Request a Free Assessment
When introducing a new puppy to your home, crate training is one of the most important instructions for your pup. Though some dog owners initially question the idea of crate training, a crate gives you and your dog a sense of security when used properly. Read on to learn more about the benefits of enrolling in a crate training puppy program in Charleston / Summerville, as well as important tips to keep in mind throughout the training process.
Puppy training with Dog Training Elite Lowcountry gives you all the skills and tools you need to help make your new puppy a part of the family, without using shock collars. Contact us today!
What is Crate Training?
Crate training is the practice of teaching a puppy that a metal, plastic, or fabric-covered cage (crate) is their safe place. This taps into the natural denning instincts of dogs, and they will learn that the crate is their personal spot that they can retreat to whenever they desire.
In addition to offering dogs a sense of peace and territory, crate training significantly speeds up the house breaking process. Once a puppy learns that their crate is a safe place, or 'den', they will instinctively want to keep this area clean. During house breaking, keeping your puppy inside the crate dramatically reduces accidents. Keep eyes and ears open to your puppy's bathroom signals and quickly bring him or her outside. This will help your puppy learn that outside is the place to go, not inside.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Lowcountry location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Platinum
$2,950
OUR MOST POPULAR PACKAGE!
LIFETIME SUPPORT
Our platinum package offers you training sessions throughout your dog's lifetime! Follow-up sessions to be scheduled once per month as needed, after initial program is completed.
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 9 Sessions + Unlimited
*see above description - Group Park Training Sessions Unlimited
- Lifetime support via text/email and in-person support sessions *scheduled at trainer's discretion (no more than once per month, after completing initial program
- AKC Canine Good Citizen Testing
- Come
- Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
- Down(lay next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Load Up (go into kennel, car, or dog house)
- Manners, Safety & Boundaries
- Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Mouthing & Nipping
- STOP Chewing & Digging
- STOP Begging & Stealing Food
- STOP Bolting Through Doors & Running Away
- STOP Chasing Animals, Cars & Bikes
- STOP Reactivity (dog & human)
- *Stay With You on a Job or Bike Ride (off-leash)
- *Emotional Support Dog Training(ESA)
- *Control Aggression(dog & human)
- *Calm Extreme Anxiety(behavioral modification)
Gold
$2,275
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 6 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions 12 Sessions
- Come
- Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
- Down(lay next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Load Up (go into kennel, car, or dog house)
- Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Mouthing & Nipping
- STOP Chewing & Digging
- STOP Begging & Stealing Food
- STOP Bolting Through Doors & Running Away
- STOP Chasing Animals, Cars & Bikes
We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!
The entire team was fabulous. They taught my dog, Bella, and me to be a true team. All with positive reinforcement!— Annette Cooper
Posted April 23rd 2024
Dog Training Elite is one of the best things to ever happen to me. They helped me find my sweet baby Shadow who has helped me tremendously. In just one training session with Colby, my puppy was acting like a whole new dog. Colby was very attentive and took the time to get to know me and my dog to better help with the training and from the start, Shadow was attached and couldn’t get enough of her. Along with Colby, Steve (the owner) took Shadow in for a week for intense training and she came back knowing so much more than she did going in. He took the time to fill me in on what she had learn and how to hold her to those standards. The whole team at DTE is just wonderful and I would highly recommend them to all!— Amber Nejman
Posted April 12th 2024
Training with the owner Steve has been great! Second session and we are working on heel. He was able to stay in a Place for the entirety of a surgery so I've been very impressed. Our puppy is being trained as a service dog, and he loves going everywhere. He's always on his best behavior. The trainers are doing an excellent job of training us how to help him be successful long-term. All of us enjoy the training sessions and learning new skills— Heather C
Posted March 22nd 2024
Steve was awesome and I really liked the approach. I am convinced that my dogs will be so much easier to control after training. The dogs are great and love people but their level of love and excitement made some people uncomfortable. The are responding in a very positive way to the trading.— Karen Eaton
Posted October 7th 2023
Dog Training Elite Lowcountry helped us train our Bernedoodle as a service dog. They worked with our busy schedule and truly met the needs of our family. Our dog had her CGC, AKC Urban, AKC community, and service dog public access tests passed before she turned 1 thanks to their guidance. I now have all the tools necessary to maintain her training.— Lindsey Rebecca
Posted June 30th 2023
Steve was the trainer for Lana, our golden doodle 2 year old dog. Lana was trained from a very energetic dog that lunged towards strangers to say hello and pulled on walks to a service dog for PTSD. I recently took her on an international flight and she behaved perfectly and sat under my seat the whole flight. The crew said that she was the most well behaved service dog they have ever seen. Lana has become a new dog and now we take her everywhere. Steve was so helpful and went above and beyond to help train our dog. We recommend him to everyone and cannot say enough about the training Lana received! He drove out to our house for every lesson and worked with our schedule to make it work. Thank you!— Rachel Banu
Posted November 6th 2022
Steve was the trainer for Lana, our golden doodle 2 year old dog. Lana was trained from a very energetic dog that lunged towards strangers to say hello and pulled on walks to a service dog for PTSD. I recently took her on an international flight and she behaved perfectly and sat under my seat the whole flight. The crew said that she was the most well behaved service dog they have ever seen. Lana has become a new dog and now we take her everywhere. Steve was so helpful and went above and beyond to help train our dog. We recommend him to everyone and cannot say enough about the training Lana received! He drove out to our house for every lesson and worked with our schedule to make it work. Thank you!— Rachel Banu
Posted November 6th 2022
Had a great time working with Steven. Steven worked with Winnie and Marley amazingly. Thank you for all the help!— Duey Carstensen
Posted August 24th 2022
Our almost 3 year old was super hyper and would not listen at all! after just our first session with Dog Training Elite Low country, he was a totally different dog! We cannot believe what a difference this training has made. Thank you Valerie and Steve!— Amanda MB
Posted August 12th 2022
This is the best investment we have ever made with our dog. Steven Thompson is professional, prompt, kind, and extremely competent with canines. Our Goldendoodle is excited to see him for a lesson and she learns very quickly with his handling. He is also very patient with Lana’s human friends who he teaches alongside her. We are excited to be able to take a well-behaved dog with us to explore new places, confident that she is under control.— Linda Dotson Perkins
Posted August 12th 2022
Valerie and Steve area AMAZING PEOPLE and Charleston is very lucky to have them to help improve the lives of both dogs and their owners. You can tell they truly care about driving quality results and are very compassionate about improving your relationship with your beloved furry family member. I know that they are also very passionate about giving back to the community through their charity organization, the Malinois Foundation. They are extremely professional yet personal and if you are looking for a Dog Trainer in Charleston, look no further! Wish I could give more than 5 stars!— Kyle Christie
Posted July 8th 2022
Valerie an Steve are very knowledgeable an knows exactly what they are doing in training an the steps that need to be taken. Very detailed with explanations an process. I would definitely recommend their services! Thanks for all you do for our fur babies!— Joyce Carpenter
Posted July 1st 2022
Val and Steve are fantastic trainers. They are dedicated and truly passionate about improving the bond between dogs and their owners. I highly recommend them for all training needs!— craig fizer
Posted June 14th 2022
I would like congratulate Steve and Valerie on the opening of their Dog Training Elite business. I have seen the effectiveness of their training methods and the positive transformation in the behavior of the dogs they train. They genuinely want each owner to have the best possible relationship with their dog so that both can experience the all fun activities and joy that dogs bring to our lives. If you would like to make your dog a bigger part of your lifestyle, I encourage you to have Steve and Valerie demonstrate the level of confidence and obedience that their training can provide for your dog.— Vince Conrad
Posted June 6th 2022
My puppy, Tails, is currently in the training program and it has been great so far. Valerie and Steve are kind, professional, attentive, and always willing to answer any questions I have.— Abi C
Posted June 4th 2022
Valerie and Steve are tremendous and caring dog trainers, they are patient and want to help with every situation. After seeing their amazing dogs Hank and Rusty, I can't believe how lucky the Charleston area is to have such caring people in their area.— George Rehbein
Posted June 1st 2022
Valerie and Steve are so passionate about the work that they do!— Kelley Rosequist
Posted May 18th 2022
Valerie and her dog, Hank, were amazing! So excited for her to train my dog and to work with her!— Sunny de Armas
Posted May 18th 2022
Why Should You Use Crate Training?
In addition to offering dogs a sense of peace and territory, crate training significantly speeds up the house-breaking process. Once a puppy learns that their crate is a safe place, or 'den', they will instinctively want to keep this area clean. During house-breaking, keeping your puppy inside the crate dramatically reduces accidents. Keep eyes and ears open to your puppy's bathroom signals and quickly bring him or her outside. This will help your puppy learn that outside is the place to go, not inside.
Crate training can also improve other aspects of your pet's life. A dog that is used to a crate will feel more comfortable when traveling and have a safe place to retreat during thunderstorms or noisy guests. At Dog Training Elite Lowcountry, we believe that crate training can enhance the lives of both dog and owner when done properly.
Additional benefits of crate training include:
- General safety: Having your pup in their crate allows them to be alone while you are unable to watch them. Whether you are busy at home or out of the house, a crate training puppy can give you peace of mind that your pup is safe and secure.
- Effective evacuation: In emergencies, crate training can save your dog’s life as a quick, low-stress way to evacuate.
- Calmer vet visits: Should your pup be required to stay overnight at the vet’s, they will experience less stress and put up little resistance in their cage if they have been crate trained.
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite Lowcountry, we believe that Service Dogs save lives. It is our mission to make these life-saving companions available to our Veterans, First Responders, Women Survivors, and Children with Medical Needs. Whether it be for PTSD, Mobility Support, or Special Needs, Dog Training Elite Lowcountry works with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.
Is Crate Training Your Puppy Necessary?
While crate training is not necessary for housebreaking, it undoubtedly makes the process easier. Owners who choose to housebreak without the use of a crate will need more time and more patience when it comes to cleaning up accidents.
Crate training is also the safest option for keeping your puppy safe when unattended, protecting them during traveling, and limiting household damage with restless puppies.
When Should You Start Crate Training?
Crate training young, starting at about 8 weeks, is the best option for most pups and their owners. Keep in mind, though, that puppies under the age of 6 months should not be confined to their crate for more than three or four hours at a time. Allowing them to stay in the crate for too long will lead to a messy space, as young puppies are unable to control their bladders or bowels for extended periods. This also applies to adult dogs who are being housetrained.
Crate Training for Puppies
Tips From Dog Training Elite in Charleston / Summerville
- While crating is an important dog training process, your dog should not spend most of their time in a crate. We advise you to never leave your dog locked in the crate for more than two hours at a time.
- If you must be away from home all day, it's best to drop your dog off with a friend so the crate does not become overly dirty and your pup isn’t confined to a small space for too long.
- Crates come in different sizes, and some options can be adjusted as your dog grows to keep them comfortable.
- When possible, leave the crate door open so your dog feels free to come and go.
- Add a doggie bed, soft blankets, and plush toys so your puppy feels comfortable inside the crate.
- Never use crating as a punishment — this will only teach your dog to fear the crate.
Dog Training Elite Lowcountry includes tips and tricks for crate training in our puppy training programs. Our unique techniques based on the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning") ensure our program is a success no matter how much crate training experience your pup has.
If you are searching for a crate training puppy program in your local area, contact us today.
Se habla español!
Our Balanced Theory
We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.
-
Empowering Owners
We empower Owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times. -
Personalized
We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis. -
Environment Specific
We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
-
Supportive
We support Owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session"). -
Involved
We work with all members of the household. -
Simplified & Customized
We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
-
Continued Training
Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training. -
Lifetime Investment
We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term. -
Satisfaction Ratings
Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.