In Setting Puppies up for Success, we meet Bella, an energetic little puppy who is full of curiosity and joy. Bella’s new family is excited to welcome her into their home, but they quickly realize that like all puppies, she needs structure to help her feel safe and learn good habits. Crate training becomes an essential part of Bella’s routine, setting her up for success as she grows into a well-mannered dog.
The story introduces crate training as a positive, safe space where puppies can learn independence, develop a routine, and avoid common behavioral issues. Bella’s family begins by introducing her to the crate in a gentle and encouraging way.
This is the third in a series on early socialization and training that breeders can do with young puppies to help them adapt to life in their future new homes.
New puppy owners often do not see the benefits of crate training beyond short-term use as a tool to aid in housetraining, something to be done away with once that has been accomplished.
As a breeder, you are the perfect person to let them know that crates are a valuable lifetime tool. They provide dogs a haven, a place of their own – a quiet place to nap and a safe place to travel in.
Crates bring peace of mind when the dog needs to be in a safe place while guests or workers are in the home and anytime owners cannot directly supervise. A puppy can get into big trouble in the 10 minutes it takes to go to the laundry room to put the clothes in the dryer! Humans like having their own space and dogs, being denning animals, usually do too.
The sudden separation from dam and littermates can be very distressing for young puppies, so familiarizing them with crates early will help them be more comfortable when they are taken to a place full of strange people and smells.
Photo by Difesa Cane Corso
If you have a litter of 12, it isn’t practical, or even possible, to set up an individual crate for each puppy but you can still set up a few crates in their ex-pen to help them get used to the idea. Some crates can be set up with the ex-pen connected to the front, so that they do not take up room in the pen itself. You can also take turns having puppies spend short periods of time in a crate by themselves, for meals or just to enjoy a treat – far better than no crate introduction at all!
Of course, if you have smaller litters, it may be easy for your puppies to start sleeping in crates at an early age, 6 weeks or so.
Encourage your puppy buyers to always use a crate when transporting their puppy by car. It is the safest way, and you can take puppies for short rides before sending them home with their new owners.
More tips for you to give your puppy buyers:
- Keep an open crate in the puppy’s exercise pen and put treats and toys inside it.
- Feed puppy in crate.
- From day one, establish a routine. Part of every morning and afternoon should include naptime in the crate.
- If the crate is wire, cover it, except for most of the front, to make it feel cozier and less exposed.
- Allowing puppies to “cry it out” can create negative associations with being crated. Crate the puppy for short periods of time and let him or her out before showing signs of stress.
- For convenience, consider more than one crate: one upstairs, one downstairs, and one that you keep in the car.
Each chapter of Bella’s story highlights key steps in the crate training process:
- Introducing the Crate: Bella’s family places her favorite blanket and toys in the crate to make it a cozy, inviting space. They leave the door open, allowing Bella to explore the crate at her own pace, and reward her with treats when she goes inside.
- Making the Crate a Positive Space: The family feeds Bella her meals inside the crate to build positive associations. They also practice placing Bella in the crate for short periods during the day, gradually increasing the time as she becomes more comfortable.
- Establishing a Routine: Bella begins to understand that her crate is a place for rest and quiet time. Her family creates a schedule, using the crate for naps and nighttime sleep, helping Bella feel secure with a consistent routine.
- Managing Crate Time: The family learns to recognize the importance of not leaving Bella in the crate for too long, ensuring she has plenty of playtime and potty breaks. They also introduce a signal, such as a command or a cue word, to indicate crate time, reinforcing Bella’s understanding.
- Overcoming Challenges: As with any training, Bella faces some setbacks. At first, she whines when placed in the crate at night. Her family stays patient and calm, gradually helping Bella feel more at ease by sticking to the routine and avoiding reinforcing her whining with attention.
By the end of the story, Bella is fully comfortable with her crate, seeing it as a place of safety and comfort. The crate becomes her special spot, a peaceful retreat where she can rest without anxiety. Her family celebrates how crate training has helped Bella adjust to her new home, develop good habits, and feel secure.
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