Crate Games & Setup
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Even if you do not plan on using a crate as part of your daily routine, your dog will most likely need to be confined at some point in his or her life, such as during or after veterinary treatment, including routine spay/neuter. If you do plan on using a crate as part of your housetraining, travel, or home containment setup, then it's even more important to create an early positive association through a series of games and low-stress setups.
Prepare high and low value treats, such as diced meat and plain kibble. You can obtain the behaviour of entering the crate via luring (guiding the puppy with a treat) or via prompting and shaping (waiting for the dog to approach it). Mark as soon as she steps in, and feed a high-value treat. Also reward for the door closing, for staying in the crate, and for the door opening. Introduce a release word, such as "okay", "release", "free", or "break", and feed a low-value treat, such as kibble, outside of the crate. Repeat.
Crate your puppy for most meals, snacks, and naps. Feed a few treats for entering, leave your puppy for a few minutes, then - while the puppy is still being quiet in the crate - serve the meal or snack from a food dispensing toy in order to maximize enrichment time. Gradually increase the duration your puppy crates before being fed meals. Stop confinement and consult with your instructor if you think that your puppy might be panicking. Whining and barking can be quite normal, but heavy panting, wide eyes, and refusing food when hungry are examples of signs that your puppy may be legitimately stressed.
For naps, simply place your tired puppy into the crate with a snuggle buddy and close the door. Overtired puppies will scream, eventually settle, go to sleep, and seem relaxed when they wake up. Ask your instructor if you're not sure whether your puppy is simply overtired vs. stressed by crating.
Use a larger pen or puppy-safe playroom to confine your puppy for periods longer than one hour. Place your open-door crate into the pen with high-value chews, such as bully rings, tied to the inside. You can also scatter her kibble into the open crate for meals, or place a filled KONG Wobbler weighted meal-dispensing toy into the back of the crate. This setup will entice your puppy to voluntarily spend time in the crate while forming long-lasting positive associations. If there is any chance that your puppy will need to potty while confined, place a dog litter pan or natural surface potty area away from your puppy's crate.
