By Norma Jeanne Laurette
Introduction
Crate training has become so common that sometimes new puppy guardians assume every puppy needs to be crate trained. Crates can be valuable. They can prevent chewing inappropriate or dangerous objects, help with house training, and prepare our dogs for situations in which temporary confinement may be necessary in the future (R1) (R7). However, responsible positive training requires us to know the difference between using a crate as a management tool and forcing puppies to tolerate prolonged confinement. Every dog is different in temperament, previous experience, resilience and emotional response, meaning that cookie cutter solutions for any behaviour will not work for every dog (R2) (R3). In fact, a method that works well for one puppy can cause significant distress in another.
Professional positive dog trainers should always approach crate training in the same way they approach other areas of behaviour by evaluating the individual dog, observing its response and adapting the training plan accordingly. For more information about positive dog training see my article Positive Dog Training: The Science, Ethics & Proven Results.
Professional positive dog trainers should always approach crate training in the same way they approach other areas of behaviour by evaluating the individual dog, observing its response and adapting the training plan accordingly. For more information about positive dog training see my article Positive Dog Training: The Science, Ethics & Proven Results.
The Purpose Of A Crate
Young puppies require almost constant supervision. Normal puppy behaviours include investigating their environment, chewing inappropriate objects, having accidents in the house and not understanding what’s expected of them. When positively introduced, a crate can provide temporary management during this developmental period. It can become a comfortable resting place associated with food, healthy chews, relaxation and safety (R4) (R7). But management should always have a purpose, and the objective is not to keep a dog confined for the rest of its life. It’s to prevent unwanted behaviour while the puppy develops the skills necessary to earn freedom in its home.
Emotional Wellbeing
A puppy's first days in its new home includes a lot of change. Separation from its mother and littermates is followed by unfamiliar people, surroundings, sights, sounds, smells, routines and possibly other animals. Although adding sudden isolation and confinement might be easy for one puppy, it can be extremely difficult for many. Excessive panting, drooling, prolonged distress vocalizations, frantic attempts to escape, inability to settle, refusing food or chews in the crate and a reluctance to re-enter the crate can indicate significant distress (R2) (R3).
Professional dog trainers need to recognize the difference between mild frustration and an emotional response that indicates the training plan needs to change. Humane training is based on methods that promote desirable behaviour while minimizing emotional distress as much as humanly possible (R1). A puppy showing signs of distress should never be left to "cry it out", instead, the training plan should be adjusted to help it cope. For more information about stress and anxiety see my article entitled Stress & Anxiety In Dogs: How To Cure Stress & Anxiety While Protecting Your Dog’s Emotional Wellbeing.
Professional dog trainers need to recognize the difference between mild frustration and an emotional response that indicates the training plan needs to change. Humane training is based on methods that promote desirable behaviour while minimizing emotional distress as much as humanly possible (R1). A puppy showing signs of distress should never be left to "cry it out", instead, the training plan should be adjusted to help it cope. For more information about stress and anxiety see my article entitled Stress & Anxiety In Dogs: How To Cure Stress & Anxiety While Protecting Your Dog’s Emotional Wellbeing.
Positive Introduction To A Crate
Introducing a puppy to the crate should begin with choice. Leave the door open and allow the puppy to investigate voluntarily. Food can be placed around the entrance and then inside. Meals, toys and appropriate chews can help establish the crate as a place where pleasant experiences occur. Once the puppy willingly enters and relaxes, the door can be closed briefly then reopened while the puppy remains comfortable and busy, at which point duration can gradually be increased. This process uses the principles of desensitization and counter-conditioning. Desensitization allows gradual exposure at an intensity the puppy can tolerate without distress, while counter-conditioning helps create a positive emotional association with the experience. And as always, the puppy should set the pace (R2) (R3).
Why Forced Confinement Can Be Counterproductive
When a puppy is stressed, anxious or frightened, increasing the intensity or duration of the experience does not help it feel better. Forcing dogs through distress is called flooding, it creates or strengthens unpleasant associations and can be extremely traumatic. Behaviour modification should always aim to prevent unnecessary fear, stress or anxiety and maintain a level where learning can occur while the dog remains calm (R2) (R3). Research examining confrontational and non-confrontational approaches reinforces the importance of considering the behavioural and emotional consequences associated with aversive interactions. Positive dog training is not just about eliciting behaviour and putting it on cue, just as important is protecting the dog’s temperament and emotional wellbeing (R5).
Exercise Pens As An Alternative
An exercise pen can provide many of the management benefits of a crate while allowing the puppy a lot more freedom of movement. The puppy can have access to a bed, appropriate toys, safe chews, water when suitable and sufficient room to stretch, move around, play and change resting positions. Exercise pens have long been incorporated into positive puppy-raising because they allow guardians to control the environment without requiring confinement to a small area (R4). For some puppies, the additional space makes a big behavioural and emotional difference. If a puppy panics in a crate, switching to a larger area can still meet the guardian's needs while nurturing a calmer puppy. In situations such as these, changing the management system becomes the most appropriate and humane professional recommendation.
Puppy-Proofed Areas
A puppy-proofed room or gated section of the house is another option but
requires careful preparation. Electrical cords, toxic substances, plants, medications, small objects, in fact, anything inappropriate that the puppy could possibly eat or chew needs to be removed or secured. Exercise pens can also be used to block cabinets, walls, baseboards, etc. that a puppy may chew while in the confined area.
Environmental management is in itself an important part of training. Preventing the rehearsal of unwanted behaviours while setting up the environment so that correct choices are the only options helps set the puppy up for success. As the puppy matures, it no longer has accidents in the house and is not chewing inappropriate items, access to the home can gradually increase (R1) (R4).
requires careful preparation. Electrical cords, toxic substances, plants, medications, small objects, in fact, anything inappropriate that the puppy could possibly eat or chew needs to be removed or secured. Exercise pens can also be used to block cabinets, walls, baseboards, etc. that a puppy may chew while in the confined area.
Environmental management is in itself an important part of training. Preventing the rehearsal of unwanted behaviours while setting up the environment so that correct choices are the only options helps set the puppy up for success. As the puppy matures, it no longer has accidents in the house and is not chewing inappropriate items, access to the home can gradually increase (R1) (R4).
Crates & House training
Although crates are frequently recommended for house training, they are not the only choice. Successful house training is about creating an effective learning pattern, which includes preventing accidents, teaching the puppy to tell you when it needs to go out, providing frequent opportunities for outdoor elimination and immediately reinforcing the puppy for eliminating outside. With repetition, eliminating outside becomes habit. For more information about house training see my article Potty Training A Puppy: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide.
An exercise pen can provide safe management while a puppy develops bladder control. A larger confined space can also include an appropriate elimination area of newspapers or pee pads, which will gradually disappear as house training becomes successful. Remember that our goal is not just to teach the puppy to handle confinement, it’s also to teach the behaviours that will earn its freedom.
An exercise pen can provide safe management while a puppy develops bladder control. A larger confined space can also include an appropriate elimination area of newspapers or pee pads, which will gradually disappear as house training becomes successful. Remember that our goal is not just to teach the puppy to handle confinement, it’s also to teach the behaviours that will earn its freedom.
Teaching Puppies Independence
Because independence is an important life skill, dogs should gradually learn that they can relax and be happy while their guardians are away. However, teaching independence shouldn't be confused with leaving a puppy alone for extended periods of time. The amount of time should be developed gradually according to the puppy's age, physical needs and emotional response. When guardians need to be away from home for longer periods of time, arranging for someone to provide bathroom, social and activity breaks becomes essential. A dog trainer's responsibility is not just to help guardians crate train their puppy, it’s to help them develop fair and realistic expectations and management strategies that consider the needs of both the dog and guardian.
Night Time
Night Time can be particularly difficult because puppies are accustomed to sleeping with their mother and littermates. Dogs are highly social animals and many do not like sleeping away from their social group, especially as puppies. A crate, exercise pen or blocked area can be situated beside the guardian's bed to provide proximity and security while the puppy adjusts to its new environment. Although some puppies will sleep through the night from the day they come home, many will require night time elimination breaks. If the puppy wakes because it needs to eliminate, calmly take it outside, reinforce successful elimination then return it to its sleeping area. As the puppy matures, the length of time between trips outside should gradually increase. For more information about teaching your puppy to sleep through the night see my article How To Teach A Puppy To Sleep Through The Night: Proven Tips For Restful Sleep.
Sleeping With The Guardian
Although some have strong opinions about this, my opinion is that there’s no reason a dog can’t sleep in bed with its guardian if this is their choice. The important question is where you want the dog to sleep for the rest of its life. If the long-term plan is for the dog to not sleep on the bed, allowing the puppy on your bed will cause stress and anxiety when it’s no longer allowed. If the guardian ultimately wants the dog sleeping elsewhere, establishing this routine from the beginning will prevent problems down the road (R3) (R6).
Professional Trainers Need To Be Flexible
Professional dog training should never become a collection of rigid rules applied to every dog, and crate training is a good example. One puppy will thrive in a crate, another in an exercise pen and another with a puppy-proofed area. And some might choose to use all three approaches at different stages of development. A qualified positive dog trainer should understand the benefits and limitations of each option and help guardians choose the best approach based on safety as well as the puppy’s behaviour and emotional wellbeing. For more information about balancing rules and emotional needs see my article Where Rules Meet Compassion: Balancing Structure & Empathy In Dog Training.
The International Positive Dog Training Association supports humane, positive training that respects the individual dog and its emotional needs. Crate training is compatible with that philosophy in choosing the confinement that is best for the dog, and in introducing confinement positively and using it appropriately. The question isn't whether crates are good or bad, it’s whether the particular management choice is appropriate for the individual puppy. For more information about meeting a dogs emotional needs see my article entitled Emotional Fulfilment For Dogs: How To Keep Your Dog Happy & Emotionally Balanced.
The International Positive Dog Training Association supports humane, positive training that respects the individual dog and its emotional needs. Crate training is compatible with that philosophy in choosing the confinement that is best for the dog, and in introducing confinement positively and using it appropriately. The question isn't whether crates are good or bad, it’s whether the particular management choice is appropriate for the individual puppy. For more information about meeting a dogs emotional needs see my article entitled Emotional Fulfilment For Dogs: How To Keep Your Dog Happy & Emotionally Balanced.
Summary
A crate can be a useful tool when raising a puppy, but it should never be viewed as the only option. Positive crate training means introducing confinement gradually, creating pleasant associations, observing the puppy's emotional response and adjusting the plan when necessary (R1) (R2). Exercise pens and puppy-proofed areas can provide excellent alternatives, particularly for puppies who find close confinement difficult. In the end, the objective of puppy training is not to produce a dog that spends its life successfully confined, it’s to raise a dog that develops the confidence, independence, appropriate behaviour and life skills required to no longer require confinement when alone.
References
(R1) American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB). Humane Dog Training Position Statement.
(R2) Yin, S. (2009). Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs & Cats. CattleDog Publishing.
(R3) Overall, K. L. (2013). Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Elsevier.
(R4) Dunbar, I. (2003). Before & After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Dog. New World Library.
(R5) Herron, M. E., Shofer, F. S., & Reisner, I. R. (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesirable behaviors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117(1–2), 47–54.
(R6) Bradshaw, J. (2011). Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet. Basic Books.
(R7) VCA Animal Hospitals. Crate Training Your Puppy.
Photo By Norma Jeanne Laurette
(R2) Yin, S. (2009). Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs & Cats. CattleDog Publishing.
(R3) Overall, K. L. (2013). Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Elsevier.
(R4) Dunbar, I. (2003). Before & After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Dog. New World Library.
(R5) Herron, M. E., Shofer, F. S., & Reisner, I. R. (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesirable behaviors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117(1–2), 47–54.
(R6) Bradshaw, J. (2011). Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet. Basic Books.
(R7) VCA Animal Hospitals. Crate Training Your Puppy.
Photo By Norma Jeanne Laurette