One of the biggest concerns I discuss with dog owners is how to introduce the crate properly. The first thing that I usually find out in talking with owners is that they are conflicted about even using one. Most people still see them as a form of punishment or view them as being cruel that keeping a dog in one somehow makes them a bad owner or that it’s not fair to the dog. Usually when people say this it’s because there are already issues that the dog is having with the crate so therefore the crate is the problem! In my experience as a dog owner and a trainer, if a dog is introduced in the right way, a crate can become owner and dogs best friend.
Our domesticated dogs come with many inherited instincts from where they all generated from; the Grey Wolf. One of those instincts is to dig a den when a female has young pups. The pups stay protected in the den until they are eating solid food and able to become an active part of the pack. As a trainer, I believe that the crate should be used in a similar way in that it should be a protective area a dog or pup can stay until their owner are with them (returning from work or some kind of outing). If a dog feels that, I have never seen a dog dislike or feel the need to break out of a crate. It is all up to us to teach the dog that the crate is their den. Ideally, this crate use begins when you bring home a puppy, but is often used even when dogs are adults until owners can feel the dog can be trusted out in the house alone roaming freely.
When you introduce the crate to a new puppy you want to make it inviting, putting some comfy blankets or bedding of some kind. At first, put the crate in a room where you will spend most of your time and keep the door open. When your puppy goes near or into the crate on his own, praise him and give a treat. Hang out with your puppy on the floor near the crate playing with toys and interacting. If your puppy doesn’t go into the crate out of curiosity, you can encourage by engaging your puppy’s nose with a treat and lure them into the crate. Encourage and praise and let the puppy stay in or come right out, whatever they want. It’s also a good idea to start associating a word with your praising like ” good crate ” or ” good kennel “. When you use a treat to encourage your puppy to go into the crate you can say “Crate” then when they go in say “Good Crate.” Once your puppy is starting to go into the crate comfortably with no resistance, you can start closing the crate door for short periods of time and then building from there. It’s also a good idea to feed your puppy in the crate to continuing making a good association. It won’t be long until your puppy loves their crate. As long as you don’t abuse the crate and keep your puppy in there for too many hours at a time, there is no reason to think you are being cruel. You are keeping your puppy safe as well as using it as an aid to help in the potty training. The last thing you might want to consider is having your puppy sleep in the crate at night. I suggest moving the crate or having two crates ( one in the room you’re in the most during the day and one in your bedroom at night ), that way you can attend to a young puppy’s bathroom needs in the middle of the night easier and avoid any accidents.
When introducing the crate to an adult dog who may or may not have already had a previous crate experience, you want to introduce it in the same manner. Take it slow, take the weekend and just plan on spending the time getting your new dog acclimated to your home and the crate. Use the positive associations with food and praise and don’t force your dog to stay in the crate right away for longer hours. No matter the age of your adult dog, it’s a good idea to get the dog use to a crate before thinking they can be out in the house alone when you are gone. Remember that this is a new environment and your dog can be feeling overwhelmed and insecure, so having an area that you have made a good association with can create some familiar security, especially when your are not present. Another good reason to use a crate with an adult dog can be when you have multiple dogs and you are wanting the new dog to fit into your existing pack. Keeping your dogs under close watch when you are home is important so you can intercept any behavior that might cause issues between your dogs. It’s equally important to keep your dogs safe from any issues that could develop when you are not home and a crate or using multiple crates for all your dogs can achieve this. Even after your dogs are consistently showing they have no issues with one another, it’s a good idea to keep your dogs in crates while you are out. For example, a lot of dogs can engage in play very easily and with that things in the house can get broken. I have three dogs myself and I never leave all of my dogs out unattended when I am not home because I know two of my dogs do like to wrestle and play and also there are those occasions where one dog could be offended by another and decide they are going to lash out.
So, whether you have a puppy, new adult dog or multiple dogs, using a crate the appropriate way can lead to a safe and stress free environment for you and your dog. If you have a dog that is having issues with their crate and you are having problems helping them overcome this, it’s a good idea to hire a professional trainer or behaviorist to help. In my experience, there is not a dog who can’t get over crate issues with the proper help, follow through, and patience from the owner.
