Crate training is one of the most effective ways to house train a new puppy or dog. However, it can also be quite challenging for many pet owners. In this article, we’ll explore some of the main reasons why crate training can be so difficult and provide tips to make the process easier.
The Puppy’s Natural Instincts
Puppies have natural instincts to eliminate away from their sleeping area. This means they will try to “hold it” while in their crate. However, young puppies simply don’t have the physical capacity to wait very long. They need to urinate about every 45 minutes at 8 weeks old and can only hold it for 2 hours at 12 weeks. This frequent need to eliminate makes housetraining very tricky.
In addition, puppies have a strong instinct to be near their people for safety and socialization. Being confined away from people goes against their natural preferences. This is why they often cry, whine, bark, and try to escape when first crated. It’s important not to give in and let them out when crying as this can reinforce the behavior. But it’s difficult to listen to the sad sounds.
Lack of Consistency
In order for crate training to be successful, you need to be very consistent about when and for how long the puppy is crated. This means adhering to a firm schedule for feeding, watering, playtime, potty breaks, and crating overnight and during the day. The main reasons consistency can be difficult include:
- Busy family schedules make it hard to always stick to a routine
- Working families can’t come home at set times to let the pup out
- Well-meaning family members undermine the schedule by letting the crated pup out at the wrong times
- Puppies cry and owners feel bad and let them out too soon
Without consistency, the pup won’t learn to hold it in the crate or the preferred potty spot. Any progress made is undermined if the routine is not adhered to strictly.
Introducing the Crate Poorly
It’s important to associate the crate with positive things right from the start. However, some common mistakes when introducing the crate can inadvertently create negative associations, including:
- Putting the pup in the crate as punishment
- Forcing the pup into the crate when they are anxious or excited
- Leaving the pup in the crate for too long on the first try
- Letting the crated pup cry it out without reassurance
Instead, you want to have a gradual introduction with lots of praise and rewards for willingness to enter the crate. If the pup sees the crate as a scary or negative place right away, it can set up a lifetime of difficulty with crating.
An Inappropriately Sized Crate
It’s important the crate is just large enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down. If the crate is too large, they are more likely to soil one corner while sleeping in another. However, many people err by making the crate too small to try and encourage the puppy to hold it longer. This can backfire as the pup simply has no choice but to eliminate in a tiny space.
As a general rule, find a crate that will accommodate your dog’s full grown size, then block off the extra space temporarily when they are a puppy to create the right sized area.
Physical Limitations of Young Puppies
Puppies under 12 weeks simply do not have the physical capacity or bladder control to hold urine for extended periods of time. Some limitations include:
- Small bladder size equals frequent urination (45 mins – 2 hours)
- Poor bladder sphincter control leads to dribbling and leakage
- Lack of awareness of needing to eliminate
- Need to urinate about 30-60 mins after eating or drinking
Attempting to force a very young puppy to hold urine for longer than they are capable of can lead to stress, bladder infections, and submissive urination issues. Have realistic expectations based on age.
Medical Issues
Certain medical conditions can make it very difficult or impossible for a puppy to be successfully crate trained including:
- Urinary tract infection: The constant urge to urinate and pain while holding urine makes crating unrealistic.
- Submissive urination: The anxiety of being crated can cause loss of bladder control.
- Separation anxiety: The stress of being apart from people results in accidents.
- Congenital urinary system issues: Physical defects make control difficult.
- Diabetes: Results in copious urination the dog cannot control.
If you suspect a medical issue, have the pup checked by vet before continuing crate training. Certain conditions must be resolved first.
Using the Crate for Too Long
While crates are very useful training tools, they are not an appropriate way to house dogs for extremely extended periods of time. When dogs are crated for over 8-10 hours daily or subjected to overly long crating such as all day or all night, it understandably results in accidents. This is because:
- The dog has no choice but to eliminate in the crate
- They become anxious and soil the crate
- The excessive holding can lead to bladder or urinary tract infections
If you do not have a reasonable way to let your dog out for potty breaks every 8 hours or so, crate training success will be very unlikely. This is one reason crating fails for full time working families.
A Dirty Crate
If a dog is forced to lie in a crate soiled with urine and feces, they will be reluctant to enter the crate and will be more likely to continue soiling. No one wants to relax in a dirty bathroom! To housebreak quickly using a crate, be sure to:
- Thoroughly clean the crate pan after accidents
- Use an enzymatic cleaner to remove odors
- Disinfect the crate bottom and walls
- Rinse clean and allow to dry fully
- Add fresh bedding each time puppy uses crate
Keeping the crate clean encourages puppies to utilize their natural instinct to not soil their sleeping space.
Insufficient Exercise
Puppies (and adult dogs) need substantial daily exercise to benefit behavior and promote good health. When sufficient physical activity and mental stimulation are lacking, problematic behaviors often develop, including:
- Excessive barking and crying
- Chewing, digging, biting
- Hyperactivity
- Accidents in the crate
To prevent these issues that undermine training, ensure your pup gets adequate age-appropriate exercise each day. This may include:
- Several 10-15 minute play and training sessions
- 20-30 minute brisk leashed walks 1-2 times daily
- Off leash play in a safe, fenced area
- Fun training classes for mental workout
A tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy.
Negative Associations with the Crate
If using the crate correctly, most dogs will come to view their crate as a safe den-like sanctuary. However, frightening or traumatic experiences in or around the crate can cause negative emotional associations. Some examples include:
- Getting locked in the crate during a storm or fireworks display
- Another dog terrorizing them while crated
- Children banging on the crate
- Physical punishment while inside the crate
Dogs remember negative events vividly. If scared while confined in the crate even one time, they may become fearful or aggressive when crated in the future.
Transitioning from House Training
Crate training is an important part of housetraining puppies. However, the crate should be phased out gradually starting at around 6 months old as the puppy gains bladder control and learns correct elimination habits. Continuing to lock up an older pup who is reliably house trained can seem like punishment and damage the dog-owner relationship.
Make crate time for an older, trained dog progressively shorter. Also, give them freedom in a dog-proofed room or hallway when you must leave the house. This allows them to transition to independence.
Crate Anxiety in Adopted Dogs
Dogs who spent much of their life crated in a shelter or puppy mill situation often develop extreme anxiety about being confined. This severe stress reaction, fairly common in rescues, makes crating impossible until behavioural therapy helps the dog overcome past trauma. Anti-anxiety medications may provide temporary relief. Re-introducing the crate very slowly while associating it with pleasurable things can rebuild a dog’s comfort level over time.
Need for Immediate Behavior Change
While extremely effective long-term, crate training is not a magic fix that produces instant results the first day. Owners hoping to end undesirable behaviors like house soiling or chewing quickly become disappointed when utilizing crating. Seeing positive change in habits takes weeks of consistency and patience for most average puppies. Speedy behavior transformations require commitment to the crate process.
How to Make Crate Training Easier
While crate training can certainly pose challenges, there are many ways to set your puppy and yourself up for success:
- Use an appropriately sized crate and make it comfy
- Have realistic expectations based on puppy’s age
- Minimize crying triggers like hunger, loneliness, discomfort
- Make it rewarding: give treats and toys inside crate
- Practice brief crating sessions multiple times daily
- Be positive and upbeat when crating; don’t treat it like punishment
- Place crate in your bedroom at night near your scent
- Say a cue word like “kennel up” when entering crate
- Use calming aids for anxious dogs like Thundershirts or pheromones
- Seek professional advice if struggling with a traumatized or fearful dog
While crating comes naturally to most dogs, some puppies require more time and effort to teach. Be patient, consistent and positive, and even tricky pups will come to accept their crate for training and safety.
Crate Training Schedule Example
To better understand what a typical effective crate training schedule looks like, here is a sample:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Let puppy out to eliminate immediately, then feed breakfast |
| 7:30 AM | Crate puppy for nap after eating, provide safe chew toy |
| 9:00 AM | Puppy out of crate to play and train |
| 10:00 AM | Crate for nap |
| 11:30 AM | Out of crate to eliminate and eat lunch |
| 12:00 PM | Crate while family eats lunch and pup naps |
| 1:00 PM | Directly from crate to outdoors to relieve themselves |
| 1:15 PM | Play, train, walk, interact with pup |
| 4:00 PM | Nap in crate |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner time, then play session |
| 9:00 PM | Final potty break then crate for the night nearby owners |
| 7:00 AM | Morning potty break then breakfast |
This schedule allows the puppy to be confined for short periods during the day as they build bladder control and learn the preferred potty spot. Frequent opportunities to relieve themselves prevent accidents. The overnight crating helps establish sleeping through the night. Routine, patience and rewards are key!
Common Problems and Solutions
Here are some common challenges owners face when crate training along with troubleshooting:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Puppy cries nonstop in crate | Ignore crying but reassure puppy. Build up alone time gradually from seconds to minutes to hours. Tire pup before crating. Give treat puzzles to occupy. |
| Puppy has overnight accidents in crate | Set alarm to let puppy out during night as needed for age. Clean crate thoroughly after accident. Feed, exercise earlier. |
| Puppy seems stressed, anxious, or fearful of crate | Don’t force scared pup in. Go extremely slow with positive introduction. Try calming aids. Consult trainer or vet. |
| Pup has accidents when uncrated | Reinforce housetraining basics. Directly from crate to relief spot and praise. Increase supervision when loose. |
| Puppy becomes destructive or bored in crate | Provide safe chew toys. Use food puzzles and stuffed Kongs. Exercise well before crating. |
| Older dog regresses to soiling crate | Vet check for UTI. Evaluate for separation anxiety. Limit water and food 2-3 hours before. Refresh housetraining. |
Troubleshooting common issues requires considering key factors like health, previous experience, and natural tendencies. Make adjustments until you find what works best for your unique pup!
Conclusion
While crate training has proven benefits, implementing the technique does require effort, diligence and patience during puppyhood. However, the short term investment of time and consistency leads to a long term payoff of good manners and housetraining. To make the process less difficult, focus on setting up the crate for success, introducing it properly, employing lots of positive reinforcement, and maintaining reasonable expectations for your puppy’s physical capabilities. With time and perseverance, the crate can become your pup’s favorite relaxing retreat!