Crate Training A Puppy

A Puppy Owner’s Guide to Crate Conditioning

It can be overwhelming for families, bringing home a new puppy for the first time. The transition away from their siblings and first home can be stressful and confusing and the puppy often doesn’t know what to expect or what they should or shouldn’t do.

The most important thing you as a new “Pawrent” can do, is to remain calm. Be soothing and understanding of this potentially distressful time in your pup’s life.

At Blue Skye Doodles, there are open crates in the puppy’s play area so they are not seeing one for the first time when they go home. If your breeder didn’t introduce a crate into their environment, or if you are bringing home a puppy from a shelter or rescue, I would read my recommendations on Playpen Training Your New Puppy.

At Blue Skye Doodles, we follow a crate conditioning protocol to create a +CER (Positive Conditioned Emotional Response) to the crate. Before the puppy leaves it’s littermates, it is in a developmental period that creates long-lasting emotional responses. This is also called the Critical Socialization Period, a window that typically occurs from weeks 3 through 16. We as a breeder are uniquely positioned to use this to our advantage and start conditioning the puppy towards a lifetime love of their crate.

Once puppies are a certain age and can safely navigate in and out of a crate, we include them in their play pen area. They have access whenever and however it works for them. They can sleep in them alone or piled on top of their siblings (usually it’s a pile). We keep a clean, soft bolster mat in their crate at all times. Doors remain open so they can come and go and are never “trapped” or stressed for their early introductions. The goal is for puppies to think the crate is the most comfortable bed in their home.

Crates are where good things happen.

In your own home, we recommend continuing this crate conditioning by ensuring that the crate is where good things happen.

·      Make sure the crate has the comfiest bed. We like the Sheri’s calming donut bed on top of a normal crate mat.

·      Feed them their meals in their crate (with the door open).

·      Periodically throw treats into the crate and let the puppy explore and go in and out on their own.

·      We recommend a crate in the main living area of your home or in the playpen setup as well as an additional crate by your bedside for night time.

When feeding your puppy in their crate, close the door just briefly while they are eating. Make sure you stay close by so you can open it once they finish. This is what we did here at Blue Skye Doodles. We don’t want the puppy to panic, the goal is to show them its ok to shut the door. Gradually increase the duration of their time in their crate. This will teach them to expect crate rest after eating their meal and is a healthy way for them to digest their dinner and also for them to learn to relax while you eventually get to enjoy your own dinner.

The key to Crate Conditioning is to gradually increase confinement and slowly work on duration.

Schedules are also key, puppies thrive on a routine and knowing what to expect when and for how long.

Keep practicing happy crate events. A daily “chew” session with a long lasting treat, stuffed kong toy, puppy appropriate puzzle toy or frozen teething ring that will keep them busy. Their crate is the perfect place for this activity and will create a positive association. You will want to do this for several weeks so have a lot of “high value” chew toys/treats on hand that they only get for crate time.

If your puppy fell asleep outside the crate, gently transport them into their crate to continue their nap. Puppies sleep a lot so take advantage and use the crate for happy naptimes.

Crating your puppy at night.

If you decide to use a crate for nighttime instead of the Puppy Playpen (see my other article on that), you will need a crate by your bedside. They should be within reach and able to see you. This is important as you will be able to hear your puppy when they need to potty during the night and having you near them will help alleviate their fear of being alone.

Remember, puppies are pack animals. You are now their pack. Most likely they had siblings and their first human family as their original pack and are now dependent upon you to take that place. Especially those first few nights home, they won’t want to be alone.

Puppies are very sensitive to separation. They will likely cry or vocalize if they feel isolated. Staying with their pack is a strong survival instinct that goes back a long ways before canines were pets. Part of your conditioning task will be to help them feel more comfortable being separated from you but this needs to be done gradually.

When we are working with a new puppy in a crate at night time, it is common for the puppy to settle but become concerned when we disappear from sight to brush our teeth for instance. We usually maintain a conversation so they can hear us moving around out of sight and we return back into bed with little fuss. This teaches them its ok for us to go out of sight and our calm behavior helps them settle back quickly into sleep.

Tips for night time crate training.

·      Keep the crate right by your bed so the puppy can see and hear you. Floor height is ok but it’s even better if you can raise the crate up to bed height.

·      Place an old t-shirt you have worn either in the crate with the puppy or over the top of the crate so they are soothed by your scent.

·      Use a “puppy size” stuffed animal or a Snuggle Puppy in the crate with them. Puppies like to sleep sprawled on top of or next to their litter mates so this will help mimic that.

·      Make sure their last meal is at least 4 hours before bedtime. You can keep a water dish down all day but remove it by 6pm each night.

·      Make sure you take your puppy out to relieve themselves 10 to 15 minutes before bedtime.

·      If you know your puppy has relieved themselves, you can allow them to fuss just a little in the crate at bedtime. If you didn’t see them go, take them out again.

·      Your puppy won’t be able to sleep through the night at first. Plan on at least one night time potty outing, sometimes more. These night time outings shouldn’t have the same celebratory tone as during the day. Keep it businesslike. Carry the pup out, quietly praise them for going and carry them back to their crate. Night time is not when you want to give rewards, play or give extra attention, keep it perfunctory. You don’t want to teach them to wake you up at night for treats.

·      Especially in cooler weather, we like to place a Sheri’s donut bed in their crate at night. This allows them to snuggle in and be cradled on all sides for the most comforting sleep.

·      Spray some Adaptil on their bedding and consider playing some soft music to help them sleep. Especially if you will be gone for any length of time, having music or the TV on can help them not feel alone.

·      Remember, it is very hard on a puppy to go from being played with, talked to, held, cuddled etc. to be placed alone in a crate. They don’t understand why they can’t just sleep in your arms. And they are used to the warmth, heartbeat and security of their siblings curled up beside them. Your understanding will be key.

Crate time is for cars also.

We recommend alternating between traveling in a crate and the back seat when in the car. Lots of short, positive car rides will ensure your puppy enjoys car crate time too.  When riding in the rear seat, a harness with a seat belt restraint is the best choice. It is also a great tool for teaching them to always sit and wait in place while you open the door before releasing them to come out. This is a valuable safety tip so they don’t just rush out of an open car door in the future. When using the crate, remember to utilize those high value chew treats to keep the experience positive and keep them busy.

Crates for traveling.

A soft sided collapsible crate is great for a multitude of outings. Going to the beach or a park, bring a soft-sided crate for easy setup and a quick, safe nap for puppy. Traveling to a relative or staying in a hotel, bring the crate. Visiting friends who have toddlers or other pets, bring your crate. Kids have a soccer game, bring the crate. You will enjoy your excursion more knowing that your puppy has their own safe space to relax in.

Crates are not for punishment. The puppy’s crate should be a happy place with a comfy bed, yummy treats and the added benefit of being a safe zone. Ensuring your pup enjoys the crate means you can bring it anywhere.

Don’t overdo it.

Remember though, while you want your pup to learn to settle nicely in a crate, it is not a substitute for all activities. Your puppy needs to be out with you, and in the world so they receive proper socialization, stimulation, life skills and healthy interactions. Yes, the crate should be a daily part of their life, but they will not benefit from too much confinement.