Crate Training a Dog

Full crate training a dog is teaching your dog to self-settle in their dog crate, with the door closed, whenever you place them in the crate for a nap or nighttime sleep. This approach yields the most benefits of crate training and contributes to better behavior outside the crate and your home.

Full crate training a dog is teaching your dog to self-settle in their dog crate, with the door closed, whenever you place them in the crate for a nap or nighttime sleep. This approach yields the most benefits of crate training and contributes to better behavior outside the crate and your home.

Why is Crate Training Important? 

Beyond the practical use of keeping your dog out of trouble while you’re out of the house, crating a dog allows them to check out and fully relax. Done properly, full crate training teaches your dog to access a deep state of calm. He’s not pacing, scanning, barking, or otherwise looking for things to get into. Dogs are den animals and the dog crate provides the safety and security all canines need in their den

When you teach your dog to access more deep calm you get better overall dog behavior. Decompressing throughout the day means your dog’s level of adrenaline is lowered. Crate training, along with household structure, leash work, and solid leadership gives clear expectations for your dog’s behavior.

How to Crate Train a Dog 

Crate training a dog is a process of gradually increasing the time spent relaxing in the dog crate. Start with a simple in-out drill with your dog on a leash. Walk up to the crate door, open it, say “crate” or “kennel,” and guide your dog in. With your dog inside, close the door without latching it. Take a deep breath in and out, then let your dog out. Practice this 5-10 times. Increase time to 30 seconds of waiting while letting your dog chill in the crate. Latch the door and walk away for an additional minute, come back. Then start to increase time before walking away.

The first goal is to be able to leave your dog in the crate for 15-20 minutes while you’re home working or puttering nearby. It’s a process for your dog to learn to relax but a nap schedule demonstrates your leadership and teaches your dog valuable lessons. 

Increase the time daily, correcting when the dog excessively paws, barks, whines, or noses the door. Practice helps them settle. The end goal for full crate training a dog is leaving them alone daily while safely in the crate for multiple two-hour-long naps.