Simple Dog Crate Training Tips

Now that we have gone over a few things, let’s look at training your dog to the crate.

Step One: Get him used to the crate
This may seem a bit confusing, especially when I say the words, “Don’t put him in the crate,” at least not yet. The purpose of this first step is to get the dog used to having the crate around. Place it in an area of the house where you commonly are so you are sure that he will be close to it throughout the majority of the time.

Leave the door open but don’t force him to go into it. Instead, just ignore the crate and let him explore it on his own.

Lastly, place his food and water dishes close to the crate so he gets used to being near it and starts to view it as something tolerable, at the least.

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Step Two: Entice your dog into the crate
Since your dog has now become accustomed to seeing that big metal (or plastic) crate near him, you can start enticing him into the crate. First, place some tasty treats near the crate and praise your dog the closer that he gets.

Next, place the treats into the crates, moving them further in with each treat he eats. Eventually, he will go all the way into the crate and you can feel confident that he is beginning to accept this new room.

Step Three: Begin to close the door
Once your dog is in the crate, let him get used to the idea with the door open. You may find that he settles down to eat a hidden stash of treats or you may find that he only wants to spend a few seconds in the crate. Don’t feel bad if it is the latter but keep hiding treats in the crate to encourage longer visits to it.

After his stress level has lowered, you can start closing the door of the crate. Start off by shutting the door so he can still push it open. This makes him feel more comfortable and is less likely to trigger a stress response. When he is comfortable with the door closed, you can begin to latch it, but stay close by so he can see you.

Step Four: Leave the room
Once your dog has adjusted to time in the crate when you are near, start leaving the room. The best way to do this is to put him in his crate and then wait about five or ten minutes before you leave the room.

Don’t go back in for a few minutes and never go back when he is whining, instead, wait until he has a break in his whines. When a few minutes have passed, go back in, sit by him for a few minutes and then let him out. Don’t make it exciting when you let him out but give him a quick pat and calm praise for sitting so nicely. Make sure that you gradually lengthen the minutes he spends in the crate.

Step Five: Leave the house
When your dog is sitting quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes at a time, he will be ready to spend longer periods in the crate when you are away from the house. Again, this should be a gradual process with you only leaving for short periods at the start and it should be done calmly.

Make sure that when you leave, you try to make the departure calm and not too emotional and also give your dog something to do when you are gone, such as a Kong toy. When you come back, again wait a few minutes by his crate and then finally let him out calmly.

Although dog crate training can be fairly easy, it can also take several weeks to get a dog to adjust to crating so be patient and follow your dog’s lead.

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