Crate Training Guide: Teaching Dogs to Relax, Not Just Tolerate

If your dog seems like they're always 0:03 on, always pacing, always getting into 0:06 things, always looking for the next 0:08 thing to do, you've probably heard 0:10 someone suggest using a crate to manage 0:12 the unwanted challenges. 0:15 And while crates can be incredibly 0:17 valuable, simply confining a high energy 0:19 dog in a crate doesn't necessarily teach 0:21 them how to settle. 0:24 In many cases, dogs learn how to 0:26 tolerate the crate, but they never truly 0:28 learn how to relax there. Dogs will 0:30 stress swine, bark, scratch at the 0:33 crate, 0:36 or they might explode out of the crate 0:38 with even more energy than when they 0:39 went in, almost like a spring that's 0:42 been compressed and finally released. 0:45 And that's why I don't think about crate 0:47 training as teaching dogs to tolerate 0:49 confinement. I use crate training as an The Goal of Crate Training 0:52 opportunity to teach dogs how to relax. 0:54 It becomes a safe place they can return 0:56 to when they need rest or when life 0:59 feels overwhelming. And the good news is 1:01 that this process can help even if your 1:03 dog didn't have the best introduction to 1:04 the crate. Now, if you're the type of 1:07 person that doesn't love the idea of 1:09 using a crate, I get it. I used to feel 1:11 that way, too. Here's what made me 1:13 reconsider. At some point, your dog may 1:15 need to stay overnight at the vet, 1:17 recover from injury, travel in a crate, 1:19 or spend time in an unfamiliar 1:21 environment. And when that happens, 1:23 you're going to be glad that you spent 1:25 the time to do this more intentionally. 1:27 A crate that feels safe and familiar can 1:29 be one of the most calming things you 1:30 can give a dog in an otherwise stressful 1:33 experience. In this video, I'm going to 1:35 walk you through the same progression I 1:37 used with Merlin over the course of 4 1:39 days as he learned to settle in a new 1:41 environment. These are the same 1:43 exercises I use to help anxious and 1:45 easily overstimulated dogs learn how to 1:48 settle in a day-to-day life. So, if your 1:50 dog is anxious, hyperactive, fearful, 1:53 sensitive to outside sounds, or just 1:56 doesn't seem to have an off switch, this 1:58 video is for them. 2:03 Crate training, teaching relaxation, not 2:05 just confinement. 2:07 There are three things I want you to 3 Crate Setup Mistakes to Avoid 2:09 think about before we even bring the dog 2:11 near the crate. Number one, the door. 2:15 Many crate doors swing, rattle, or 2:18 occasionally close on their own. That 2:20 may not seem like a big deal to us, but 2:22 for a dog that is just beginning to 2:24 explore the space, an unexpected sound 2:26 or movement can create uncertainty right 2:29 from the start. So, one of the first 2:31 things I often do is secure the door 2:33 open. I use Velcro. It's simple. cheap 2:37 and effective. I want the dog to be able 2:39 to investigate the crate without 2:40 worrying that the door might move, make 2:43 noise, or close behind them. 2:47 Number two, the blankets. I also pay 2:49 attention to what's inside. I keep 2:51 bedding simple, a fleece blanket with a 2:54 thin foam pad underneath, not too bulky 2:57 because some dogs actually like to 2:58 reposition their blankets, and something 3:00 that's too thick can get in the way of 3:02 that. At this stage, my goal isn't 3:04 confinement. My goal is comfort. 3:08 Number three, the tray. The bottom tray 3:10 of some crates will pop when a dog steps 3:13 inside. 3:15 Did you hear that sound? Did you notice 3:17 his response? It might seem like a small 3:20 detail, but for a dog that's already 3:21 uncertain about the space, that sudden 3:23 sound can be unsettling. A simple fix, 3:26 slide a mat or folded blanket underneath 3:29 the tray. It muffles a sound and can 3:31 make an almost immediate difference in 3:33 how willing a dog is to step inside. 3:36 This is a small detail, but it can have 3:38 a big impact. All right, let's go back 3:41 to day one. The First Crate Training Session 3:44 In these early sessions, I'm not asking 3:46 Merlin to stay. I'm not closing the door 3:49 and I'm not trying to convince him that 3:51 he has to be there. I'm simply 3:53 reinforcing his decision to step inside 3:56 and then releasing him after just a few 3:58 seconds. 4:06 After I release him, something 4:08 interesting happens. He wanders out, 4:11 looks around, gathers a little 4:13 information, and then he walks back in 4:16 on his own. Nobody asked him to. He just 4:19 chose to return. These voluntary choices 4:22 are often the strongest signal that 4:24 we're moving in the right direction. 4:33 One of the biggest challenges with crate 4:35 training is that most people simply 4:37 can't go slow enough. We know we should 4:39 take our time. We know we need to build 4:41 positive associations, but eventually we 4:44 need to leave the house, make dinner, 4:47 answer emails, and keep the dog from 4:50 practicing those unwanted behaviors. Why I Use Exercise Pens 4:53 And that's where exercise pens and gated 4:55 areas can become incredibly helpful. I 4:58 like to place the crate inside the 5:00 exercise pen and leave the crate door 5:02 secured open. This allows us to continue 5:05 providing structure while giving the dog 5:07 more time to develop genuine comfort 5:09 with the crate itself. Where you 5:11 position the pen matters, too. Whenever 5:14 possible, I place it somewhere the dog 5:16 can still feel connected to the family. 5:18 For most dogs, isolation makes 5:21 relaxation harder. I like the dog to 5:23 feel included while still having a 5:25 clearly defined space of their own. I 5:28 also like to position the pen in a way 5:30 that gives the dog access to simple 5:32 comforts, a sunny spot to lie in, a 5:35 cooler area if they get warm, a soft 5:38 blanket. Some dogs also benefit from a 5:40 nearby window where they can quietly 5:42 observe the world. The exercise pen 5:45 still requires training. I'm not simply 5:48 placing the dog in the pen and hoping 5:50 they'll relax. We're going to teach them 5:52 how to settle. The difference is that 5:54 the larger space gives the dog more 5:56 freedom of movement and it makes it 5:58 easier for us to move at their pace. One How to Reinforce Relaxation 6:01 thing that surprises a lot of people is 6:03 how easy it is to make relaxation 6:06 harder. Sometimes we might notice our 6:08 dog behaving calmly and we want to 6:10 reinforce them with petting or appraise. 6:14 Oh, good boy. We lean over, pet them, 6:17 tell them they're such a good dog, and 6:19 before we know it, we've turned a quiet 6:21 moment into a social event. 6:25 Instead of creating excitement, I want 6:27 my reinforcement to match the emotional 6:29 state I'm trying to build. For that 6:31 reason, when a dog is settling, I tend 6:33 to avoid a lot of physical interaction. 6:37 Instead, I use the dog's meals. 6:39 Throughout the day, I hand feed portions 6:41 of their regular breakfast or dinner 6:43 during short, intentional training 6:45 sessions. In Merlin's case, most of the 6:47 food used during training came from his 6:49 daily meals. We're simply using 6:52 resources that already exist to build 6:54 the experiences we want. 6:58 Good boy. 7:01 The food becomes a quiet way of 7:03 reinforcing the choices I want to see. 7:10 Training with crate in exercise pen. Day Before You Close the Door 7:14 two. 7:16 Before I begin introducing the door, I 7:18 spend some time revisiting the same 7:20 exercises we worked on the day before. I 7:22 do this because the picture has changed. 7:25 We now have an exercise pen surrounding 7:27 the crate, and I want to make sure he's 7:29 just as comfortable with this setup as 7:31 he was with the crate by itself. So, I 7:34 slow down. I sit with him, kneel beside 7:36 the crate. reinforce him for being 7:39 inside. Sometimes he's standing, 7:41 sometimes he's sitting, sometimes he's 7:43 lying down. I also give him breaks so 7:45 that he can process the training and so 7:47 that I can simply observe how he 7:49 interacts with the environment when 7:50 reinforcement stops. These initial steps 7:53 shouldn't be rushed. 8:05 What we are hoping to see is a dog that 8:07 enters without hesitation, 8:10 settles with a little gentle 8:12 encouragement, 8:17 and exits without urgency, and 8:19 eventually chooses to return on their 8:22 own. Every time the picture changes, I 8:25 want to make sure the dog is still 8:27 feeling successful before I increase the 8:29 difficulty. If this is what we see, then 8:32 I know we're ready to continue building 8:34 on that foundation. 8:36 Closing the door. Day three. This is Introducing the Crate Door 8:39 where most people rush and where most 8:41 crate training begins to unravel. The 8:44 progression I use looks something like 8:45 this. First, I begin to slowly move the 8:48 door just slightly while the dog is 8:50 inside, and I reinforce for remaining in 8:53 the crate. I'm not closing it yet. I'm 8:56 simply introducing the movement. The 8:58 reason I do this is that the door itself 9:00 often carries meaning for the dog. For 9:02 most dogs, the sight or sound of the 9:04 door closing represents confinement or 9:07 separation, sometimes both. This is why 9:10 it's important to introduce it gradually 9:12 and see how they respond. 9:18 If the dog is doing well, I fully close 9:20 the door for a second and reinforce. 9:27 Some dogs move through these steps in a 9:29 session or two. Others need more time. 9:32 Let your dog's behavior guide the pace. 9:35 Good. Okay. 9:36 Before I move to the next step, I 9:38 quickly run through the same checklist. 9:40 Is the dog entering willingly, exiting 9:43 calmly when released, and perhaps most 9:46 importantly, choosing to return on their 9:48 own? We are checking whether the 9:50 foundation is strong enough to support 9:52 the next step. 9:59 Taking steps away. If the dog is Preventing Separation Anxiety in the Crate 10:02 genuinely comfortable with the 10:03 exercises, I begin adding a little 10:05 distance. I take one or two steps away, 10:08 then I return and reinforce. At first, 10:11 these distances seem almost ridiculously 10:14 small. But those first few steps are 10:16 often where dogs begin to realize that 10:18 being separated from us doesn't mean 10:20 they're being abandoned. We're teaching 10:23 them that people can move, activity can 10:25 happen, life can continue around them, 10:28 and they can still remain safe, 10:30 comfortable, and relaxed. As their 10:32 confidence grows, those one or two steps 10:34 become five steps. And eventually I can 10:37 move to the other side of the room. And 10:40 when the dog is genuinely comfortable 10:41 with that picture, I begin introducing 10:44 very brief moments out of sight. 10:53 Just a second or two, then I return and 10:55 reinforce. The goal isn't to see how 10:58 long the dog can tolerate being alone. 11:00 The goal is to help them repeatedly 11:02 experience the pattern of having people 11:04 leave and return without becoming 11:06 concerned about it. 11:08 Over time, those brief absences begin to 11:11 feel ordinary. The dog begins to learn 11:14 that people going out of sight doesn't 11:16 predict isolation, stress, or 11:17 uncertainty. It just starts to feel like 11:20 everyday life. Each step moves forward 11:22 when the dog is genuinely relaxed, not 11:25 just tolerating the situation. If I'm 11:27 seeing stress signals like panting, 11:29 pawing, whining, repeated attempts to 11:32 leave the crate or hesitation to enter, 11:35 that's not a sign to push through. 11:37 That's a sign to go back to a simpler 11:39 variation of the training. My goal isn't 11:41 to teach the dog to endure the crate. My 11:44 goal is to help them feel comfortable 11:46 there. And that happens most reliably 11:48 when we move at a pace that the dog can 11:50 confidently handle. There are times when 11:52 a dog has had training. They've had time 11:54 outside, opportunities to potty and to 11:57 move their body. All their needs are 11:59 met. At this point, they're ready to 12:02 rest. 12:04 This is when I will shift gears. 12:08 In the early stages of training, I will Helping Dogs Learn to Rest 12:10 often pull up a chair, sit beside the 12:12 crate with a cup of tea, and simply 12:13 spend some quiet time there with the 12:15 dog. Your calm presence can help your 12:17 dog settle and relax. If we want the 12:20 crate to become a place associated with 12:22 rest and relaxation, sometimes we need 12:24 to give the dog the experience of 12:26 resting together in that space. No 12:28 interaction, no training in the 12:30 traditional sense, just being calm 12:32 together. For many dogs, those moments 12:35 of quiet companionship can be an 12:37 important part of helping the crate feel 12:40 safe and comfortable. Remember the trick 12:42 with the Velcro strip and the open door? 12:45 We can do the same thing with the 12:46 exercise pen. When the door is secured 12:48 open, dogs can fully explore the crate 12:51 without worrying that it might suddenly 12:52 move or close. And this is where it all 12:55 starts to come together. When we remove 12:57 some of the pressure, a lot of dogs 12:59 begin to explore the crate in a 13:01 completely different way. 13:03 Dogs begin to orient to this space to 13:05 get a drink of water, 13:07 to find their favorite chew, 13:10 and eventually to rest inside. 13:13 The key point is make the crate the best 13:16 place to relax. And this is where 13:18 another piece of the puzzle comes in. If Making the Crate More Appealing 13:20 I want the crate or exercise pen to 13:22 become the dog's preferred resting 13:24 space, I often make sure that it's the 13:26 most comfortable option available. 13:29 Sometimes that means temporarily 13:31 removing the other dog beds around the 13:32 house. Sometimes it means guiding them 13:35 off the couch and redirecting them to 13:37 their resting space. At first, I may 13:39 need to be fairly active in this 13:41 process, gently redirecting and 13:43 reinforcing and helping the dog discover 13:46 where I want relaxation to happen. I'm 13:49 not trying to force the dog to stay 13:50 there. I'm simply helping them discover 13:52 that this is where the good stuff 13:54 happens. Over time, those repetitions 13:57 begin to add up. The crate becomes 13:59 familiar. The exercise pen becomes 14:01 familiar. And eventually, the dog starts 14:04 making those choices with less and less 14:06 help from me. make resting in the crate 14:09 the easy choice. Over time, the crate 14:11 stops feeling like a place of 14:13 confinement and starts feeling like a 14:15 place of comfort. And when that happens, 14:17 dogs begin choosing it on their own. When the Crate Becomes Their Choice 14:22 Voluntary choices. Day four. This is the 14:26 moment I'm always watching for. A sigh, 14:29 a softer expression, slower body, a dog 14:32 that begins settling because it feels 14:34 natural. By day four, something changes. 14:37 I didn't ask Merlin to go into the 14:39 crate. He simply walked in and chose to 14:41 rest. This is what we're ultimately 14:44 working toward. A dog that begins making 14:46 calmer choices on their own. Because the 14:49 crate becomes associated with something 14:51 that feels good. And the benefits of the 14:53 crate extend beyond the crate itself. 14:56 Because once a dog learns how to relax, 14:58 that skill tends to carry over into lots 15:01 of different situations. One question Nighttime Crate Training 15:03 people often ask is, "What about 15:05 nighttime?" And honestly, nighttime is 15:07 one of my favorite opportunities to 15:09 build positive associations with the 15:11 crate. Dogs are social animals. Most 15:14 dogs genuinely enjoy sleeping near their 15:16 family. So, instead of placing the crate 15:18 in a separate room, I often recommend 15:21 that people place the crate right next 15:23 to the bed. 15:25 This gives the dog the best of both 15:27 worlds. They have the comfort of being 15:29 close to their people. They can hear us 15:31 breathing. They can smell us. They can 15:33 see that we're nearby, but they also 15:35 have their own clearly defined space to 15:38 rest. Now, some dogs eventually do well 15:41 sleeping on the bed. But adolescent dogs 15:44 or hyperactive dogs are not always ready 15:47 for that level of freedom. And in 15:49 multi-dog households, unrestricted 15:51 access to the bed can sometimes make it 15:53 harder for everyone to relax. This is 15:56 where I really love having a crate next 15:58 to the bed. The dog remains close to the 16:00 family, the older dog can rest 16:02 comfortably, and everyone has their own 16:05 space. If you've been practicing short 16:07 training sessions and creating calm 16:09 experiences during the day, then the 16:11 nighttime becomes surprisingly easy. In 16:14 many cases, this creates a meaningful 16:16 leap forward in the training process. It 16:18 further solidifies the crate as a place 16:20 that helps the dog feel rested and 16:22 relaxed. These skills really are 16:24 incredibly valuable throughout a dog's 16:26 life. And even if you eventually give 16:28 your dog free reign of the house, that 16:30 crate with the door open becomes a quiet 16:33 nook they can eventually choose on their 16:35 own. And if your dog is really If Your Dog Already Hates the Crate 16:37 struggling with the crate or already has 16:38 very negative associations with it, I 16:40 have another video for you that breaks 16:42 crate training down into even smaller 16:45 steps. In that video, I'll show you how 16:47 to break crate training down into 16:48 manageable steps to build trust and 16:51 confidence. Check out that next video