How to teach your dog to go to bed in the crate

crate training

Open the crate door, or if you are using a pet bed go stand near the area.

Throw a treat into the crate and say "go to bed" or whatever your command will be. Keep your command basic and simple.

When your dog goes into the crate to get their treat, praise them. If you are clicker training, click the clicker as soon as they step into the crate/bed and praise them extravagantly.

Now you can pretend to toss the treat into the crate and the dog should begin to go into the crate when you give the command. Follow thru with a reward.

If there is a long delay after you say, "Go to Bed" before your dog starts moving towards the bed, do a few repetitions where you gently guide her over to the bed right after you say the cue.

butter sleeping

Then you can begin to pair this command with lie down. Practice Practice Practice with the pairings. Reward every time that your dog successfully goes to the crate and lies down. Eventually, you can move farther away, point to it and your dog will happily go to it and lie down.