Dog Crate Training Problems

Crate training a dog is a common use of the dog's den instincts to house train a puppy. Dogs do not like to urinate or defecate in their den, which is why crate training is a wonderful tool for housebreaking a pup. In addition, crating a pup when careful supervision is not possible will prevent accidents and damaged furniture. Problems can arise, however, and are generally fixable with some patience, careful training and positive reinforcement.

  1. Fear

    • A common problem in the beginning of crate training is the pup's fear of the crate. It has odd smells, is unfamiliar and often owners try to force them in immediately. The pup may flee, whine or nip at the person trying to put them inside. By introducing the crate slowly, adding T-shirts or other clothing recently worn by the owner inside the crate, and giving praise and treats once the pup comes near or enters the crate, fear can usually be turned into curiosity and acceptance.

    Separation Anxiety

    • Some pups will begin to whine, cry and howl while inside the crate, all general signs of separation anxiety. Dogs are pack animals by nature, which makes them very social and often view confinement or separation from their pack---human or canine---as torturous. Establishing positive associations with the crate for the dog early on will curtail most of these reactions. Sometimes gradual separation training will help. This requires the owner to crate the dog with a toy or treat, sit quietly near the opposite side of the room for a 10 to 30 minute intervals, increasing them over the length of a week and rewarding the pup's good behavior. For this training, the treat or toy must be taken away after the pup is released from the crate, as it is only to be associated with the pup's den.

    Protectiveness

    • After accustoming itself to the crate, a dog will naturally view the crate as it would a den in the wild: a private place for rest and relaxation. Sometimes that comfort can be taken too seriously and the dog will become protective of its den. If an owner attempts to remove a treat or toy, the dog may growl, bark or even bite the owner to protect its den. This especially can become a problem if there are other dogs, animals or small children in the house. Establishing an alpha status is important for the owner to do early on and continued, gentle establishment of who is in charge can stop this behavior.

    Punishment

    • Often, owners will use the crate as a "time-out" area for the dog if it has misbehaved. This will cause problems and is not advisable. The dog may begin to associate the crate with negativity and can grow to fear entering it instead of viewing it as a place of refuge. Another problem that may arise would be hiding in the crate when the dog knows it misbehaved in some way. This will cause negativity between the owner and the dog, with the dog fearing instead of respecting the owner.

    Overuse

    • Some owners fall into the trap of overusing the crate. Pups should only be crated for a maximum of three to four hours at a time with lots of exercise, play and affection in between. Adult dogs can be crated for up to about seven hours without upsetting them. If the owner crates the dog all day while at work and crates the dog again all night, problems can arise, including fear, separation anxiety, protectiveness and even depression. Dogs are social animals that need a lot of exercise, social interaction and discipline to be healthy and happy.