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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 Fitchburg / Leominster, as well as important tips to keep in mind throughout the training process.
Puppy training with Dog Training Elite Central Massachusetts 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 Central Massachusetts location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Silver
$1,545
Training Equipment Included: E-Collar
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 3 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)
Gold
$1,945
Training Equipment Included: E-Collar
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 5 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)
- 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)
Platinum
$2,745
Platinum offers advanced obedience/behavioral modification with a goal of off-leash control. Includes additional training options and offers more one-on-one and group sessions than Gold.
Training Equipment Included: E-Collar
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 9 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions 16 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)
- 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 Jog or Bike Ride (off-leash)
- *Emotional Support Dog Training(ESA)
- *Control Aggression(dog & human)
- *Calm Extreme Anxiety(behavioral modification)
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!
Best decision I have made! Marcus is fantastic. He is calm, knowledgeable and just an all around great trainer and person. I have two dogs with different personalities and he has taught me in a short time how to work with both of them. Ten plus in my book. Highly recommend.— Kelly Medeiros
Posted December 1st 2023
We've been training Roni (our 9 month old mix breed) at Dog Training Elite since the beginning of March and I can't say enough good about them. When we first started our journey of training my dog for service work, I was both excited and apprehensive, unsure of whether or not myself and my dog would be capable of learning everything. From the very beginning, Dog Training Elite stood out as a beacon of expertise, professionalism, and dedication, and I am thrilled to say that my expectations have been exceeded in every way. The one-on-one training sessions are nothing short of transformative. Each trainer's patience, attentiveness, and unwavering focus on my dog's progress has created an environment where she's eager to learn. What truly sets their one-on-one training apart is their ability to empower not only my dog but also myself. They recognize the importance of equipping the dog owners with the knowledge and skills to reinforce and maintain the training outside of the sessions. The clear and concise guidance, coupled with practical demonstrations, has allowed me to become an effective partner in my dog's ongoing development and success as a service dog. The group training sessions offer guidance on dealing with distractions, as well as providing some socialization. During group training sessions, Marcus and the entire team have demonstrated an unparalleled level of knowledge, skill, and genuine care for the well-being of each dog. The trainers exhibited not only a deep understanding of various dog breeds and temperaments but also an unwavering commitment to the success and happiness of their four-legged students. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them, and Roni loves them too! In summary, their approach to service dog training is nothing short of outstanding. They have tailored the training program to meet my dog's specific needs, taking into account both her individual strengths and challenges. I would have never thought that I could bring Roni out in public, to restaurants, to stores etc. and she would be as well behaved as she is. Some of the tasks we've completed during our training sessions leave me extremely proud of her and super grateful for this training program. She still has a little ways to go before she's completely ready, but at 9 months old I couldn't be more proud. The biggest compliment is no matter where we are with her, or who we are with - friends & strangers all comment on how well behaved she is. I love hearing that. Dog Training Elite is hands down the best decision I made for Roni.— Krista Herzberg
Posted August 15th 2023
Our experience with Marcus and his team has been fantastic. I took Kodak, my German Sheppard in for a 2 week boot camp. We have been struggling with dog aggression issues. The evaluation and training techniques had him figured out and then they translated to me what I need to do to improve as well. Yup - I needed boot camp also. It’s an on going project and they have a number of training options to help keeping it on the right track. It has been a relief to have a path to take to make Kodak the best he can be!— Suzanne Sinnery
Posted July 24th 2023
Marquis is fantastic. He's done wonders teaching my dog, Harley. He also takes the time to help us understand his training methods and what we need to do in order to maintain our dog's learning. I highly, highly recommend!— The Local Spotlight
Posted June 21st 2023
Marcus is an amazing trainer !!! Extremely professional and kind— Tony Chianese
Posted June 21st 2023
Nyla loves her weekly meet-ups with pups her own age. She otherwise wouldn’t have that socialization opportunity. She’s almost done with puppy classes, graduating to adult training. Very exciting! Thank you, Marcus and Michaela, for your patience, commitment, and love for our rambunctious Va’Nyla Bean.— Marina Doktor
Posted March 25th 2023
Marcus & Kara have been amazing to work with...Gustav loves every moment of his classes! My pup is on his way to being a service dog thanks to the teachings of DTE and I am beyond pleased with the results. Very exciting to keep up the hard work.— Kelly Malone
Posted February 16th 2023
Marcus and Michaela are the best trainers! They had my sassy samoyed obeying commands and picking up a few tricks after just a few sessions. Highly recommend training with DTE!— BCRS Nest
Posted February 11th 2023
We have been working with Dog Training Elite for a couple of months now. One of the reasons we chose them was because they offer both in home and “real world” classes; it wasn’t just one or the other. We could not be happier with how flexible they were when scheduling the in home visits and how knowledgeable they are. They are kind and patient both with our German Shepherd puppy and my family. They took care to include my two children with the training and help educate them as well. I highly recommend them for any puppy training needs.— Erin Giusti
Posted January 28th 2023
Had my first session with michaela and marcus and i am impressed with how quick my dog has learned already— B Day
Posted October 4th 2022
By far the most knowledgeable trainers we have met! Highly recommend working with these guys!!— Dan Lutchko
Posted October 1st 2022
I brought my dog with severe behavioral issues to Elite Training central mass recently. She came back a brand new pup! So sweet and loving. The owners were extremely helpful and made me feel comfortable leaving my dog with them each day. Definitely recommend them to anyone having difficulties with their furry friend!— Salvatore
Posted September 30th 2022
Best experience I’ve ever had with dog trainer. I would recommend DTE to anyone in search of a trainer!— Emily Albert
Posted September 30th 2022
They are very professional and committed to helping you train your dog!— Rosbin Mayen
Posted September 29th 2022
Excellent dog trainers! They are very knowledgeable— parker fillmore
Posted September 28th 2022
Great caring business owners that will treat your dogs like their own !— Kayla Costa
Posted September 27th 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 Central Massachusetts, 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 Central Massachusetts, 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 Central Massachusetts 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 Fitchburg / Leominster
- 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 Central Massachusetts 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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.