SCSPCA        Behavior and Training Department        Crate Training         By Amy Peterson, CPDT

Crate Training is an effective tool for potty-training and chew-training a new dog or puppy.  The crate helps manage unwanted behaviors while you are away from home or cannot supervise the dog.  The crate is similar to a play pen for a toddler; it keeps your pup out of trouble and saves your home from unnecessary trauma. 

The crate has several important uses:
• Encourages your dog/puppy to hold her bowels/bladder when unsupervised thus preventing “accidents” in the home 
• Limits his chew options to toys you provide and prevents your pup from chewing on inappropriate items
• Teaches your dog/puppy to settle when left alone rather than forming destructive behaviors
• Provides a sense of security and makes travel less stressful
• Gives your pup a place to take a break (good especially if you have young kids)

The crate has many great uses and owners often discover that there dogs don’t just tolerate the crate, they actually like it!  Don’t worry if you just adopted a dog and you already have a dog that is house trained.  Your new dog wont be “mad” at you because the other dog has freedom.  We are working towards freedom with the new dog and it is easier to first limit her freedom and then expand it as opposed to giving her freedom and then taking it away.

You want your pup to associate the crate with positive things.  The crate should never be used as punishment because your pup will quickly learn to associate the crate with negative feelings.  The crate is a great place to feed your puppy because she will learn that, “good things come to those who wait in crates.”

To get your pup accustomed to her new “room” start by tossing a few treats into the crate and let your puppy go in and get them.  Don’t shut the door on her, just let her go in and eat the treats.  Once she is going in the crate easily you can start adding a command like “kennel”.  Practice saying kennel and tossing a few treats in the crate, let your pup go in and get them tell her “good dog” and toss in a few more treats.  Once your pup is going in on command you can start shutting the door behind her; only shut the door for a few seconds, give her a treat and let her out.  Repeat this several times to get your pup accustomed to her new “room”.  Gradually increase the amount of time you leave your pup in the crate.  At first only crate the dog while you are at home, then while you are away from home for short amounts of time, and then longer amounts of time.

Your puppy/dog may cry or whine a little when you first leave her in the crate, don’t worry this is perfectly normal especially if your puppy is really bonded with you.  It is important that you wait until your pup stops whining or barking before you let her out, otherwise she will quickly learn that all she has to do is whine and you will come rushing to her.  Remember, it is important for your puppy to learn how to settle herself.  The exception to this is if your pup has been sleeping quietly in her crate for a few hours and then starts barking; she may have to go potty and you should take her outside on a leash to give her a chance to eliminate.

It is also important to make the exiting of the crate as nonchalant as possible.  Simply open the door and say, “out”.  If you make exiting the crate an overly exciting event your dog will anticipate this and become anxious while in the crate.  We want our dogs to associate the crate with being clam and relaxed.

You should provide something soft for your dog to lie on while in the crate; if it is a young puppy you may want to skip this as they may chew up their bed and accidentally ingest it.  It is very important that you give your dog/puppy something to chew on while he is in the crate; a few stuffed Kongs® and a Nylabone® work great.

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