Embrace the Crate

Crate can be a safe haven for your dog

Some people think that crating their puppy is cruel. And yes, I agree that leaving a puppy in a crate alone without any kind of training beforehand while the owner goes to work is cruel. I would never recommend that. But I’m here to assure you that when crate training is done right it isn’t uncomfortable at all. It becomes something your dog loves! In the wild dogs find tight, dark nests for sleeping and hiding. Crating, when done right, mimics this feeling of safety and security and that’s why dogs like it.

To be clear, you only need to crate your dog during work days if they find being left alone challenging. All dogs should be trained to be comfortable alone, however, some dogs will freak out and chew and destroy your house. For these dogs, crating is a solution while they are trained to cope alone better. 

Never use the crate as a punishment

The crate is a tool to aid your dog through transitioning to being alone. Ideally your dog will graduate from a crate to a larger crate, exercise pen or enclosed space, learning to stay calm while alone. Puppy gates and pens are great for this transition.

You should always start crate training with very short crating periods and by creating a good association with the crate. You should never just put your puppy in a crate and hope for the best. 

The crate needs to be big enough for your dog to turn around in but not big enough for them to think that it’s also a bathroom. As far as how long the dog can be in the crate depends on a few things.  Your dog should always be physically and mentally exercised before going in it. 

An adult dog can spend 6-8 hours in a crate without having to toilet. Puppies need more potty breaks and should not be in the crate for longer than a few hours at a time.

I’ve known people that were ready to surrender their dogs because of their destructive behaviours. Crate training might take some adjustment period, like any training, but the time spent investing in it is well worth it. Crate training can be the best thing for you and your dog!

My online crate training course was created to help people with their training. It’s a step by step guide through the whole process of crate training. When you do it right, you only need to do it once!