How to Crate-Train Your Dog Without Resistance

1 Crate Training Your Dog Without a Struggle

Once your dog is fully inside, close the door and let it finish the meal. Open the crate door as soon as it finishes. Then, each time you feed in the crate, keep the door closed a few minutes longer. Your goal is for the dog to stay in the crate for about 10 minutes after eating.

If your dog whines to get out, you will know it was confined too long. But do not let it out until the whining stops—otherwise it learns that whining earns release, and will keep doing it.

Sometimes when your puppy wants out, you may want it to stay. Do not trick it by calling it over and then shoving it in. Instead, use a command like ‘Go to your crate!’ and lure it in with a bit of food. Once settled, give the food and praise, and keep feeding while it stays. If the puppy ventures out, cut off all food and rewards.

Leave a few kibbles in the crate so your puppy forms the habit of going in on its own to earn more praise and treats. In the end, it learns that inside the crate it gets attention, affection, and good food, while outside hardly anyone treats it that way.

Once your dog enters regularly, reward it with a long-lasting, interesting chew toy. This encourages relaxation and longer stays.

By the way, never punish your puppy by putting it in the crate for misbehavior. Used this way, the crate becomes something the dog hates and a poor behavior tool.

If your dog starts to howl, you must tell whether it is upset about the crate or needs to go out to eliminate. Do not let it out just because it whines. Ignore it for a few minutes to see if the crying stops. If that fails, cue it with your ‘go outside’ phrase. If the dog reacts excitedly, take it out to eliminate as soon as possible.