Crate training isn’t just about keeping your dog confined—it’s a game-changer for potty training, safety, and emergencies. It helps puppies avoid accidents and saves your favorite shoes from chewers. Plus, it prepares your dog for vet visits or unexpected disasters. In this blog, we’ll share our top reasons to crate train your dog and tips on how to help your pup love their crate!
1. Potty Training
When house training, controlling your dog’s access is the most important thing to prevent accidents on your floors. One of the ways to do this is by utilizing a crate when you can’t keep eyes on your pup. Dogs avoid soiling where they sleep, so they’ll try to hold it when crated in the right-sized crate. Take your dog outside to potty as soon as they are let out of their crate. Then, reward them for doing their business outside. This will build reinforcement for going outside to potty.
Additionally, if they’re only loose when you can supervise them, it’s easier to intervene if you see them starting to sniff like they need to go out. When you notice them sniffing you’ll take them out and reward them for pottying outside. This will make house training faster and more efficient. They won’t have the opportunity to have as many accidents as they would if they had free roam all the time.
2. Safety and Limiting Destruction
We’ve all seen the dog shaming videos and pictures by now! A great way to prevent destruction is by confining your dog when you aren’t home or able to supervise. This is especially important with young puppies or dogs that are new to your home! They get bored and chew or play with inappropriate stuff – furniture, toilet paper, food on your counters, anything they can find. Nobody wants to come home to a house full of chaos that their dog caused in their absence. Dogs could also ingest things that are harmful to them in the midst of their destruction and that can quickly turn into a scary and expensive vet trip. This is one of the best reasons to crate train your dog. To keep them safe and your home intact when you can’t supervise them.
3. Vet and Grooming
Both vets and groomers have to crate dogs as part of their routine. You drop them off for an appointment, they go into a crate, they do whatever needs done, then go back into a crate until you pick them up. Since both of these environments can already be overwhelming and stressful for dogs, the kindest thing we can do for them is to fully prepare them in every way possible. If we take the time to build a positive association to their crate, then going into a crate at the groomer or vet will be far easier for them.
4. Health – Crate Rest
There also may be times your dog requires strict confinement due to injury or surgery. Crate rest is a common recommendation for dogs that need strictly limited activity while they heal. This is much easier if a dog already has positive associations with their crate. Without preparation, however, it can add to the stress they’re already feeling from their injury.
5. Natural Disaster
It’s critical that your dog can be comfortably crated during a natural disaster. Living in Arkansas, we all know the risk of tornadoes well. Crating your dog in a safe location at home during events like these helps ensure they don’t panic and run away. This is a frequent occurrence with natural disasters. A lot of pets end up getting lost.
Additionally, if something goes terribly wrong and you need to go to a shelter, they often require dogs to be kept in a kennel for everyone’s safety. The best way to prepare them for this is to take the time now to build up their comfort in the crate so that if you ever wind up in that situation the crate doesn’t add to their stress levels.
Tips for Crate Training
You can start with simple things like feeding them their meals in their crate or giving them pacifiers in there. Things like stuffed kongs, toppls, bones, bully sticks, etc. are all great options. Start with leaving the door open and build up to closing it just long enough for them to eat as you see them starting to get comfortable. You can then start gradually increasing the time they spend in there.
For crating overnight, it can help to keep them crated by your bed. If they wake up you can remind them that you’re still with them and they’re okay. You can move it later once they are comfortable if you want.
I would highly recommend not leaving any gear on your dog (collars/harnesses) when you crate them. It can be dangerous because they could get caught on the crate.
Crate training isn’t just a tool—it’s a way to keep your dog safe, happy, and well-behaved. From potty training and preventing destruction to preparing for vet visits, emergencies, and even natural disasters, the reasons to crate train your dog are endless. By taking the time to build positive associations with their crate, you’re setting your pup up for success in all kinds of situations.
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By Rachel Moseley