Crate Training - Dealing with Common Problems (2023)

FAQs

Is it OK to put dog in crate when misbehaving? ›

Don't Use Crates for Puppy Time Outs

Dog crates should not be used for punishment if a dog misbehaves. It's different when you tell your child to go to his room because you can explain why and what you expected from him. With dogs, they're left confused when you force them into their crates.

You shouldn't leave your dog crying in the crate for more than 10-15 minutes. If they're still crying regularly after this period of time, take a step back and work more on crate desensitization games to build up a positive association with the crate.

Bring your dog over to the crate and talk to him in a happy tone of voice. Make sure the crate door is securely fastened open, so it won't hit your dog and frighten him. To encourage your dog to enter the crate, drop some small food treats near it, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate.

Do not use the crate for punishment, or else your dog will come to dislike it rather than view it as its den. Most dogs regard their crate as a place of refuge and will retreat to it when they are tired or stressed. Limit the amount of time your dog remains actually shut in the crate.

If he does whine or cry in the crate, it's imperative that you not let him out until he stops. Otherwise, he'll learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine, so he'll keep doing it.

You can usually stop closing your dog into your crate when they are around two years of age. Before then, they are usually more likely to get into trouble. It isn't until they mature fully that they are able to behave properly when not supervised. This is especially true for larger dogs, who tend to mature later.

You should never completely cover your dog's crate as it can block airflow. Keep blankets away from heat sources, ensure the fabric is breathable, and avoid using knit blankets that may snag or unravel. Monitor the conditions inside the crate in humid summer weather to ensure it doesn't get too hot.

Ignore the behavior

One of the most common mistakes new pet owners make it to give their puppy attention or let them out once they start whining. Giving them attention could reinforce this behavior. The puppy can be released after waking up from his nap or after a few minutes of quiet behavior.

Throughout the day and evening, repeat this exercise at least three times. On Sunday your dog will begin to learn how to stay in the crate for longer periods of time. Starting in the morning, give your dog the usual cue to get him to go into the crate, then leave him in the crate for at least 30 minutes.

Why is crate training so hard? ›

Essentially, puppies come pre-programmed with a love of crates. But puppies also come with a pre-programmed need to be around their mother and littermates. The hardest part about crate training puppies is helping them understand that the crate doesn't mean they will be separated from their family.

Finally, you don't want your pup to associate the crate with isolation. If possible, spend some time in their line of vision while they are in the crate so that they know you're nearby. They need to learn that the crate is a fun, safe place before they learn to be by themselves.

Adult dogs shouldn't be left in crates for more than 6-8 hours. Puppies of 17 weeks and older can handle up to 4 or 5 hours in a crate at a time. Leaving a dog home alone in a crate longer than this can hurt their mental and physical health.

Caged dog syndrome (also called Crate State) is a condition that can affect dogs that are kept in crates or kennels for extended periods of time. Dogs with crate syndrome may become anxious, depressed, and/or aggressive. Behavioral issues and symptoms of caged dog syndrome can include: Excessive barking or whining.

It gives them their own space and can calm anxiety. Create positive associations with the crate through the use of treats and games. Be patient — crate training can take six months of consistent training.

As long as your pup gets lots of out-of-the-crate time, love, attention and exercise, crating him won't cause him any harm or scar him emotionally!

Actions like pacing and whining are compulsive, and they can get your dog more worked up as he participates in them. While the crate won't help with stress vocalizing, it can limit your dog's range of motion and prevent them from pacing or constantly readjusting.

Put your dog in a room or crate (if she loves her crate), shut the door, and leave the room for short bits of time. Slowly increase the time you are out of the room, starting with a few seconds and building up to 15-30 minutes. Give her a stuffed Kong toy, or other chewy that takes time to consume, before you leave.

Some pet parents connect crates to punishment. But, in fact, a good crate, when introduced properly with training, can be a helpful tool in aiding your pet suffering from separation anxiety. Dogs prefer the comfort of a cave-like space where they can retreat and find reprieve from stressful situations.

How do you know when crate training is done? ›

You'll know that your dog is fully crate trained when he feels safe, relaxed, and comfortable in his crate even for long periods of time. By tapering off your training and using intermittent reinforcement, you'll teach your dog to maintain good behavior in the crate even without daily training sessions.

The quick answer is no. If your dog already has ingrained separation anxiety, crating alone cannot change this. You will need to take a number of other steps to effectively address this behavior. In combination with other approaches though crate training can help a dog work towards decreased separation anxiety.

The crate is a place for the dog to be when no one is around to supervise him. It is the dog's bed and sanctuary. Its purpose is to provide confinement for reasons of safety, security for the dog, house training, prevention of destructive behavior, and/or travel.

Place the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room. Put a soft blanket or bed in the crate. Take the door off or keep it propped open and let the dog explore the crate at their leisure. Some dogs will be naturally curious and start sleeping in the crate right away.

Should You Put Anything in Your Puppy's Crate at Night? The short answer is, yes, of course you should. Your puppy—or even your mature dog—should view her crate as a safe haven, a place she associates with warmth, nurturing, and pleasure.

Get the Set Up Right

If necessary, buy a larger crate but use a partition to get the size right. Give a pup too much room and they won't learn to hold their bladder. Place the crate in a quiet corner, but in a room where they can see what's going on. Then make the crate super comfy with a soft bed and some toys.

Finally, Cesar Millan advises to make sure you've covered all the common household issues before starting with formal training. Start crate training and housebreaking your puppy in the first weeks that he comes to live with you.

It is not acceptable to crate your dog for long periods of time, such as during the day while you are at work – dogs should not be left shut in their crate for excessive periods of time as this limits their exercise, ability to soil, and social and behavioural needs, thus making them feel stressed and trapped [3].

Crating isn't just for nighttime, and it's not just for puppies. Crating your dog during the day is safe and appropriate, as long as they get plenty of freedom and attention when you are home.

Is crate training traumatic? ›

This can be a very traumatic experience for your puppy and will only make it more difficult for you the next time you try and get him to go inside the crate and behave. Instead, tempt the puppy to enter the crate by placing some kibble inside. Be generous with your praises, as he enters the crate to eat the kibble.

Yes, it's OK to move a dog crate from room to room (or out to the car when it's time for a ride). Usually the best place for dog crates at night is in the owner's bedroom, so the dog has the feeling of being in safe company during sleeping time.

Most adult dogs can stay in a crate for about half a day as long as the dog gets ample exercise and walks when he or she is out of the crate. Many adult dogs can manage eight or so hours in a crate while their owners are at work, but longer than this can often cause behavioral problems.

Your dog will only become afraid of his crate if bad things happen while he is in there—so never scold him while he is inside. Time-outs don't need to be long; 30 seconds to 3 minutes is plenty.

Punishment should never be used to train a pet. Pets should be taught what we want them to learn through reinforcement and shaping rather than attempting to train them what we don't want them to do.

Over-crated dogs, they say, can suffer complications from “cage-rage”, to anxiety, fearfulness and depression.

There is no reason an older dog cannot be crate trained, even if they've lived their entire lives without any crate exposure. The key is to move slowly. No dog—puppy, adolescent, adult or senior—will be comfortable in a crate if they are locked inside the space without preparation or training.

Contemporary experts urge against all uses of physical discipline. Tapping or bopping a dog on the nose can be misconstrued as playful behavior, and being too rough with your dog can actually trigger biting, reactive, or defensive behavior.

Do dogs know when they did something wrong? ›

"Innately, pets focus on the basic requirements for survival." Pets may not feel a sense of wrong doing because they don't understand that what they did was wrong. Do you think your dog really understands that it's wrong to eat cake left within his reach on the coffee table? Likely not.

This depends on the situation. There are times that I wouldn't call that neglect. I'd call it abuse. But there are also times crating for extended periods is appropriate.

A leading animal behaviour expert said dogs are aware when they have done something wrong and the guilty look afterwards is an 'apology bow'. They hang their heads and put their tails between their legs to make themselves look submissive to owners, and show they are less powerful, Professor Nathan Lents revealed.

So positive punishment means adding something after the dog did a behaviour that makes the frequency of that behaviour go down. For example, if the dog jumps up and you knee them in the chest, and next time you see them the dog does not jump up, you have positively punished the dog jumping.

In order for the dog to realise they have been placed in a time-out, they need to regain access to whatever was taken away quickly: very quickly, as in no more than 60 seconds. If you wait too long they can forget what happened and it simply becomes a change in scenery.