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Crate Training
This training helps each pup accept being alone. As with all training crate acceptance is a progression. The handler will support each pup to help build their ability to remain calm in a crate. Ideally the handler can be disengaged and eventually the crate tower can be placed out of site.
As learning progresses through repetition, the pup associates the crate with a positive place to be highlighted with a food filled toy and getting out when quiet. At the end of the session, the door is opened when pup is quiet. DON’T PRAISE or make a big deal FOR LEAVING THE CRATE, the skill we are building is *loving your crate*.
Key Points:
- pup is happy, relaxed and accepts being alone and confined
- support lessens as pup demonstrates the ability to settle
- handler moves away only when pup is comfortable
- keep a watchful eye on pup and his body language.
- Pup’s movements should be slow, relaxed, quiet (ei: tail and breathing slow, sits on own, lays down).
- Watch for pup stress signals (ei: fast tail movements, rapidly pacing, climbing and or pawing crate, ears pin back, panting, whining, crying and or barking just to name a few).
- *If pup is showing signs of stress handler is progressing too rapidly; support the pup. Do not abandon a stressed pup, you are there to help pup learn to self-settle.
Giving support can look like:
- Move crate tower to a quiet space,
- speak quietly to pup,
- Touch pup through the crate,
- drop kibble when pup is quiet,
- place a plush toy in crate,
- place a hard toy in crate.
Suggested Age to Time Chart
| Age | Session | Paired or Solo | Duration | Crate Conditions |
| 3-6 weeks | When pups are in pen | All pups | 24/7 | Passive crating (no door) in 200 vari kennel. Fleece in bottom. Mom in pen but outside of crate. |
| 3-6 | During Cleaning | All pups | 60 min | Active crating (door closed) in 500 vari kennel. Fleece in bottom. Add stuffed milkers at 4 weeks. |
| 4 weeks, 2 days | 1 | Paired | 3min | In 500 vari kennel with stuffed milkers. Sprinkle kibble for struggling pups. |
| 4 weeks, 4 days | 2 | 5min | ||
| 4 weeks, 6 days | 3 | 5min | ||
| 5 weeks, 1 day | 4 | Paired | 5 min | Wire crates with suffed toy and towel on bottom. Stuffed milkers. Sprinkle kibble for struggling pups. |
| 5 weeks, 3 days | 5 | 10min | ||
| 5 weeks, 5 days | 6 | Solo | 10min | |
| 6 weeks | 7 | 15min | ||
| 7weeks | 8 | Solo | 20min | |
| 8 weeks | 30min |
*The times listed are suggested times only. It might vary from pup to pup and litter to litter.
Our goal is to expose puppies to the crate in a positive way!
Crate examples
200 vari kennel with fleece in bottom.
400-500 vari kennel with fleece in bottom.
Wire crate with towel and stuffed toy.
The 6 Stages of Crate Games
Depending on the age of the puppies in your facility, these crate games can be useful for older puppies as it reinforces many of the skills learned plus teaches self control. Puppy should be comfortable and already have positive associations with the crate, which these games can build on. Start with the first stage and progress at a level the puppies can manage – repeat stages as needed to reinforce the skill and enable puppy to succeed.
Stage 1
- Open the crate door and stand facing the open doorway with pup on short lead
- Wait for pup to go into crate of own accord (do not give pup any instruction or eye contact) NOTE: DO NOT TOUCH YOUR TREAT POUCH UNTIL PUP HAS GONE INTO THE CRATE
- As soon as pup goes in, pay with treat high (e.g. hold treat higher to encourage puppy to remain in a sit position) and at the back of the crate to inadvertently cue a sit behaviour
- Remove pups lead, close the door, and take a step away
Stage 2
Stage 2 follows immediately from stage 1 so pup is in crate without a lead
- Crouch down, open crate then treat high and at the back of the crate
- Close door and step away
- Repeat several times
NOTE: If at any time the pup moves out of a sit or down position, close the door and step away again. Wait a moment then try again.
Stage 3
Stage 3 follows immediately from stage 2 so pup is in crate without a lead:
- Crouch down, open crate and clip lead 3 times beside pup’s collar without connecting it (pup is learning not to get excited when it sees the lead in our hand)
- Treat high and at the back of the crate
- Close door and step away
- Repeat several times
NOTE: If at any time the pup moves out of a sit or down position, close the door and step away again. Wait a moment then try again.
Stage 4
Stage 4 follows immediately from stage 3 so pup is in crate without a lead
- Crouch down, open crate
- Attach lead to pups’ collar
- Treat high and at the back of the crate
- Detach lead from pup’s collar
- Close door and step away
- Repeat several times
NOTE: If at any time the pup moves out of a sit or down position, close the door and step away again. Wait a moment then try again.
Stage 5: The Gamble
Stage 5 follows immediately from stage 4 so pup is in crate without a lead
- Crouch down, open crate
- Attach lead to pups’ collar
- Stand back with pup on lead and door open
- Wait 1-3 seconds
- Mark and treat high and at the back of the crate
- Remove the lead
- Close crate door and move away
- Repeat several times
NOTE: If at any time the pup moves out of a sit or down position, close the door and step away again. Wait a moment then try again
Stage 6
Stage 6 follows immediately from stage 5 so pup is in crate without a lead
- Crouch down, open crate
- Attach lead to pups’ collar
- Treat high and at the back of the crate
- Stand back with pup on lead and door open
- Wait 1-3 seconds
- Present target hand outside the crate to encourage dog to leave crate
- When pup targets, mark but DO NOT TREAT (Value needs to be in entering and being in crate, not when exiting it)
- Immediately turn around and lure pup to stand back in front of open crate door
- Keep lead short and wait until pup goes into crate again (same as in stage 1)
- Mark and treat high and at the back of the crate
- Repeat several times gradually increasing length of wait before targeting pup out of crate
NOTE: If pup tries to exit before the target hand is presented, immediately close the door to crate, step away and try again in a few minutes.