Crate training your dog, whether you’re bringing him home from the shelter (or other rescue) or expecting an adult dog, can sometimes be very tricky. There are so many crate training techniques out there, and all of them basically boil down to one big question: How long does it usually take to crate-train a dog? The answer depends on many factors. For instance, dogs learn best by being exposed to certain things over a long period of time, rather than just a few days. So how long should you leave a dog alone in his crate for?
If you want to crate-train your dog in as little as possible, start crate training him with positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is a great dog training trick that’s used most often, but it shouldn’t be the first thing you do when you get him home. First, set aside about 15 minutes of time in the day when you’ll be able to supervise your dog while he’s in his crate. That way you can make sure he doesn’t have a problem getting into his crate, and you can give him positive reinforcement as soon as he’s in it.
For this example, let’s assume you’ll be able to supervise your dog for at least eight weeks while he’s still an infant. So our example puppy is going to start crate training schedule number one after his first potty break. When he has a problem with the potty break, don’t give him the “pop” or the “spit” that most puppies crave. He needs to go to the bathroom on his own, so don’t punish him for wanting to use the bathroom (and don’t punish him for needing to go).
Instead, tell him “no” in a firm, non-angry voice and place him in his crate for about five minutes. After he’s done going potty, praise him and give him a pat or “good dog” and a treat. That’s the right crate training schedule for a puppy. Most people wait until an older dog has a problem with toileting before they put him in the crate. Older dogs may not have the same inhibitions as a younger dog.
An anxious dog will have problems when he’s crated for extended periods. If you’re craving for more than five to seven minutes at a time, he may be stressed out. Older dogs are also more prone to diarrhea, so they need to be on a regular crating schedule. In fact, it’s recommended that you never leave a dog alone in a crate for more than a couple of minutes.
As your dog gets trained and his learning begins to level off, you can then start to use positive associations. Positive associations are very powerful tools for dog training. The way that they work is by associating one negative thing (getting wet, getting barked at, getting wet or having his food removed) with another positive thing (getting the dog’s food). Say you had a dog that got angry when you left the room, you could associate the negative behavior with being left alone in the crate. He would remember being alone in the crate and this would make him want to be alone even more, so you could keep crating him during those times.
Positive associations also work on the other end of the spectrum, too. For example, if you had your dog that peed all the time, you could make him learn to hold his bladder by putting him in his crate training crate and making sure that his food and water were all put in his bowl. Over time, you would eventually get to the point where his bladder problem was no longer an issue.
A good way to start crate training is to set aside about an hour, or at least an hour and a half, for the training itself. This will give your dog enough time to become familiar with his new “bedtime” routine. You should make it a safe place for him to relax, like his dog bed, his crate, his leash, and anything else that you think he needs to “get used to.” Then you need to take him out to his “safe place” (like your yard), and begin the training. Make it fun, and stay with him for the first night or two so that you can both be around for the entire next night.
