Crate Training and House Safety
Copyright Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the United States. All rights reserved.

Why do dogs need to be confined?
Dogs are highly social animals who make wonderful pets. They are excellent companions for play and exercise, and are sources of affection and comfort. However, with the lifestyle and schedule of the majority of families, dogs must learn to spend a portion of the day at home, while their human family is away at school, work, shopping or recreational activities. During those times when you are away and unavailable to supervise, your dog may still feel the need to chew, play, explore, eat or eliminate.

How can misbehavior be prevented?
Preventing inappropriate behaviors when you are absent involves both scheduling and prevention. Scheduling means insuring that the dog has had the opportunity to play, eat, and eliminate before you leave him in his confinement area or crate. Prevention involves keeping your dog in a confined area where he is secure, safe and can do no damage to himself or your possessions.

What are my options for confinement?
Depending on the structure of your home, it may be possible to dog-proof the house by closing a few doors or putting up some child gates or barricades. Your dog can then be allowed access to the remaining areas of the house. If dog-proofing is not possible when you leave, confine your dog to a single room, pen or crate. This smaller confinement area not only provides safety for the dog and protection of the home from damage, but also provides a means of teaching your dog what he is supposed to chew and where he is supposed to eliminate.

Isn't crate training cruel?
Crate training is neither cruel nor unfair. On the contrary, leaving your dog unsupervised to wander, investigate, destroy and perhaps injure himself is far more inhumane than confinement. Ensure that the crate is large enough, that your dog gets sufficient food, play, exercise and attention before he is confined, and that you return before your dog needs to urinate or defecate.

What are the benefits of crate training?
The two most important benefits are the safety it affords your dog and the damage that is prevented. The crate also provides a place of security - a comfortable retreat where your dog can relax, sleep, or chew on a favorite toy. By confining your dog to a crate or room when you are not available to supervise, behavior problems can be immediately prevented. When you are at home, supervision and rewards can be used to prevent undesirable behavior, and to teach your dog where to eliminate, what to chew, and what rooms and areas are "out of bounds."

Will crating help with house-training?
Yes. Crate training is one of the quickest and most effective ways to house-train a dog. Since most dogs instinctively avoid eliminating in their sleeping and eating areas, dogs who use their crate as a bed or "den" will seldom eliminate inside unless they have been left in the crate for too long. Crate training can also help teach your dog to develop control over his elimination.

As soon as your dog is released from his crate, take him to the designated area and reward elimination at acceptable locations. Since the crate prevents chewing, digging, and elimination on the owner's home and property, owners of crate-trained puppies have fewer behavior concerns, the puppy receives far less discipline and punishment, and the overall relationship between pet and owner can be dramatically improved.

Will the crate provoke barking?
No. The crate can also be a useful way to reduce or eliminate distress barking. Rather than locking your puppy up and away from you at night or during mealtime, your puppy can be housed in his crate in the bedroom or kitchen. In this way, your puppy cannot get into mischief, and is less likely to cry out or vocalize since you are in the room. If your puppy is locked away in a laundry room or basement with no access to you, distress vocalization is far more likely to occur. If you then go to your crying puppy to check on him or quiet him down, the crying behavior is only rewarded. Any behavior that is rewarded is reinforced and will continue.

What about crating and travel?
Of course, throughout his life, whether traveling or boarding, your dog may require crate confinement. Those dogs who are familiar and comfortable with crating are more likely to feel secure and far less stressed should crating be required.

PUPPY CRATE TRAINING

What type of crate or confinement area works best?
A metal, collapsible crate with a tray floor works well, as long as the crate is large enough for your dog to stand, turn, and stretch out. Some dogs feel more secure if a blanket is draped over the crate. A plastic traveling crate or a homemade crate can also be used. Playpens or barricades may also be successful as long as they are indestructible and escape proof.

Where should the crate be located?
Because dogs are social animals, an ideal location for the crate is a room where your family spends time, such as a kitchen, den or bedroom rather than an isolated laundry or furnace room.

How can crating or confinement become a positive experience?
Most dogs quickly choose a small area where they go to relax, such as a corner of a room, in a dog bed, or on or under a couch. The key to making the crate your dog's favorite retreat and sleeping area is to associate the crate with as many positive and relaxing experiences and stimuli as possible (food, treats, chew toys, bedding) and to place your dog in his crate only at scheduled rest and sleep periods. You must, therefore, be aware of your dog's schedule, including his needs for exploration, play, food and elimination, so that your dog is only placed in his crate when each of these needs is fulfilled. You must then return to your dog to release him from his crate before the next exercise, feeding or elimination period is due.

A radio or television playing in the background may help to calm your dog when he is alone in his crate, especially during the daytime. These may also help to mask environmental noises, which can stimulate your dog to vocalize.

The crate should never be used as punishment.

How do I crate train my new puppy?

1. Introduce your puppy to the crate as soon as he is brought home and as early in the day as possible. Place a variety of treats in the crate throughout the day so that your puppy is encouraged to enter voluntarily. Food, water, toys and bedding could also be offered to your puppy in the open crate.
2. Choose a location outdoors for your puppy to eliminate. Take your puppy to the location, wait until your puppy eliminates and reward your puppy lavishly with praise or treats. After some additional play and exercise, place your puppy in his crate with water, a toy and a treat, then close the door.
3. If your puppy is tired and calm, he may take a nap shortly after being placed in his crate.
4. Leave the room but remain close enough to hear your puppy. Escape behavior and vocalization are to be expected when a dog is first placed into his crate. If the "complaints" are short or mild, ignore your dog until the crying stops. Never release the puppy unless he is quiet. This teaches that quiet behavior, not crying, will be rewarded. Release your puppy after a few minutes of quiet or a short nap.
5. Mild punishment may be useful to deter crying if it does not subside on its own. A shaker can (a sealed can filled with coins or marbles) can be tossed at the crate when your pup barks incessantly. Other methods include water sprayers or alarms (audible or ultrasonic.) You should remain out of sight. By plugging in an alarm, tape recorder or Water Pik beside the crate and turning it on with a remote control switch each time your dog barks, your dog can be taught that barking leads to punishment, whether you are present or not. When the barking ceases, the punishment must also stop. Bark collars, alarms or water sprayers that are activated by the barking are also available for persistent problems. NOTE: Punishment must always be used with caution since it can exacerbate the vocalization problem of a very anxious pet.
6. Repeat the "crate and release" procedure a few more times during the day before bedtime. Place your puppy in his crate a few times before the end of the day. Each time, increase the amount of time that your dog stays in the crate before letting him out. Always give your puppy exercise and a chance to eliminate before placing him back in the crate.
7. At bedtime, your dog should be exercised, allowed to eliminate, and then placed in his crate for the night. Do not go to the dog if he cries. Remote punishment can be used to deter crying. Alternately, the crate can be kept in the bedroom.
8. If your pup sleeps in one end of his crate and eliminates in the other, a divider can be installed to keep your puppy in a smaller area of the crate.
9. Never leave your puppy in his crate for longer than he can control himself or he may be forced to eliminate in the crate.
10. If your pup must be left for long periods during which he might eliminate, he should be confined to a larger area such as a dog-proof room or pen, with paper put down for elimination. As your puppy gets older, his control increases and he can be left longer in his crate.
11. Although there is a great deal of individual variability, many puppies can control themselves through the night by 3 months of age. During the daytime, once the puppy has relieved himself, a 2-month-old puppy may have up to 3 hours control, a 3-month puppy up to 4 hours, and a 4-month-old puppy up to 5 hours.
12. A crate is not an excuse to ignore your dog!

CRATE TRAINING ADULT DOGS

What is the best technique for crate training older pets and adult dogs?

1. For adult dogs or older puppies who have not been crate-trained previously, set up the crate in your dog's feeding area with the door open for a few days. Place food, treats and water in the crate so that your dog enters the crate on his own. Another alternative is to place the crate in your dog's sleeping area with his bedding. Once your dog is entering the crate freely, it is time to close the door.
2. Have your dog enter his crate for short periods of time to obtain food, treats or chew toys. Once your pet expects treats each time he enters the crate, train your dog to enter the crate on command (e.g. "kennel!") and have your dog remain in the kennel for progressively longer periods of time before your dog is allowed to exit. Give small rewards each time your dog enters the cage at first, and give your dog a favored chew toy or some food to help make the stay more enjoyable. At first, the door can remain open during these training sessions.
3. When your dog is capable of staying comfortably and quietly in the crate, begin to place your dog in the crate at night. Once your dog sleeps in the crate through the night, try leaving him in the crate during the daytime. Try short departures first and gradually make them longer.

Is crate training practical for all dogs?
An occasional dog may not tolerate crate training and may continue to show anxiety, or even eliminate when confined. These dogs may adapt better to other types of confinement such as a pen, dog run, small room or barricaded area. Of course, if your dog is being left alone for longer than he can control his elimination, it will be necessary to provide an area much larger than a crate so that he has a location on which to eliminate, away from food and bedding.

Continued anxiety, destruction or vocalization when placed in the crate may indicate separation anxiety. The intervention of a behaviorist may be needed.

If you would like further assistance with this, or another pet behavior topic, please contact our Behavior Helpline at (314) 951-1540 or e-mail behavior.desk@hsmo.org.
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