Zoes Doodles

LICENCED GOLDENDOODLE BREEDER

crate training

Purchasing the Crate

It is important to find the right size crate for your puppy. You should purchase a crate large enough for your pup to stand and turn around in a complete circle. A crate that is too small is uncomfortable and unsafe. A crate that is too large is useless for training purposes.

There are different types of crates. The most common are plastic and metal Although both have their advantages, the plastic ones are easier to move from room to room as needed, or used for travel.

We like, and generally recommend, the 36” wire crate that comes with a divider panel so you can gradually make your puppies crate area bigger as your pup grows. This is helpful because most puppies don't want to go to the bathroom where they sleep, but if your crate is too large, such that they can pee in one corner and lay in the other, most new puppies will.

Gradual Exposure and Positive Associations

Crate training begins with us at Zoe’s Doodles. Your puppy has been sleeping in a crate at night and having several rest times in their crate during the day.

Do your best to help your puppy continue to realize the crate is a positive place. The crate is like their bedroom/den, a place we want them to be comfortable. Their crate becomes their special place to sleep and enjoy quiet time. It should never be used for punishment. The two guiding principles of successful crate training are gradual exposures to the crate and positive associations with the crate.

introducing the crate

Introduction

To properly introduce your puppies to their crate you should never use force and always use positive reinforcement. Allow your puppy to approach the crate; leave the door open. Do not close them inside of the crate. You want to avoid scaring your puppy or inducing anxiety. If your puppy does not approach it, toss a piece of kibble or another special treat inside and lure them into the crate by holding another piece in your hand. When your puppy enters the crate to eat the treat, reward them with praise and attention. Positive reinforcement is effectively used for all types of training and involves creating a positive association in your dog’s mind. Your puppy will learn to associate the crate with a happy feeling.

Getting Started

To get started, first begin by luring your puppy in and out of the crate a few times and giving them a food reward each time they go in and each time they exit. You can make a game of this, and play it for 3-5 minutes at a time and 3-5 times throughout the day. When your puppy first comes home, keep the crate close by you and plan to move it from room to room as necessary in order to help your puppy ease into being crated in your home. Start by sitting next to the crate while you read a book so they don't view it as isolation.

Please note that daytime and nighttime crate times vary significantly and work differently. Your puppy will be able to hold it longer at night, working up to 8+ hours of sleep, while during the day, one crate session can equal one hour per month old your puppy is currently.

When its time to go to sleep, ensure the crate is close to you and your puppy can see you.

Training Tips

Over time you will begin leaving them in their crate while walking away briefly, and then returning again... if they are calm and quiet when you return, reward them by enthusiastically saying "YES!" and providing them with a yummy treat! When this game goes well, when leaving and returning within 5 seconds, expand it to 10, then after that consistently goes well, expand it to 20, then 30, 45 and 60. Soon enough you will have built this up to multiple minutes, then 10, 20, 30 and so on!

To help with crate training, it's a good idea to give your puppy something to do in the crate. Benebones and appropriately sized stuffed Kongs are great diversions and help your puppy associate the crate with good things! As a best practice, I like to limit a few of my puppy’s most favorite chew toys for crate time ONLY, as these help them associate crate training with positive reinforcements. What's more, feeding your puppy their meals in the crate is another great way to help your puppy associate the crate as a happy place.

What if my puppy cries in their crate?

Let's just say this now, in the beginning YOUR PUPPY WILL CRY IN THE CRATE and this is completely normal! Don’t feel upset if your pup cries the first few nights.

They may bark, whimper, whine, etc... but don't worry, with some practice, patience and persistence, your pup can learn to love their crate and you will be so grateful when they do!

A Special Note

There is a very small percentage of puppies who truly panic when in too small of a space and may do better in an exercise pen or small puppy-proofed room. Signs your puppy is panicking in the crate include excessive barking, drooling, panting and desperately trying to escape the crate.

Please note, this is pretty rare so if your puppy is simply barking because they want to be out with you, it's better to allow them to work through the frustration and help them self-soothe. By not rewarding the barking with attention, this behavior decreases each time until your puppy readily settles when in their crate - get them out when they bark, and the barking will increase!

Take your puppy tp potty right before crate time to help ensure any barking or whining is not because they need to go potty. Most puppies settle themselves within 20-30 minutes. Some will cry longer and some will fuss for shorter time periods. Letting them get over the frustration on their own is a healthy life lesson and a puppy who has learned to settle in their crate will be calm when left alone - a wonderful behavior!

daytime & nighttime crate training rules

Daytime Rules

Regarding duration, day and night are different. During the day your puppy's absolute maximum crate time in hours equals how old your puppy is in months. For example, (2) months old = (2) hours maximum without a break. In our opinion, all dogs need a break outside of their crates during the day leaving them for a maximum of (4) hours crated, no matter their age.

To start, make sure you have a tired, satisfied puppy. They recently played, went potty, received attention from you, had a drink and ate their food. A happy content puppy will be much more likely to rest in the crate. Some puppies love a soft bed - others prefer the cool floor. Some do better with it covered while others like to see out. You can play soothing music, white noise or a metronome to comfort them. Provide them with their favorite toys and chews. This is essentially their bedroom - a place we want them to be comfortable.

On a typical day, after giving your puppy a potty break, place them in the crate with a safe chew toy and commit to dedicate the next 60 minutes or so for them to have some resting time, as well as to learn this is a safe zone for them, similar to a bedroom.

Plan to place the crate right next to you while you take a nap, read a book, watch a movie or sit and work in your office - although they are in the crate, with you right there, they don't also feel alone. Help your puppy relax by playing classical music, a white noise machine, or metronome. Create a daily routine so your puppy knows what to expect when in their crate.

For the next few days, and as briefly noted above, start leaving them alone for SHORT durations - walk into another room then come right back; go make a sandwich in the kitchen and then return, etc... so your puppy learns it's okay to be alone because you'll be right back.

As you come and go, do not give your puppy attention, unless upon returning they are calm and quiet, which you can choose to sometimes reward with a yummy treat as needed to help them learn. Other than that, simply go about your day as usual. Gradually lengthen out the time you leave them alone as they learn until they can handle it like a champ!

Break up the day so your puppy is not in a crate too much. Tether them to you with a leash to help you keep a close eye on them during the day or use the exercise pen and baby gates to create a smaller living space where they can be with you but not have free run of your home. If they are not in a crate, though, be sure to watch them like a hawk and take them outside frequently for potty breaks. Work up to longer time periods in the crate during the day and try to capitalize on sleepy times of the day as that is when your puppy is most likely to settle down without a fuss.

Nighttime Rules

At night, young puppies may need one or two potty breaks in the beginning, with the goal of working toward (8) hours of sleep in sequence. This is usually achieved within 1-3 weeks of bringing your puppy home.

For the first night, plan on putting your puppy's crate right next to your bed. With some puppies, I literally set the crate on my bed next to my pillow. Do what works for you, but the closer they can be to you in the first few nights while they are becoming acquainted with your home the better sleep you and your puppy will get - don't worry, this isn't permanent. If you do plan for your puppy to eventually sleep in another room of your house, you can begin to move their crate closer to it's final destination each night until your puppy is content with being crated at night in your desired location.

I also like to cover the sides and back of the crate with a thin blanket to make it more cozy, especially if it is a wire crate. I also don't include a bed or blankets in the crate as we find most dogs prefer to lay on the cooler crate bottom. You can try it with and without bedding, especially if you have a restless puppy, removing some of these extra comfort items, might actually make it more comfortable to them.

When it's time for bed, take your puppy to the bathroom one final time before placing them in the crate. Then plan on possibly waking up every 3-4 hours (unless your breeder has done this for you) to give them a quick potty break. Take your puppy out as soon as they start to stir - before they start barking or whining. After they go potty, put them right back in the crate to sleep again. If your puppy sleeps through the night, let them sleep, DO NOT wake them up unnecessarily.

Also, allow your puppy to get a nice big drink when their crate time is over. Then take them on leash immediately to the designated potty spot, wait for them to do their business and provide them with multiple yummy treats for going when and where you wanted each and every time. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT until your puppy is 100% housetrained (8-12 months) that you choose to have them sleep in a crate each night to prevent any accidents.

crate tips & tricks

Useful Information

Spend time during the first day introducing your puppy to the crate in an appropriate way. See above for details. If your puppy has an accident in the crate clean it up with a bleach/water solution and dry thoroughly before returning your puppy to it. Don't panic. Accidents happen - we just don't want it to become a pattern. Assess why it may have happened. Was your puppy inside too long without a break? Are they not feeling well? Did you change their food?
Try to capitalize on sleepy times of the day as that is when your puppy is most likely to settle down without a fuss.
If your puppy barks or whines when in the crate ignoring it is very effective in getting your puppy to settle quickly on their own, so long as they went potty before going in the crate and they are healthy. Keep a chart so you can see the daily progress and stay consistent. Never let out a barking puppy. Wait even for one second initially to open the door. Build this up to longer time. We don't want your puppy to learn barking or whining means they get out, being calm does.
If your puppy cries for 20 minutes then quiets down, try to leave them in for another 10-15 minutes so they experience being calm in the crate for a decent amount of time.
Puppies may need several breaks when being crated at night for the first time. As crate training begins at Zoe's Doodles, ask us for your puppy's current sleeping schedule so you have an idea of where to start.
Put the crate right next to you for the first few nights to help your puppy feel more comfortable.
Most new puppies will need at least one break during the night.
If your puppy wakes up, take your puppy outside quietly, praise when they do their business then come right back in and back to bed. No fanfare. Try to take them out BEFORE they bark. If needed, set an alarm around the time they wake each night.
Each night lengthen the time between potty breaks until finally you are sleeping 8 hours again.
During the day puppies can realistically hold it in the crate one hour for each month old they are - two months equals two hours, three months equals three hours, etc.
Only leave safe chew toys in the crate when you aren't there to supervise. Benebones and appropriately sized stuffed Kongs are good choices. Avoid plush toys with squeakers inside as the puppy may chew through it and swallow small pieces.
Ditch the food bowl! Teach your puppy to love a Kong and watch as this simple toy helps your puppy relax when you are away. Licking relaxes dogs and the good things found in the Kong help your puppy associate you leaving with good things.
Buy 3 or 4 red Kongs (size appropriately for your puppy then go up one size.) Every morning, measure out your puppy's daily food amount. Place 1/4 of the food in a baggie to be used throughout the day as rewards. Put the other 3/4 in a bowl and add water to soften it up. Let it soak up the water for 5 minutes. Then spoon into the 3 or 4 Kongs. Freeze the Kongs, pulling one out as needed throughout the day. Save these for times you will be gone or when you need your puppy to spend time in their crate or pen. Your puppy only gets the Kong in the crate or pen. Just before giving the Kong to your puppy, top with a spoonful of peanut butter, cream cheese or plain yogurt to make it more enticing. By having more than one Kong, you can wash as needed and always have one ready to go for the next crate/pen time.
Some puppies settle more quickly with the crate covered, while others prefer it not covered. You may need to experiment what works best for your puppy.
During the day, feel free to move the crate around with you. Some puppies do better when they can see you while others do better when they cannot. Playing music or the television when you are not home helps some puppies not feel so alone. If you are using a metal crate, remove your puppy's collar before they go in to prevent it from getting caught on the crate.