Crate Training
Why is crate training important?
Crate training is always the best solution for your dog. I crate all of the dogs who board and train in my house and ask owners to crate them for at least a few weeks when they take them back home when they are unsupervised to ensure the bad habits don’t reemerge. Foremost, it keeps them safe. Check out the German Shepherds in this video who turned on the gas stove and almost burned down their house!
But safety is just the beginning. It helps tremendously with potty training, it is crucial to helping dogs with anxiety or aggression issues, and finally it gives your dog a point of consistency making it easier on them to relax when you travel with them or board them.
How do you crate train your dog?
Crate training is really a simple process, but it can take some patience if your pup already has a negative association with the crate. We want to reinforce positive feelings about being in the crate and we want to be sure not to reinforce the negative feelings.
To condition the positive emotions associated with their crate, you can give them treats when they go in or even more preferable would be something longer lasting like a Kong toy filled with peanut butter and left in the freezer. The best positive reinforcer, however, is play. If you can make them think that going into a crate for just a little bit of time well lead to a long time of fun interactive play with you, the chemistry and associations in their brain surrounding the crate will begin to change and you can slowly increase the duration in which you ask them to stay in it. But it is just as important to make sure you aren’t reinforcing the negative feelings. If your pup has anxiety associated with being in the crate and you let them out while they are feeling anxious, you’ve unfortunately reinforced the anxiety as well as the behavior associated with it, making it much more likely that the anxiety will surface again if not stronger. Even if you wait a long time before letting them out, if they are still super anxious or acting because they are anxious when you do, you still reinforce that anxious state of mind and the behaviors you were getting. Look at it like a child in a store. If the child wants a toy and cries to their mother and the mother refuses, but then the child repeats the behavior over and over until the mother gives in, not only did the mother reinforce the crying, but she also reinforced the persistence in crying that eventually led the toddler to getting their toy. It is similar to your pup. If you just can’t take it anymore and let them out after a long period of crying and pawing, they will be much more inclined to stick with that same behavior the next time, knowing it will eventually work.
Reinforce the state of mind you want, not the ones you don’t want.
You cannot reinforce the negative emotions or their behaviors if we want to teach your dog how to relax in their crate. You must wait it out until they give up, get bored, and then relax before you let them out. Doing so well reinforce that calm state of mind making it easier for them to be calm the next time.
Once you’ve achieved this calm state, you can let them out! Dog’s don’t really have a concept of time, so you will get faster results through multiple repetitions over fewer, longer repetitions. I encourage you to continue to practice this, even if for only short durations, multiple times during the day especially if you are home. Multiple successful repetitions will get you much faster results than just crating them once per day for a long period while you are at work.
It is also important to control their state of mind as they exit the crate. Don’t let them bolt out the door. If they begin to run out, close the crate door back, pushing them back in. Repeat this process until you can open the crate door all the way and they stand there waiting to be let out. Reach in the crate, put their leash on, then guide them out calmly.
What to leave in the crate
Generally, it is wise to not leave any toys or blankets that could get chewed up in their crates as we don’t want to run the risk of them choking while you aren’t supervising them. I don’t even put beds in crates with dogs who have these issues for the same reason. The only crate pad I use for my trainees is Primo Pads found at:
They still get chewed up from time to time by the especially driven dog, but the vast majority of dogs cannot break their tough vinyl construction, making it a nice soft and durable pad for them to relax on.
It is also ok to leave water in the crate as well as a treat that doesn’t present a choking hazard.
Bark collars
If your dog really struggles to relax on their own and are very vocal in their crates, bark collars are an option to facilitate the calming when done well. You want to purchase only quality bark collars such as the Sport Dog ones here:
Or the Garmin ones here:
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/133653/
Or the Ecollar Technologies one here:
https://www.ecollar.com/product/barkless-pro-anti-bark-collar/
Make sure the bark collar is positioned appropriately and fits snug so the stimulation is consistent and make sure you are using levels that are motivational but also not too high.
Kinds of crates
If your dog is an escape artist, you want a quality crate. Every time they are anxious and feel like they need to break out, if they succeed, they are reinforced for the behavior and the anxiety making it likely they will be more anxious and commit even harder to breaking out the next time. You want a crate that will keep them from breaking out while significantly lowering their chance of injuring themselves. Eventually after a period of unsuccessfully trying to break out, your pup will stop trying and begin the process of learning to relax, so long as you only let them out when they’re relaxed, which is our ultimate goal for them in their crate. Cheap wire crates are not only easy to break out of, but also quite dangerous for the dog should they attempt to break out.
For anxious dogs I train, I use three main manufacturers.
Ruff Land Kennels is the cheapest manufacturer I use for dogs with these issues. For value, they are a great option. Their door isn’t quite as secure as some of the other brands, and where a crate is the safest way to transport your dog in any situation, the other options provide an even safer crate for on the road should you be in an accident.
https://www.rufflandkennels.com/
Gunner Kennels may be the safest thing you can use to transport your dog. The doors are very secure when the top and bottom locks are utilized and dramatically minimize the risk of injury to your dog should they try to escape. They are a bit pricier than Ruff Land, and because of the double-walled construction, the inside of the crates is less roomier, but they are very safe.
The most expensive crates I use are Impact Dog Crates. These aluminum crates are pricey but their high-anxiety crates are very secure. They also have a collapsible option which can make transporting the crate itself a bit easier than the other manufacturers. For large dogs, they also have the largest options of the manufacturers I use.
https://www.impactdogcrates.com/
Lately, many other similar manufacturers have come on the market as well. I have not had any experience with these manufacturers, but they seem to perform well for colleagues.
https://www.luckyduck.com/kennels/
Crate train your dog
Most of the dogs I work with who aren’t crate trained also have strong anxiety and aggression issues. This is because the lack of structure makes them feel responsible for their own safety. These dogs greatly benefit from learning how to relax in their crate. Further, it is hard to travel with these dogs and leave them in new places or board them with other folks as they tend to get very stressed without a consistent place to call home. Teaching them how to relax in their crate is a selfless decision you can make to help make their lives easier and safer. I still crate my dogs when I leave the house. This ensures they don’t get into anything to hurt themselves or my house like those poor German Shepherds narrowly avoided in our initial video. Yes, when confronting things that make us anxious, our anxiety initially gets worse. Asking your anxious dog to stay in their crate will make their anxiety worse temporarily. But it we can stay consistent in creating the positive emotions and not reinforcing the negative ones associated with their crate, we can help your dog like and learn to relax in their crate.
If you’d like some expert advice or would like to know how a crate can help your anxious dog or your dog with potty training issues, let me know!
Recommended Packages
ESSENTIAL $500:
Includes 3 30-60 minute private lessons at a park in Elkton, VA or Penn Laird, VA (appointments subject to weather)
Includes Herm-Sprenger prong collar and long training leash
Teaches how to improve your relationship with your dog through play
Teaches leash manners, “out”, and “place” or “come”
Teaches how to play and set parameters for inappropriate behavior
Can cater to specific issues
For dogs at least 5 months old
COMPLETE $850:
Includes everything in Essential package plus 3 additional 30-60 minute private lessons for a total of 6 lessons and electric collar (appointments subject to weather)
Includes remote electric collar
Teaches fundamentals of play and how to use play to develop your bond and communication with your dog
Teaches leash manners, “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “down”, and “heel”
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Will cater to any specific issues with your dog
For dogs at least 4 months old
ROCKSTAR $1100:
Includes everything in the Complete package plus 2 additional 30-60 minute lessons in Elkton for a total of 8 lessons (appointments subject to weather).
2 additional private lessons can be used for teaching additional advanced commands to really bring out the rockstar in your dog! Advance commands can include your choice from extended distance sit and down, come to the heel position, send aways to place, stand, front, maintain eye contact, or feel free to ask about something else!
For dogs at least 4 months old
ANXIETY & AGGRESSION $1100:
Includes everything in the Complete package plus 2 additional lessons in Elkton for a total of 8 lessons (appointments subject to weather).
2 additional lessons will be used to work specifically around the sources of the anxiety and aggression where applicable.
Focus on building confidence and trust
For dogs at least 5 months old
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
ESSENTIAL $800:
Includes 3 30-60 minute lessons conveniently in your home
Teaches how to improve your relationship with your dog through play
Teaches leash manners, “out”, and “place” or “come”
Teaches play and how to set parameters for inappropriate behavior
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Includes Herm-Sprenger prong collar and long training leash
Allows us to address specific issues in your environment
For dogs at least 5 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
COMPLETE $1550:
Includes everything in Essential package plus 3 additional 30-60 minute in-home lessons for a total of 6 lessons and electric collar
Includes remote electric collar
Teaches fundamentals of play and how to use play to develop the communication and bond with your dog
Teaches “out”, “place”, “come”, “down”, and “heel”
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Will cater to any specific issues with your dog
For dogs at least 4 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
ROCKSTAR $1800:
Includes everything in the Complete plus 2 additional 30-60 minute lessons for a total of 8 lessons
2 additional lessons can be used for advanced commands and specific issues anxiety or aggression. Advance commands can include your choice from extended distance sit and down, come to the heel position, send aways to place, stand, front, maintain eye contact, or feel free to ask about something else!
For dogs at least 4 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
ANXIETY & AGGRESSION $1800:
Includes everything in the Complete plus 2 additional lessons for a total of 8 lessons
Lessons will be used with an emphasis on building confidence and reliability around the source of the aggression or the anxiety where applicable.
For dogs at least 5 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
This package is designed for dogs with anxiety in certain situations, reactivity towards people or dogs, some mild to moderate aggression, and adult dogs who need more time developing confidence and practicing good habits around a diversity of distractions. The additional weeks will be used to further guide the genetic and emotional drives to appropriate and fulfilling places as well as develop a stronger and more profound relationship with your pup. Emotions and genetics matter a lot especially in anxiety and aggression. 5 weeks gives us more time to focus on those components of your problem issues. It is possible to teach your dog through stress and coercion, but if we can help build trust and motivation through play, they will be much more excited to learn and maintain what they learn. Motivation is far more important to learning than repetition.
Play is the highest form of social interaction with your pup and the highest form of reinforcement when the dog understands how to play. We will attempt to develop it as the primary positive reinforcer, but also as the means to communicate boundaries and develop a trusting relationship to help guide your pup through their issues. It is impossible to fully suppress behaviors reinforced by your dog’s individual genetics. If they are genetically inclined to bite or chase, we cannot keep them from biting or chasing forever. It will always eventually pop up in the places we don’t want, because it’s who they are, and suppressing who they are creates anxiety. However, if we use our time to develop outlets for those behaviors by biting tugs or chasing balls through play, then we have a significant chance to be successful at telling them they can’t bite people or chase cars, etc for the long term. We will also use our time to create more embedded patterns and habits of the more acceptable behaviors and states of mind so that they translate to your home more readily.
Your dog lives with a trainer at their house for 5 weeks!
Can include electronic collar from E-Collar Technologies and Herm-Sprenger prong collar for off leash and on leash reliability
Can include commands of “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “heel”," “down”, leash manners and door manners
Will develop the fundamentals and rules of fetch and tug within the time allowance
Can proof commands for high distraction, long distances, and long duration holding commands until released
Commands will be proofed off leash where applicable
Can spend additional time proofing for higher distractions
Can spend additional time working around sources of anxiety with a focus on increasing confidence
Can spend additional time working on specific issues like resource guarding
Can spend additional time getting multiple dogs accustomed to working with each other
Slower and easier introduction to the commands
Can cater training to any specific issues with your dog
Updates every single day
2-4 hour in-home turnover (within 2 hours of Massanutten) to make sure you know how to maintain the training and develop your new relationship with your dog!
Lifetime refresher lessons at the park in Massanutten should you need any help transitioning the dog home or even if you let things slip a little
50% discount on a consultation for help getting started before Board and Train start date.
For dogs at least 4 months old
Rushed scheduling is available for a 30% surcharge.
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
*All Board and Train purchases must be paid and full and have returned signed contracts before scheduling.
This package is best for dogs with more advanced anxiety or aggression issues, but is still a fantastic solution for most dogs! Where no training option is magic and there will be work to do with you and your environment no matter how long they train, this option allows for fuller immersion in training structures, fuller development of play, emotional associations, and communication, and the more normalization of good behavioral and emotional habits make that transition home much easier. You cannot rehabilitate aggression or anxiety issues by just focusing on behavior. This package gives more time to focus on the emotional and genetic contributors to the issues your having to set you up for long-term success and your dog up for success and self-confidence.
You couldn’t rush a relationship with your dog and neither can your trainer. The more time we have to develop our mutual trust and communication, the better learning environment we can create for your pup and the more durable the training will become. You can teach commands through stress and you can bribe with food, but neither of these options develop the mutual trust, respect, and communication that time and play can develop. Play satisfies your dog on a genetic level and gives them purpose in life. How awesome would it be for you to be the provider of that fulfillment? You can certainly use coercion to make yourself relevant to your dog when they are distracted, anxious, or aggressive, but mostly this masks the behavioral in the short term when the genetic and emotional underpinnings aren’t addressed. A large reason why behavioral issues develop is because your dog doesn’t have outlets for the things that make them who they are (chasing, biting, herding, barking, etc.) and don’t know how now to have that fulfilling relationship with you. Your dog is an incredibly social animal. If you aren’t providing the genetic or social fulfillment to your dog, they will look for it elsewhere and live a less confident life. This training option is designed to more fully develop the concepts of play so your dog can find that fulfillment they need, set up a very motivational and successful learning environment ant relationship, and then use that play and that relationship to create the boundaries and communication we need to help them navigate their issues and find long-term success.
Your dog lives with a trainer at their house for 8 weeks!
Immersion into normal life with new and better habits
Will develop the fundamentals and rules of fetch and tug within the time allowance
Healthy dog and human socialization
Fuller integration of commands with normal life
Can include electronic collar from E-Collar Technologies and Herm-Sprenger prong collar for off leash and on leash reliability!
Can include commands of “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “heel”," “down”, leash manners and door manners, proofing for high distraction, long distances, and long duration holding commands until released
Commands will be proofed off leash where applicable
Can address and build confidence regarding any anxiety or aggressive behavior
Can solidify good habits regarding specific issues
Can integrate dogs from the same home together in training as well as normal life
Can spend time developing tracking or detection
Updates every single day
2-4 hour in-home turnover (within 2 hours of Massanutten) to make sure you know how to maintain the training and develop your new relationship with your dog!
Lifetime refresher lessons at the park in Massanutten should you need any help transitioning the dog home or even if you let things slip a little
50% discount on a consultation for help getting started before Board and Train start date.
For dogs at least 4 months old
Rushed scheduling is available for a 30% surcharge.
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
*All Board and Train purchases must be paid and full and have returned signed contracts before scheduling.