Take the stress out of crate training (Photo: black pug in crate)
You’ve tried everything you’ve read and watched on the internet, but your puppy still barks every time you leave him in his crate — even for a second. It’s stressful. It’s LOUD. It’s heartbreaking!
You’re worried about complaints from your neighbours. You’re worried about getting evicted. You’re worried about what you’re going to do with your puppy when you head back to work in a few days — cuz there’s no way you’re leaving them in the crate for eight hours, with a five minute pee break on your lunch hour.
If you’re stressed out about crate training. You’re not alone. Hop on any number of dog groups on social media and you’ll learn that crate training is always on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
You’ll read recipes for frozen Kong treats, you’ll spend lots of money on bones (often sniffed once and then ignored,) and you may even have a trainer come to your home…and tell you you’re being dramatic?!?! This actually happened to one of my clients. I’m grateful she was still brave enough to reach out to me after going through that!
You may feel like you’ll never convince your puppy to love their crate, but you CAN do it! (Photo: tan-coloured Whippet lies on a sofa covered with a blanket)
Why isn’t the crate training working? And why isn’t the medication your veterinarian prescribed working either?
Here are five things to try, when you’ve tried it all:
CALMNESS — Believe it or not, your own body language and energy have an effect on your puppy. When you begin crate training, treat it as a fun game and enjoy yourself. Put yummy treats inside the crate (where they can easily reach them from the outside) and praise your puppy for being brave enough to simply put her front paws in the crate. Once this is going well, place a few treats (or pieces of kibble) further back. Praise your puppy for retrieving those treats. If your crate has two doors, make a fun game of going in one door and out the other. Do not get a stop watch and drink a glass of worry-juice before you begin crate training. Take your time and enjoy the process.
FOLLOWING — Does your puppy follow you everywhere you go, including the bathroom? Encourage their independence, by asking them not to follow you everywhere. This behaviour is a symptom of a bigger problem. If your puppy spends 30 minutes following you as you get ready for work, they will still be in follower-mode when you toss the peanut butter Kong in the crate and quickly shut the door. This creates stress for your puppy. Ask your puppy to lie on their bed or go to their place (if you’re using the place command) while you brush your teeth and do your hair. You can even provide them with a bone to chew, so they aren’t obsessively watching you get ready.
Teach your puppy to relax and be calm while you prepare to leave the house (Photo: a bulldog lays on his bed with his chin propped up on the edge)
3. BELIEVE — Believe that you can do this, because you can. Put in the time and reap the reward of a balanced, calm puppy (who then grows up to be a balanced, calm dog.) It’s totally worth it!
4. RESEARCH — Breeders who breed dogs to improve the breed, do not sell puppies on Kijiji or in parking lots. They do lots of amazing things while the puppies are in their care, including crate training. Puppies sleep in a cute pile with their mom when they are very young. After weaning, they sleep as a pack with their brothers and sisters. Amazing breeders will actually take the time to teach the puppies to sleep in crates. They begin with sleeping in pairs and then move them into their own crates gradually (still beside their siblings for company.)
5. LEADERSHIP — Take your puppy on a structured walk first thing in the morning before you go to work. This tires out your puppy physically AND mentally (because a structured walk involves more thinking than dragging you down the sidewalk in a zigzag pattern.) A puppy who has HIS needs met before you go to work, is a puppy who will happily snooze for a few hours in a crate. You can read more about structured walks and how fun they are here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/give-your-dog-a-break
Here is a picture of sixteen-week-old Braxton taking his very first nap in his crate. This was a HUGE milestone for him.
Believe in yourself. You and your puppy can do this! (Photo: French Bulldog X English Bulldog puppy takes his first nap in his crate)
Always leave your puppy with a chew toy that is safe and arrange for someone you trust to walk them partway through the day. Be sure that the person who is letting them out for you has a solid understanding of dog behaviour (so they don’t accidentally make your separation anxiety case worse than it already is.)
Good luck, have fun, and you’ve got this!!
Alyssa
Photos by: Charles Deluvio (black pug in crate,) Juan Gomez (tan-coloured Whippet lies on a sofa covered with a blanket,) Sébastien LAVALAYE (a bulldog lays on his bed with his chin propped up on the edge,) Alyssa Foulkes (French Bulldog X English Bulldog puppy takes his first nap in his crate.)