Let's Talk About Crate Training!

Yesterday, a client called because she was at her wit's end with her new puppy.  The puppy is 5 months old and hates her crate!  She cries, whines, digs, drools, and won't settle down at all.  They've moved the crate from room to room, covered the crate, tried feeding her all her meals in it, and nothing seems to be working.  They've trained her to go into her crate on command, which she will do readily, but she doesn't want to stay in there, and she certainly won't sleep in there through the night.  This wonderful, sleep-deprived client indicated she would do whatever I said...gut it out, change crates, etc., they just need a solution and fast.

Most puppies, and even a lot of adult dogs, can fairly easily be trained to accept and even enjoy a crate.  Once they view it as their den, or safe haven, they will enjoy going in there, even on their own, when they wish to rest and be left alone.  This puppy, however, came to her new home via crate on an airplane, complete with a long layover.  She had been raised with other puppies and dogs in a large barn situation and never been confined before that long plane ride to her new home.  Is it any wonder she hated the crate?

While I do feel that crate training is a plus with a puppy, particularly when using it to help house train them, I also know that they aren't right for every puppy.  I think this puppy needs to continue to eat her meals in her crate, as well as have her bones and treats there.  I think that, over time, she can even learn to enjoy her naps in it. However, I think her night time plan needs a revamp.  Instead of the crate, I asked the client to place a cozy dog bed near her side of the bed.  The dog bed should be placed in such a way that when the pup is tethered to the nightstand, she can't leave her dog bed area.  The tether can be attached to a body harness for more comfort.  If the puppy cries to go outside, the owner will hear her, but not being restricted to a crate per se, should help them all sleep through the night.

I think it's important for us all to remember that the cookie cutter approach to crate training isn't going to work for every puppy or dog.  Instead, each animal must be looked at as an individual and have their temperament, age, breed, early upbringing, etc. taken into consideration when deciding on what type of crate to use, where to place the crate, how long they should be in there, and whether they should be crate trained at all. Some dogs will do better with an x-pen than a crate. Others will do better in the laundry room or kitchen than with an x-pen.  You will want to explore all of your options and not feel like a failure if crate training doesn't work for you and your puppy. Yes, it IS easier to house train a puppy who is crate trained, but it is also the case that many of us house trained puppies for years and years before the notion of crate training ever came into favor!  Crates are just a tool that you can use.  You have lots of choices, so don't feel bad if at first you don't succeed.  Perseverance pays off in the long run.  Some pups cry the first night in the crate and are happy as clams from then on.  Go figure.

As always, if you are having trouble crate training your puppy, you know where to find me.

Ozzie has never been a fan of crates either, but he will go when asked, 

especially if there is a yummy snack involved and crate time is kept to a minimum!