How to Train a Dog to Sleep in a Crate

Dogs should receive plenty of exercise and attention, especially when crate training.

Dogs are instinctively den animals; their ancestral lineage sought out the safety of confined places where predators could not reach them. Training a dog to be comfortable in a crate means taping into the dog's natural tendency to feel safe in den like places. By going through the steps slowly and not being overly aggressive in your expectations, you can get to the point where your dog readily goes into the crate on his own.

Things You'll Need

• Dog bed
• Toys
• Treats

Instructions

1. Place the crate in the room where you spend most of your time when you are home. Since dogs want to be around their humans, it is best to be in the same room as your dog gets used to the crate. Make the crate comfortable. Add a soft bed and a few of your dogs favorite toys. Latch the door open so there is no chance of it accidentally closing as your dog explores the crate.

2. Toss one of your dog's favorite food treats into the crate. Make sure he sees you and the treat. You can speak to him while you do it to get him excited about the treat but do not force him to go into the crate to retrieve it. Do this several times throughout the day until he enters the crate for the treat readily. Praise the dog for entering the crate. Do not close him into the crate at this point. Let him explore it at his own pace.

3. Feed the dog in front of his crate or, if he enters the crate willingly, right inside of it. This should not be an unpleasant experience for the dog. If he does not eat, move the bowl further away from the crate until he does. Move the food closer to the crate with each feeding. Do this until he is comfortable with the crate. Then you can continue to feed him where you'd like.

4. Take your dog out to defecate and urinate. Doing so before proceeding to closing the gate on the crate lets you know that any whimpering or crying is not because your dog needs to eliminate body waste. Once inside, hold a treat in front of the crate door and call your dog to you. Using a command, such as "crate up" or "kennel," toss the treat into the crate. Once your dog enters, quietly close the gate.

5. Sit close to the crate but do not make a big deal out of the dog being in the crate. After five minutes, quietly walk out of the room. Wait another five minutes. Return to the crate and open it. If your dog whimpers, barks, or howls at any point, do not open the gate right away. Wait for the dog to be quiet for at least three to five minutes before opening the crate. Otherwise, he will learn that if he is vocal, he will be released from the crate.

6. Repeat steps four and five until the dog enters the crate on command without the need of a treat. Also extend the time out of the room to 10 minutes. Continue to extend the time until you can be out of the room for 30 minutes. Then use the crate while you leave the house for an hour. Put the dog in the crate and wait five minutes before you leave. When you return home, let the dog out of the crate and immediately take him out to defecate and urinate. Repeat this process in one hour increments, up to four hours. With each increment, wait a few minutes after you arrive home before letting him out. Work up to being home for five minutes before letting him out of the crate and taking him outside so he doesn't associate his crate with always being left alone.

7. Take the dog out for a final defecating and urinating of the day and then command her to enter the crate. If she needs to eliminate during the night, you can first move the crate closer to your bedroom so you can hear her when she needs to go out. If she is used to sleeping through the night without having to go outside, you can leave the crate where she has been using it. She should now be acclimated enough to her crate to sleep in it without any problems.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the crate is the right size for your dog. It should be just large enough for her to comfortable stretch out, sit, stand up and turn around in.

• Take your time with each step. Do not progress in the training until the dog is comfortable with the previous step.

• Never use the crate as punishment. Doing so will make your dog distrust the crate.

• Always remove your dog's collar when leaving him unattended in the crate or he might get inadvertently caught.

• Do not leave your dog in the crate longer than he can go without needing to eliminate body waste. The length of time a dog can control her bowels varies by age and from dog to dog. If a dog is forced to defecate or urinate in the crate, it becomes an uncomfortable place. This can also create a bad habit that can be difficult to break.

References

• Champaign County Humane Society: Crate Training
• The Dog Training Secret: Crate Training Dogs
• American Dog Trainers Network; Crate Training; Robin Kovary, et al.
• The Human Society of the United States; Crate Training; October 2009

Resources

• Dog Training Crate