Crate training offers several benefits for your puppy. It gives your puppy a safe space to rest and promotes long-term benefits. It can take time and patience, but when done right, it makes life at home a whole lot easier. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of crate training your puppy.
The perks of crate training
When properly crate-trained, you will be more confident that you can leave your puppy alone at home, and there will be much less to clean up. The benefits of crate training include:
- A cozy place for your puppy to rest. Puppies sleep a lot, and the crate becomes a quiet den where they can relax without distractions.
- Peace of mind when you aren’t with your puppy. Whether you’re running errands or getting some sleep, you’ll feel better knowing that your puppy is safe and secure and not redecorating the bathroom with shredded toilet paper.
- Faster housebreaking. Crate training encourages better potty habits.
- Travel and vet visits are less stressful. A crate-trained puppy is more comfortable in carriers and when being boarded overnight.
Choose a crate that’s right for you
Start by choosing a crate that is large enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around comfortably. If it’s too big, your puppy might go potty on one side and sleep on the other. The right size crate is approximately one and a half times the size of your puppy.
We recommend the following two crate types:
- Plastic airline crates – Ideal when traveling and safe sleeping.
- Wire crate – Great for growing puppies because you can adjust the size with a divider.
Making the crate a positive space
The purpose of crate training is to help your puppy feel comfortable and not anxious in their crate. It’s essential to introduce the crate gradually and create a positive association with being inside.
You can provide your puppy with meals, toys, or treats in the crate. This will help associate the crate with a positive space, rather than a place to go to be punished. For a Kong recipe, we have written a guide on “How to stuff a Kong like a dog trainer”.
When first introducing them to the crate with meals, toys, or treats, you don’t need to lock them in the crate during this time; you can let your puppy leave when they want to. For puppies still working on housebreaking, do not leave anything absorbent on the floor of the crate.
Be patient and consistent with training
Crate training can be a daunting task; it requires time and patience and is not an overnight success story. In the long run, it is much easier knowing you can leave your house, and your puppy will be confident and relaxed while you’re away.
Understanding Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety occurs when your puppy experiences high levels of stress when left alone or not in their crate. This can include incessant barking or crying, chewing, or scratching in the crate. Increased bodily functions can also occur in response to stress, such as salivation, urination, and defecation.
It’s important to know that not all of these behaviors means that your puppy has separation anxiety. It is normal for puppies to cry in the crate at first. These vocalizations can simply be attention seeking behaviors. Without realizing it, you may be reinforcing the behaviors you are trying to address.
For instance, comforting your puppy when they whine by saying, “It’s okay, buddy,” or letting them out when they scratch at the crate door can reinforce these behaviors, potentially leading to an increase in undesirable behaviors. To help prevent this, avoid letting your puppy out of the crate unless your puppy has been quiet for a short time. For more information about separation anxiety, our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, has published a blog on “Puppy Separation Anxiety: Normal vs. Abnormal Behavior.”
We’re here to help
Would you like help with crate training your puppy? Do you have questions about obedience and manners training?
At Beyond the Dog, our training is science-based and backed by over 20 years of experience. Co-founded by Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), our programs draw from her research and decades of hands-on work. Every dog and household is unique, which is why our training is fully personalized to your goals. We offer a comprehensive range of training programs, including virtual consultations, board and training programs, and private one-on-one sessions held at your home or in your local neighborhood. You can schedule a free consultation with us today.
