution must always be used in warm conditions.

In the beginning, I do not expect the puppy to go into the crate willingly. That can be taught later. For now I simply pick the puppy up, put him in the crate, close the door, and walk away.

How Long Can a Puppy Stay in the Crate?
The age and temperament of the puppy will determine how long he can be crated.

Very young puppies from six to eight weeks can usually stay in the crate for a few hours at a time. Set an alarm and take them out on schedule. Do not wait for them to cry. Remember, taking them out when they cry is a 'reward' for crying.  So, be mindful of what the puppy is doing as you open the door and endeavor to open the crate door as they are being quite.

Puppies from ten to fourteen weeks can usually stay in the crate four to six hours.

Puppies over sixteen weeks can often stay in the crate for a normal overnight sleep cycle.

Feeding and exercise times should be planned around crate time. It does not make sense to feed a full meal and then immediately put the puppy in the crate before leaving. Plan ahead and you will have much better success.

Expect Accidents
Puppies will make mistakes. Do not punish accidents at this stage.

Take the puppy outside, clean the crate, clean the puppy if necessary, and move on.

The close confines of the crate usually helps correct this behavior because the puppy cannot get away from the mess. This is another reason not to use a crate that is to large or filled with bedding.

Most healthy puppies will learn quickly to keep their crate clean. Some puppies will soil the crate repeatedly, but that is a different subject.

Final Thoughts
Use a crate when raising a puppy. It reduces stress for both you and the dog.

There is no mental or physical harm from proper crate use, but there is often a great deal of harm when puppies are left to their own devices.

Puppies grow up very fast. Enjoy the process.

The crate allows you to create structure so the puppy learns good habits while you are there to supervise, instead of learning bad habits while running loose and unattended.