Crate training is a common first step for new puppy owners in the United States. But what if your puppy truly hates the crate and doesn’t seem to get into trouble outside the crate? Is it worth the hassle of crate training?
In today’s Ask a Behavior Consultant, we tackle the case of the well-behaved but crate-hating puppy:
My puppy does not like being in her crate and often finds ways to escape; however, when outside crate doesn’t destroy anything and often just plays with toys or sleep. I have tried treats, slowly increasing times in crates. Should I force the issue?
– Sincerely, Crate Hate
The Great Crate Debate
Outside of the US, crate training is a lot less common. In fact, there are laws regulating crate training in some Scandinavian countries that make crate training outside of sport and working dog contexts almost obsolete.
I think that’s probably a move in the right direction – while crates are incredibly useful, some Americans really overuse them. It’s pretty common for dogs to spend 8+ hour workdays in the crate, then go back in at night – that’s 16 hours in a cage that’s just barely big enough to turn around and stand up in! Yikes.
Again, that’s fine as a temporary management or training tool. I think that in the United States, we’re far too used to leaving our dogs inside of crates for more than half the day.
This article from The Guardian outlines the “Great Crate Debate” – a fascinating read!
If My Puppy Hates the Crate, Should I Make it a Priority?
Here’s my “hot take” on this problem:
If your puppy truly is well-behaved outside of the crate and you’re not planning on a crate being part of her regular adult life (like being crated at agility trials), why force the issue?
I personally prefer to use baby gates or exercise pens to contain dogs whenever possible, rather than putting them inside a crate.
Most people use crate training as “a means to an end.” The point of the crate is to be a management tool. Crates help keep puppies from chewing on cords, chasing the cat, or peeing on the floor.
But if your puppy (or adult dog) already doesn’t chew, chase, or have accidents, you might not really need the crate!
That said, there are some benefits to teaching your dog to be comfortable in the crate.
For example, teaching your dog to be comfy in the crate means that travel or vet visits that require a crate will be a bit less stressful – because your pup is already used to the crate.
How To Teach Your Puppy to Love His Crate
Good crate training can take a long time. So if you really want your puppy to love the crate, be prepared to be patient.
I don’t recommend using the “cry-it-out” training method. That just strengthens your pup’s lungs, so to speak. It also teaches your puppy that you won’t come rescue him when he needs you!
Instead, I recommend taking your puppy outside for a quiet, boring bathroom break if he fusses. Puppy whining = 2 minutes on leash outdoors, no playtime, no treats, no baby talk. Then back in the crate.
Ideally, though, you’re only going to leave your puppy in the crate for as long as he can handle. Here’s an example of how that would look:
- Hide treats and toys inside the crate with the door open throughout the day.
- Intermittently call your puppy to the crate. Gently lure him inside.
- Feed him a few pieces of his breakfast or dinner while he’s in the crate with the door open.
- Once he’s great at that, start feeding him through a closed door. Practice latching and unlatching the door.
- Once he’s succeeding with that, start using puzzle toys and long-lasting chews (the link shows off some of our favorites). Leave him in the crate for longer and longer, adding mere seconds to each practice round.
Once your puppy is able to calmly tolerate being in the crate for a few minutes while you’re next to the crate, you can start some of the exercises below.
These are not in a specific order – one may be easy for one dog, and hard for the next!
- Start standing up and walking away while your pup is in the crate.
- Practice crate training while your puppy is sleepy and while you’d like him out from underfoot anyway, like while you’re cleaning the house. Drop treats into the crate every few minutes while you work.
- Leave your pup in the crate while you watch TV. Drop treats into the crate every so often to preempt fussing and crying.
- The goal is NOT to reward the crying – but to avoid it by keeping your pup comfy. If your pup starts to fuss, do the 2-minute bathroom break!
- Leave your puppy in the crate while you shower or go get the mail.
If you know you have to leave your puppy for longer than he can handle, use the exercise pen, baby gate, or other setup. Leaving your puppy alone to panic in the crate just teaches him that the crate is a scary place!
My 7 month old puppy never liked the crate so the only time we crate her is when we leave the house usually for a few hours. She’s potty trained so never messes in the cage.
Today we left and put her in there and she bent the sides and tore the metal and made a hole in it. Thank goodness she didn’t get hurt.
Now what do we do with her when we leave?
That sounds like she was pretty distressed. Can you video her next time you leave to see if it looks like she has separation anxiety? If so, try our super-cheap ebook on the topic, it helps a TON!
Hi,
Our puppy is a rescue and had a pretty long and traumatic journey to the UK with her siblings all separated in crates.
When we first got her home she enjoyed the new crate as it was a safe space. She would feed in there and only whimper a tiny bit if she was in the crate and we were in the same room. Night 1 of crate training and she cried in the crate (in the bedroom next to me). I moved to the floor next to the crate which stopped the crying but she heavy panted for a lot of the night. The day after she wont nap or play in the crate at all. Any advice on getting her back in the crate for sleeping tonight?
NB. Shes now comfortable napping in the day at our feet instead and playing outside of the cage and sticks to me like a shadow.
Hi Sophe – we used a puppy pen setup for our puppy where the only available bed was inside the crate, and we placed the crate inside the pen as close to my desk as possible. That really helped. We have a crate training guide that you’ll find helpful as well, available here: https://journeydogtraining.com/product/crate-training-a-to-z/
Hello I just Recently got my 8 week old Australian shepherd and I’m having a little trouble getting him to like his crate. He’ll sleep in the crate if I put him in but he won’t go in on his own. What should I do.
Hi Ana, that’s quite typical. At this age you usually have to put them in there to start. Check out our Pandemic Puppy episode on crate training for more: https://journeydogtraining.com/pandemic-puppy-09/
As I was reading this, my new puppy just meandered into his crate on his own and is laying down with the gate open. What a relief, looks like he is adjusting to it well. I was worried I was doing a bad job or being too forceful.
Well done! Keep it up!
Hi. We have just this week got our first ever puppy. He is 4 months old and he hates his cage. It is a real fight to get him in it at night. Then once in it, he cries and barks and rattles the cage for around 15-20 mins before then sleeping the whole night. Any tips? We hate having to put him through that stress.
Hi Craig – where is the crate at right now? I slept with my puppy’s crate on my bedside table the first few nights. Then I put it on the ground right next to the bed. Then each day I moved it a bit further till I got it to its final spot. This gradual approach really reduced stress!
I have a 14 week Labrador and crate training thru the day is horrible. She sleeps fine in the crate at night but refuses to during the day,If I am up moving she thinks she needs to be with me.
She barks none stop what should I do?
Hi Libby! Check out our crate training and puppy palace info in this podcast episode, it should help a lot: https://journeydogtraining.com/pandemic-puppy/
You may also enjoy our episode with Sarah Dixon on creating a schedule for puppies: https://journeydogtraining.com/pandemic-puppy-07/
Hi we are trying to crate train on a night time which he cries and whines. His tail is still up and wagging rather than down. We let him out just before bed to toilet but we are finding that within the first 5-10mins of being in the crate he is then having a poo. He then proceeds to eat it. Not sure if it is tp get our attention or of he is scared. Weve got it set up nice for him with fluffy bedding, some safe toys, blanket over the top. We spent the forst 3 nights beside him and he was alright but our vet said to stop this and practice some tough love as said we were making a rod for our own backs in the long run. He goes to bed at 9:30pm Once he is settled he falls asleep just fine. We get him up at 1:30am for toilet then straight back to bed which he settles after 5-10mins and doesnt mess then. It is only at his 9:30pm bed time when he does this. Is there anything else we can do or do we need to ride it out and he will grow out of it? His poos are firm and goes no problem throughout the day. He is on dr johns puppy food and fed 3 times a day totalling 187g for the full day with some wagg treats for when he has done something good. We are going to try some crate training during the day so he can get used to it during the day time. We are also playing with him in the crate, moving him in it when he is sleepy (though any noise and hes out back beside our feet to sleep) feed his meals in the crate and hide treats. Weve even tried adding a pen on the outside so he can come and go inside of the crate as he pleases but he also cries and whines in this and tries to get out
Hi Sarah, it sounds like you’re struggling. You’ve given me a lot of good background info here, but I can’t give specific advice on your pup without chatting more. Would you like to schedule a 15 minute call to go over things?
Hi Kayla! We have a 6 month old Samoyed. I would like to first mention we got her from PetLand. As you may be aware, these facilities are not the best environment for puppies and mostly all of them come from puppy mills. Their early years are raised in confinement and in less than favorable conditions. It was never our intention to purchase a puppy from here, but once I saw her, I felt the need to rescue this beautiful baby from this small glass cage,and remove her from these conditions. We are very familiar with stubborn, intelligent, mischievous breeds; as we have been Sibarian Husky owners for years. However, we were not quite aware of the excessive barking this breed has in them. We immediately started by feeding her, with the door open, inside her kennel and made every attempt to make this space comforting and safe for her. We understood as a puppy, and in a new environment it would take some adjusting for her, but every time we shut the door she freaks out. We would try to ride through the high pitch excessive barking and ignore it, but after 3-4 hours she would not stop. Nothing seemed to help. She gets herself so worked up that she will pee inside the kennel, but otherwise fully potty trained. What suggestions would you give to make her more relaxed inside her kennel? Other trainers have suggested an e collar to correct the behavior, but I feel this defeats the purpose of the kennel being her safe haven. I feel this will make her more fearful than she already is! We have spoken with our veterinarian about this as well and they are very convinced this anxiety is because of where she came from, and so do we. It got to the point it was so bad, we let her sleep in our bedroom on the floor rather than the kennel and she does great! Sleeps all night and doesn’t make a peep, but other trainers are telling us we are just spoiling her. We love her so much and want to find what is best for her! Help!
Hi Megan – first off, I love how much you care for your puppy. It really shows, and she’s lucky to have you. I agree that this should not be treated with an e-collar. Personally I’d look at Sarah Stremming’s Happy Crating Course, as well as a few of our other crate related posts here for additional help. A few extra links for you:
https://journeydogtraining.com/pandemic-puppy-09/
https://journeydogtraining.com/dog-barks-nonstop-kennel/