That Happy Place: How to Train Your Dog to Love His Crate

A dog who is happy in his crate is a happy dog. photo © 2020 Joan Mapou

The holiday season is here and that means special meals with lots of savory smells and wonderful foods to pique the interest of your four-legged friends.  While your dogs may get to partake of a few tasty morsels, you definitely don’t want them helping themselves. That’s why dogs who love their crates are such a blessing when you’re preparing or enjoying a holiday meal. But proper crate training can also bring rewards for both of you year round.

Crate training your dog is such a positive thing on so many levels. It’s a wonderful form of force-free training - and it does not mean your dog has to live in a crate or be confined there for hours. Rather, a crate gives your dog a safe space with multiple benefits for you and your furry friend.

• Using a crate while you’re house training your pup prevents accidents in the house because dogs don’t like to go potty where they sleep. 

• Many dog walkers, day care, and boarding facilities require dogs to use a crate. 

• A crate is useful when traveling to a friend’s house or staying at a hotel or rental home, as it gives your dog a place of his own in an unfamiliar setting. 

• Crates are a safe form of transport for dogs traveling in the car or by air. Small dogs who travel in airplane cabins must be in carriers that fit under your seat.

• Crates are a great tool if you are displaced in an emergency, such as an evacuation situation, when your pet might have to be contained.

So how do you crate train your dog or puppy?  Do you put him in, close the door, and ignore his whining, barking, and pawing? No, you teach him to love the crate. 

The steps to force-free crate training are simple, though the process starts out slowly.  Basically, all good things happen in the crate: meals, special chews, fabulous bones, or a frozen Kong filled with treats like pumpkin, peanut butter, or cheese.  

For force-free crate training, it’s best to begin right away, preferably the first day your dog is in your home.  The crate should only be large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down.

Make the crate a cozy place, and be sure to  put in an item with your smell on it, such as an unwashed tee shirt.

Start by throwing small tasty treats into the crate one at a time, praising your dog when he goes in to get the treat. Once your dog is comfortable going into the crate, practice closing the door for 1-2 seconds, then treat him through the door and let him back out. Repeat this step many times, gradually building to 10 seconds, 20 seconds, and longer.

Next, stuff a Kong with something very yummy or find a special bone that will take a lot of time to chew. Put that treat in the crate and shut the door, then move about the house normally. After 5 minutes or whenever he finishes the treat, let the dog back out, but don’t make a fuss over him. Repeat this step several times, varying the length of your absences from 1 to 20 minutes.

Once he’s mastered that step, start leaving your dog in the crate with something delicious while you leave the house for short errands, like getting the mail or watering the garden. Gradually increase the length of your absences until he is thoroughly used to this routine.

With successful crate training, your dog will be comfortable and content in his crate. Best of all, you’ll both be ready to enjoy the holidays - or whatever life may bring - safely and happily.