Expert Puppy Crate and Kennel Training to Build Good Habits
Crate and kennel training helps puppies build healthy habits fast. Learn how expert trainers reduce stress, boost housebreaking, and create calm pups.
Crate Training Your Puppy the Right Way: Creating a Safe, Happy Space for Them
Crate training can be a valuable skill to teach your puppy, but it can also be misunderstood. Crate training can help keep your puppy safe when unsupervised, facilitate potty training, and be a valuable life skill down the road. But, if done incorrectly, it can lead to fear, anxiety, and resistance.
Our expert trainers use kind, evidence-based methods to help you provide your puppy with positive crate experiences. We make the process smooth and stress-free for both you and your puppy.
The Role of a Professional Trainer
Gone are the days of “cry it out” crate training. Certified professional dog trainers help you understand your puppy’s routine, needs, and environment to set them up for success with crate training from the very beginning. We help you avoid falling for outdated techniques that leave your puppy with negative or even traumatic experiences in their kennel, ensuring they learn to be calm and comfortable in their crate.
Why Early Crate and Kennel Training Matters
Puppies go through critical learning stages during the first few months of their lives. During this time, their brains are primed to absorb new information and experiences. The earlier you start kennel training, the easier it will be for your puppy to form the positive association we want them to have with crate time.
Common Struggles Puppy Owners Face
A common misconception is that dogs are den animals and will, therefore, automatically like being in a crate. This isn’t true. Puppies need to be thoughtfully and carefully introduced to a kennel to avoid struggles like crying, barking, potty accidents, or refusal to enter the crate at all. Our trainers help you create a plan that sets your puppy up for success from the first time you ask them to go into the crate.
Building Positive Associations with Crates
You should never put your puppy in their crate as a punishment. Instead, use positive techniques, such as treats, toys, and routines, to help your puppy associate their crate with rest and calm. When done correctly, the crate can become a place where your puppy chooses to relax rather than somewhere they dread confinement and isolation.
Faster and Smoother Potty Training
While puppy potty training can be done without involving a crate, many owners find crate training and potty training to go hand in hand nicely. Crates are especially useful when you can’t fully supervise your puppy, which you can’t do 24/7! A puppy that can comfortably rest in its crate is less likely to have accidents in the house, which can set back potty training progress.
Avoiding Long-Term Behavioral Issues
Misusing a crate can lead to serious behavior issues down the road. Over-confinement or misreading signs of fear or distress can contribute to fear-based aggression, resource guarding, and confinement anxiety. Sadly, it’s easy for even well-meaning owners to fall for outdated advice that can lead down this path. Professional trainers prevent these issues by using evidence-based practices that help your puppy feel secure and calm with crate training.
Investing in a Happy, Balanced Dog
Crate training isn’t just a skill puppies need when they’re young. While it’s good to give your dog greater independence and freedom as they grow and mature, comfortable crating is a skill that will follow your puppy throughout their life. Whether they need to be crated at the vet, on an airplane, or in an emergency, your investment in training now will pay dividends down the road.
Peace of Mind for Pet Owners
Crate training can be emotionally and energetically exhausting, but it doesn’t have to be. Our trainers help you develop a simple, practical, and effective plan that takes your individual puppy’s needs into account. This expert support will leave you with a better understanding of your puppy’s behavior and a closer bond.
Ready to Start Training Your Puppy the Right Way?
Don’t wait until your puppy is panicking in their crate. A professional trainer can save you time, frustration, and guesswork by providing a step-by-step crate training plan that actually works.
FAQs
How does professional crate training reduce separation anxiety?
While separation anxiety and crate training are not one and the same, crate training can help build your puppy’s confidence with safe and comfortable alone time and prevent fear-based anxiety before it starts.
Can a trainer help if my puppy already has a fear of the crate?
Yes! Our trainers can guide you through a gentle and gradual desensitization plan to rebuild positive associations and decrease fear of the crate.
What’s the difference between kennel and crate training?
Kennel is a synonym for crate, but they can refer to different things. Crates are typically used indoors, while kennels are larger outdoor enclosures.
How quickly will I see results with a trainer’s help?
Every puppy is different, but most families see improvements after their first session with Jack and Jill Dog Training.
Is crate training safe for all puppy breeds?
Yes, when used appropriately, crate training can be beneficial for all breeds and sizes of puppies. A trainer will help you adjust your plan to suit your individual dog.