Let me begin by saying that in no way am I an expert on crate training. The method that is describe in this article is the method that has been utilized by us to train 4 Boxers, 1 Boxer/Chow mix and 2 Miniature Dachshunds. Some of their training started at 6 weeks and some started as late as 1.5 years old with successful results on all accounts.

Crate training can potentially be one of the most important training steps that you take with your dog. It can end up being a lifesaver for you and your pet. It can save furniture, carpet, curtains and just about anything a bored or angry dog can get its mouth on. A dog any age can be trained to go into a crate of its own free will.

We started with the size crate that our boxers would always use, 24"w x 36"d x 28"h, this size crate also fits well in the back of Explorers, 4-Runners, etc… Our biggest Boxer is 80 lbs. and rides in this size crate quite comfortably. When we train a puppy we begin with some soft bedding in the very back of the crate and place an old T-shirt that has been worn by me on top of the bedding. The scent of his/her human tends to reassure the puppy and calm him a little. Our crates are the wire types so that the puppy can see all around the room. I keep some type of soft treats near the crate so that they get a treat every time they go in. At first you will need to guide the puppy in and while doing this I say "Get in your crate". As soon as he/she goes in, I give lots of praise and a treat. If we are crating for the night I will lay down behind the crate and stick my fingers through the crate so that the puppy can lay down touching me. As soon as they are asleep I will ease away from the crate careful not to wake the puppy. Most times they will sleep through the night. If they don’t and wake up and cry a little, get up and take them outside, this will also help with house training. The first thing in the morning, take the puppy outside. Don’t worry if they eliminate in the crate, especially a puppy, this will stop eventually. When leaving them in the crate for the day make sure you take them outside to use the bathroom right before putting them in the crate. This will help with them messing up in the crate. I always make sure that I leave a safe and non-supervised toy in the crate to help with the boredom. A lot of people that I have talked with like to leave a radio on for company. I also make sure that I leave some type of light on if I know I will not be back until after dark. When crating for the day I use the same process of putting the puppy in the crate. I have found that treats and lots of praise go a long way in training a puppy or dog to happily go into a crate of their own free will.

With dedication and persistence the puppy will learn to go into the crate when asked. This same process will also work for grown dogs and in most cases, quicker because a grown dog seems to catch on to what you are wanting. Be warned ahead of time though a grown dog can be much more stubborn than a puppy.

Some important points to remember when crate training:

• Do not place the crate near anything that they maybe able to reach out and touch with a paw. It’s best to place the crate right in the center of the room that you have the crate in.
• Do not leave any toys in the crate that could possibly be a choke hazard or that could get wrapped around a leg or neck.
• Do not ever use the crate as punishment.
• Do not ever use an angry tone of voice when placing the dog in the crate.

When the crate is not in use, we leave the door open so that the dogs can come and go as they please into it. This becomes a safe haven for them and they will begin to use the crate much like a doghouse. When we would forget to leave the door open, one of our Boxers would actually go over and open the door herself to get a toy out or to just take a nap. One thing that we did for awhile but eventually stopped was to cover the crate with an afghan or a throw to kind of create a cave type atmosphere for them. This worked well to kind of cover up the crate when company came over and makes it more pleasing to the eye. We did discover however, that if you are leaving the house and putting the puppy in the crate, remove the throw. Ours learned how to grab the throw through the crate and would start to pull it through the wire. This can not only create a mess but can potentially be dangerous for the dog.

I highly recommend using the crate at night until you are sure that you will not have accidents in the middle of the night. You can also add a water bottle to the crate when you feel like the puppy will be able to control their bathroom use until you return.

The one thing to always keep in mind for successful crate training is that CONSISTANT AND PERSISTANT training is the key with treats and LOTS OF PRAISE.