Cage Training Guide

Crate training your dog

Crate training your dog may take some time and effort but can be useful in a variety of situations. If you have a new dog or puppy, you can use the crate to limit access to the house while they are learning house rules such as what they can and can’t chew. It is also a safe way of transporting your dog in the car, as well as a way of taking them places where they may not be welcome to run freely. If you properly train your dog to use the crate, they will think of it as a safe place and will be happy to spend time there when needed.

The Crate Training Process

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog’s age, temperament, and past experiences. It’s important to keep two things in mind while crate training; one, the crate should always be associated with something pleasant; and two, training should take place in a series of small steps – don’t go too fast.

Step 1: Introducing Your Dog To The Crate

Put the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the living room. Put a soft blanket or fleece in the crate. Bring your dog over to the crate and talk to them in a happy tone of voice. Make sure the crate door is securely fastened open so it won’t close on your dog and frighten them.
To encourage your dog to enter the crate, drop small food treats near it, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate. If they refuse to go all the way in at first, that’s okay – don’t force it. Continue tossing treats into the crate until your dog will walk calmly all the way into the crate to get the food. If your dog isn’t interested in treats, try tossing a favourite toy in the crate. This step may take a few minutes or as long as several days.

Step 2: Feeding Your Dog’s Meals In The Crate

After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding regular meals near the crate, this will help with creating a pleasant association with the crate. If your dog is readily entering the crate when you begin Step 2, put the food dish all the way at the back of the crate. If your dog is still reluctant to enter the crate, put the dish only as far inside as they will readily go without becoming fearful or anxious. Each time you feed them, place the dish a little further back in the crate.
Once your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat their meal, you can close the door while they are eating. At first, open the door as soon as they have finished. With each successive feeding, leave the door closed a few minutes longer, until they are staying in the crate for 10 minutes or so after eating. If your dog begins to whine to be let out, you may have increased the length of time too quickly. Next time, try leaving them in the crate for a shorter period of time. If they do whine or cry in the crate, it’s imperative that you do not let them out until they have stopped. Otherwise, your dog will learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine and it will become a learnt behaviour.

Step 3: Conditioning Your Dog To The Crate For Longer Time Periods

After your dog is eating regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine them there for short periods of time while you’re home. Call your dog over to the crate and give them a treat. Give your dog a command to enter, such as, “kennel”. Encourage them by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand. After your dog enters the crate, give lots of praise/ a treat and close the door. Sit quietly near the crate for five to 10 minutes and then go into another room for a few minutes. Return, sit quietly again for a short time, then let them out of the crate.
Repeat this process several times a day. With each repetition, gradually increase the length of time you leave your dog in the crate and the length of time that you are out of sight. Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you out of sight the majority of the time, you can begin leaving them crated when you’re gone for short time periods and/or letting them sleep there at night. This may take several days or several weeks.

Step 4:

Crating Your Dog When Left Alone

After your dog is spending about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving them crated for short periods when you leave the house. Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and or a treat. You might also want to leave them with a few safe toys. You’ll want to vary at what point in your “getting ready to leave” routine you put your dog in the crate. Although your dog shouldn’t be crated for a long time before you leave, you can crate them anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes prior to leaving. Don’t make your departures emotional and prolonged, but matter-of-fact. Praise your dog briefly, give a treat for entering the crate and then leave quietly. When you return home, don’t reward your dog for excited behaviour by responding in an excited, enthusiastic way. Keep arrivals low key. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you’re home so that they don’t associate crating with being left alone.

Crating Your Dog At Night

Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat. Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to toilet during the night, and you’ll want to be able to hear your puppy when they whine to be let outside. Older dogs, too, should initially be kept nearby so that crating doesn’t become associated with social isolation. Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with the crate near you, you can begin to gradual move it to the location you prefer. Puppies that are healthy can have their water taken from them a few hours before bedtime to help decrease the frequency of toilet trips they need to make during the night.

Potential Problems

Too Much Time In The Crate

A crate isn’t a magical solution. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated. For example, if your dog is crated all day while you’re at work and then crated again all night, then they are spending too much time in a small space. Other arrangements should be made to accommodate their physical and emotional needs. Also, remember that puppies under 6 months of age shouldn’t stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time as they can’t control their bladders and bowels for long periods.

Whining

If your dog whines or cries while in the crate at night, it may be difficult to decide whether their whining to be let out of the crate, or whether they need to be let outside to toilet. If you have followed the training procedures outlined above, your dog hasn’t been rewarded for whining in the past by being released from the crate therefore try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, then they will probably stop whining. Yelling at them or pounding on the crate will only make things worse. If the whining continues after you’ve ignored them for several minutes, use the phrase associated with going outside to toilet. If your dog responds and becomes excited, take them outside. This should be a trip with a purpose, not play time. If you’re convinced that your dog doesn’t need to toilet, the best response is to ignore them until the whining stops. Do not give in, otherwise you’ll teach your dog to whine to get what they want. If you’ve progressed gradually through the training steps and haven’t done too much too fast, you will be less likely to encounter this problem. If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to start the crate training process over again.

Separation Anxiety

Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety will not solve the problem. A crate may prevent your dog from being destructive, but they may injure themselves in an attempt to escape from the crate. Separation anxiety problems can only be resolved with counterconditioning and desensitization procedures.

Always provide your dog or puppy access to water if they are to be in the cage for a prolonged amount of time. Spill proof bowls or bowls that attach to the cage work best.

Useful Links

Battersea - How to crate train your dog
https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/how-crate-train-your-dog

The Kennel Club - How to crate train your dog
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-training/getting-started-in-dog-training/dog-training-and-games/how-to-crate-train-your-dog/

Victoria Stillwell - Positive house training with a dog cage video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5EAd1hLn38

Do you know of any other useful links? If so please contact us and let us know.