DOG AND PUPPY CRATE TRAINING: COMMON CRATE TRAINING MISTAKES

To crate train a puppy or dog is the process of teaching your pet to accept a dog crate or cage as a familiar and safe location. When you crate train your best bud, you’re tapping into its natural instincts to look for a safe, comfortable, and quiet place when the environment around them becomes too overwhelming. When done correctly, crate training offers many benefits to owners and dogs. 

When is Being in a Crate Useful?

Here are just a few examples of when your dog might feel overwhelmed and a crate would be useful:

• When you need to transport your pet

• When there is an emergency at home

• When you have guests around or strangers in your home

• If there are fireworks or loud noises outside

• If your pet is injured and needs to rest

• When you are introducing a new pet into your household

The Benefits of Crate Training

While you may hear mixed opinions about crate training puppies and dogs, many experts and veterinarians are all for this popular training method. Why? Because the benefits could just be the thing your doggo’s needing. 

Here are a few of the benefits of dog crate training:

• Crate training a puppy helps make potty training your pup a lot easier

• Your dog always has a space just for them, where they feel safe and comfortable

• It is much easier to travel with your dog because they are used to the crate

• Should an emergency strike at home, you can keep your dog under control in the crate

• You can enjoy peace of mind when you are not at home because your dog will be safe

Now that you know a little more about crate training, it’s time to look at a few of the common mistakes pawrents make when they crate train. 

7 CRATE TRAINING MISTAKES

Even when we’re doing our best for our doggos, mistakes can happen, and it’s totally not the end of the world. If you’re wondering why is crate training so hard or if you’re not getting the results you’d hoped for, you might be making one of these common crate training mistakes. 

Not Introducing your Dog to the Crate Properly

This is often the first mistake pawrents make when crate training. You want to start on the right foot (or should we say paw), and this involves properly introducing your dog to the new crate. Let your dog investigate and explore, and reward it for going into the crate. Create a positive first interaction, and don’t forget to fill the crate with all your doggo’s favorite things!

Door Buddy's Dog Crate Recommendations:

Best Budget

If you’re looking for a crate that is strong enough to hold your pet but also won’t break the bank, we suggest this Amazon Basics Portable Folding Soft Dog Travel Crate Kennel. It is lightweight and durable but also easy to transport if you are going to be traveling. 

Best for Travel

If you love traveling with your doggo, then Petmate’s Two Door Top Load Dog & Cat Kennel will be a fur-tastic investment for your furmily. This crate features multiple doors, which makes it easy to use. The modern design makes for com-fur-table traveling for your pet. 

Best Overall

When it comes to overall best crates, you can’t go wrong with the MidWest iCrate Fold & Carry Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate. This crate is secure and sturdy and also folds down conveniently if you want to take it with you when traveling. The price is right too! 

2. Forgetting to Make the Crate Cozy

Would you want to sleep or stay in an empty, cold, and hard box? Didn't think so, and neither does your dog. A big reason why doggos avoid the crate is because it's simply uninviting. Go ahead and throw in their dog bed, blanket, and some toys. Soon enough, their crate will be their fur-vorite place!

3. Giving Up too Easily

As with any aspect of dog training, crate training a puppy or adult dog requires patience (and lots of it)! Making the crate experience a paws-itive one is essential, and you’ll need to keep your cool even when your doggo isn’t doing exactly what you want. 

Here are a few top tips to help:

• Don’t force your puppy or dog into the crate. Instead, encourage them to go in on their own and reward them when they do

• Don’t yell, get mad, or bang on the crate when your dog whines or cries while in the crate

• Don’t give in and let them out of the crate if they are whining or crying 

Crate training a puppy or dog will take some time, but as your bud gets more comfortable with the crate, you’ll both be able to enjoy the benefits. 

4. Hiding the Dog Crate

Hiding the dog crate is a common mistake that many dog owners make. While you probably won’t want to crate front and center in your home, putting it in a room or area where nobody goes is not recommended. This can make your dog feel isolated and will put them off going into the crate. Our doggos are social animals who want to be near us, even in their safe space. 

5. Using the Crate for Punishment

When it comes to how to crate train a puppy or dog, using the crate for punishment is a big no! You want your doggo to have a positive association with the crate. If they start to associate being in there with being in trouble, your dog will have a negative association with the crate. How to crate train a puppy or dog successfully depends on building a positive foundation. 

6. Moving too Fast

Even if your doggo is smart and responds well to training, some pawrents make the mistake of moving too fast in crate training. You don’t want to put your dog in there and leave them for hours at a time when you’re just getting started. You must gradually introduce your dog to the crate and start with short periods. Once your dog is comfortable, you can build up from there. 

7. Not Exercising your Dog Enough

This mistake can impact your dog’s life in many ways. When our dogs can’t get their energy out, they might start acting out in other ways. Daily exercise is good for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Crate training is also much easier when your dog is getting enough physical activity! 

Now that you know some of the more common crate training mistakes, you’re ready to try this training method at home. If you’re still having doubts about crate training, The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (ADPT) have released an official statement regarding their stance on crate training dogs, which reads:

“The Association of Professional Dog Trainers recommends the use of crates for puppies and dogs as a short-term training tool and as safety equipment throughout the dog’s life.”