4| Crate Training 101: How To Create A Safe Haven

In this episode of Hounding Harmony Dog Training, we dive into kennel training and why it is a vital skill for every dog. Whether you're raising a new puppy or trying to help your adult dog fit better into your life, you'll walk away with practical, actionable advice to help you feel more confident and connected with your dog.

Resources

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A simple, actionable plan to get your dog from chaos to calm.

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Hounding Harmony Dog Training Podcast.

(00:05):
The show that helps you go from chaos to calm with your dog one episode at a time.
I'm Emily, a dog trainer in licensed veterinary technician here to give you practical tips,
realize strategies in the confidence to raise a well-behaved, obedient dog without the
overwhelm.
Let's jump in and create a calm and connected life with your dog.

(00:26):
Hello and welcome back.
Today we're going to be talking about one of the most misunderstood but powerful training
tools out there, which is kennel training.
So whether you're starting with a new puppy or you're working on structure with your adult
dog, this episode is for you.
First, let's talk about why crate training matters.

(00:48):
Dogs want a safe and quiet place that they can go to when life is too loud, when they're
just a little overwhelmed with their surroundings or they simply want to take a time out.
It's not a punishment, it's about giving them their own room to go to.
The more you properly use a kennel in the routine, it actually is building their independence

(01:13):
and can reduce their separation anxiety so much.
I have a dog now that if he is not in his kennel when we are about to leave, he gets
really worried.
I think he thinks that he's missing out on something but having that consistency of, hey, when
I go into the kennel, mom and dad leave, but they come back.

(01:35):
Having your dog kennel trained is also invaluable in case of emergency because I don't know if
this is true, but I heard once that in case of like a natural emergency, if people are
sharing shelters, they won't accept pets that aren't in crates because obviously you can't
trust everyone's dog to be okay in this high stress environment with a bunch of people

(02:00):
and also for health reasons, you can't have dogs loose in a tight space with, you know,
like a shelter of people.
So that really tugs on my heartstrings.
Like if you didn't think crate training is for you for that reason alone, less extreme
treatment reasons like crate training is such a valuable thing to have in your dog's

(02:20):
tool belt.
When they are at the vet, getting treatment, a dog cannot heal well if they are stressed
out to the max.
They will not accept treatments and their, their body won't drop out of that fight or flight
mode to be able to heal.
Even if you want to leave your dog behind to be boarded, how much more freedom do you

(02:42):
have if they can sit in a kennel fine?
And Lord knows if you ever wanted to take them on a plane, they for sure have to be okay
in a kennel.
And beyond that, it helps immensely with potty training, chewing and even over excitement.
It's to be able to put a pause on the puppy, a pause on your dog and be able to regroup

(03:05):
until you can focus on whatever behavior they aren't supposed to be doing.
I truly believe that it encourages calm behavior.
Now you may be thinking, my dog hates their kennel, we're going to get to that, we're going
to get to that.
But your dog's crate should be like a bedroom, a cozy place, they just, they just love going
to.
Maybe they hung up a few pictures, they have their favorite toy, their favorite blanket.

(03:28):
Now let's talk about what mistakes you need to avoid when you're crate training.
You should not be only using the crate when you leave the house because that's going
to cause a negative association for your pup and they're going to start just thinking
when I go on the crate, they leave me behind.
We don't want that.
So it's important to leave the crate open throughout the day and allow them to be able to use

(03:51):
it more than when you're on, but also use it as little like breaks.
Like it could just be like 5, 10, 15 minutes that you put them in their kennel and they know
that the world isn't going to end because you're so home, you're still available to them.
And you especially should not be using the crate as a punishment.

(04:13):
It's okay to use it as a pause to be like you're being crazy right now and I need to fix
this.
You need to go to your kennel while I fix this.
Like that's fine, but especially early on, you should not put them in their crate as a
form of timeout.
Now this is how I would introduce the kennel.
First you need to pick a location that's calm, low traffic and not isolated but also not chaotic.

(04:40):
Next my favorite tip is to just leave the door open all day so that they can go in and
out at their own leisure and to also feed all of their meals inside the kennel.
You don't have to do this for their whole life, but it's a great way for them to take ownership
over that space.
Another thing that you can do is make it a little less like a prison cell.

(05:01):
This could be adding in a bed or a chew safe toy or maybe a t-shirt that still smells like
you.
If they're shredders, if they shred everything up, take it out.
Take it out.
They don't need it.
They might grow out of this bad habit, but I promise you, if you keep putting more things
in there, they're just going to learn shredding and destroying is the best feeling ever.

(05:26):
And we don't want that.
Another thing you can do is start with short sessions during the day, not when everyone is
trying to sleep.
Maybe just like five or ten minutes during the day while you're home so you can see and
make sure that they're not getting into any trouble and really build some positive associations

(05:46):
with that alone time.
This is especially good if you do it right after you've worn them out with some heavy playtime
or some draining training that rhymed.
If you can get them in there when they're already a little bit tired, it's definitely going
to make it easier.
And the final key is to be consistent.

(06:08):
Include the crate into your dog's daily rhythm, especially after those playtimes and
long walks and training sessions.
But make sure you're not teaching them that when I do this, I get let out.
I know it's hard, I know it is and if you live in an apartment, my condolences because crate

(06:28):
training with a puppy that is vocal is not for the week.
But hopefully these tips give you a leg up.
Now if they are vocalizing, whining, barking, etc.
That doesn't mean it's not working.
It just means that it's new.
I am not a fan of taking them out of the crate just to get them to stop crying.

(06:49):
I'm more of a fan of helping them to calm down in the crate.
Something else you might find if your dog is not taking into kennel training as quickly
as you would like, which by the way, I would expect it to take at least a week for them
to get used to sleeping in a kennel and being completely comfortable in a crate.

(07:09):
Could be longer.
Depends on how stubborn your dog is.
But if you're vining that they are not catching on to this new routine, you may need to look
at their surroundings.
Is there crate too small?
Can they stand up and comfortably turn around?
Can they stand up and not have any side of the crate touching them?
If the kennel is too small, it can cause claustrophobia.

(07:30):
Our little bulldog.
Our giant bulldog when he was teeny tiny, he did not go into crate training very well.
And it was because he thought his kennel was too small.
Now was it too small by the standards I just said?
No.
So we got him a kennel that was going to be his adult kennel, which was the size he would

(07:51):
need for when he grew up and immediately he was fine.
Remember to check yourself, check your feelings because they're going to feed off of whatever
you're feeling.
So if you're anxious or if you're angry or freaking out about it, that's not going to work
for your pup.
Here's a few quick fire tips that you can use.

(08:12):
Cover the crate with like a blanket.
You can give them a con toy with their kibbles inside of it to help them make it more of
a game.
Take their mind off of it.
Again, crate them after mental or physical exercise, not when they're super hyper.
And then feeding all meals in the kennel.

(08:35):
This is great for families with multiple dogs because it helps them figure out that food
bowls are separate and then they won't be double dipping into anyone else's bowls.
Crate training is a gift that you're giving yourself as well as your dog and you're creating
a place of peace that helps them to regulate rest and feel really secure.

(08:56):
Crate training is the hardest thing that you're going to train in the early days of having
your dog.
You're going to learn so much mental toughness and how your dog thinks.
It's just so good for you.
And you've got this.
It's hard right now, but in the future you're going to think yourself.
Thank you so much for tuning into Hounding Harmony dog training.

(09:18):
If you found this episode helpful, it would mean the world to me if you'd follow the show
and leave a quick review.
This helps other dog owners find the support that they need too.
For more tips, training help and encouragement, follow me on TikTok and Instagram at hh_dogtraining
or you can check out the resources in the show notes.
Until next time, keep pounding that harmony.

(09:39):
[MUSIC]