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Crate Training

Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Green Bay / Appleton, WI from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Green Bay / Appleton, WI

Crate training for puppies helps your dog develop a sense of security. Crates appeal to a dog’s natural instincts, offering them a safe, familiar area to relax and retreat when needed.

Crate training also plays a key role in housebreaking. 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.

At Dog Training Elite, we offer expert puppy crate training in Green Bay / Appleton, WI to help guide you through the process. Our trainers work with you to help your puppy become comfortable with their crate and use it as a positive training tool.

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Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin

Crate Training Tips

Crate training is a valuable tool when done correctly, but it's important to follow best practices to ensure your dog remains comfortable and secure. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of crate training.

Avoid leaving your dog in the crate for more than two hours at a time to prevent discomfort and ensure they don’t associate the crate with confinement.
If you’re away for long periods, consider leaving your puppy with a friend or in a safe area where they have more room to move.
Choose a crate that fits your puppy’s size, or use an adjustable crate to accommodate their growth and ensure ongoing comfort.
Leave the crate door open when possible so your dog can enter and exit freely, helping them feel more at ease with the space.
Add a soft bed, blankets, and toys to make the crate a cozy, inviting space your puppy will enjoy spending time in.
Never use the crate for punishment—this can create fear and negative associations with the crate instead of security.
A puppy looking up at its owner during crate training in Green Bay / Appleton, WI with DTE.

Why Should You Use Crate Training?

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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, 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 trained 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.

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.

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Two well-behaved puppies after training in their crates.

Start Crate Training Today


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Crate training helps puppies feel secure by providing them with a safe and comfortable space of their own. It also speeds up housebreaking, reduces accidents, and prepares your puppy for situations like vet visits or travel. When done right, crate training fosters a sense of security and builds healthy routines.

At Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin, we’re here to support you and your puppy throughout the crate training process. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward a well-trained and happy pup!

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You and your canine companion really can have it all. See how easy it can be to become a member of the elite pup society by requesting a free consultation today!

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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Julie Braun
    Feb. 11, 2025
    Marcy was a fabulous trainer. Odie responded to his training so well. He did such a great job and grew so much. So thankful Marcy was patient and helpful. Highly recommend the program. Thank you Dog Training Elite Northeast WI.
  • christopher parker
    Feb. 9, 2025
    We had an amazing experience training our dog Trenton. Ramiro was very informative and knowledgeable throughout the training. They were very flexible and worked around our schedule. Trenton has improved and we will continue to use the skills we were taught. We are looking forward to the group sessions. We will recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone who is looking for dog training!
  • Chad Kane
    Feb. 8, 2025
    We had an excellent experience at Elite. We were referred to them through friends and we are very happy with the training, staff and the results we have seen. Our dog would run away when we called him. He had a hard time staying focused and we definitely had to have them on a leash at all times. Since completing the training, he’s a totally different dog. He comes when called, stays close and no longer runs off. They provided us with education related to our feeding schedule with our dog and other things that we could change to help train our dog and be more consistent. We achieved all of the goals we had set for ourselves and our dog. Chad and Megan
  • Greg Rodriguez
    Feb. 8, 2025
    Our experience with Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin has been nothing short of awesome! We brought our energetic, people loving dog Archie to them for help with basic obedience and some specific behavioral issues ( like excessive barking and jumping when meeting new people and some resource guarding). From the first day we were very impressed. Couldn't believe that he was able to place and stay just after day one, even when toys were thrown in front of him, he wouldn't budge and he LOVES toys. The trainers clearly understand dog behavior and were able to explain things to us in a way that made sense. They don't just tell you what to do but also why it is important, which helped us be more consistent with our dog training. They took the time to get to know Archie's personality and tailored their training methods to his specific needs. We enrolled in the platinum plus program and saw significant improvement in his behavior within just a few lessons. We learned valuable lessons and tequniques, such as heel and quiet, which really comes in handy when meeting new people. We were able to take our dog The Home Depot and walk around and meet new people and he did so good! He didn't bark or pull on the leash, which was the main reason we wanted to get training done. Thanks to the training, we feel like we can confidently take our dog into public places where they allow dogs! Great job Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin!
  • Katie Plamann
    Feb. 1, 2025
    Miss Fern and I are super grateful for DTE! Fern has come so far and she listens much better after completing her training. I could not have gotten her to the point of being off leash without all the help and she’s loving the freedom this allows her! She’s going to be so excited about group classes in the near future.
  • Jimdawg13
    Feb. 4, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin did a great job in the training of our black lab River! Ramiro is very knowledgeable and patient with the dog. Communication was great and he assisted us with any questions we had. Would definitely recommend to anyone!
  • Bennett Temple
    Feb. 2, 2025
    Amazing training program!! Ramiro really knows what he is talking about and helped transform our puppy into a more well-mannered, behaved dog. Highly recommend to all owners struggling with their dog’s behaviors who need more structured support!
  • Laura Gallistel
    Feb. 1, 2025
    Ramiro and Stephanie have been great to work with. They've helped troubleshoot many problems we've encountered and have been very accommodating. Thank you!
  • Nathaniel Glab
    Jan. 29, 2025
    We really enjoyed our experience with Ramiro. He made the training fun for the whole family. Our dog went from being extremely reactive to being able to follow any command. The E Collar has been a life saver. We can let him outside off leash and we can have company over without worrying. We purchased the elite package, so we have a lot of comfort knowing we are covered for life if spud ever needs any more help. Ramiro was kind and answered all of our questions patiently. We will miss our weekly lessons!
  • Mary Mattio
    Jan. 27, 2025
    Marcy was amazing to work with! She answered every question I had and was unbelievably helpful.
  • Kathie Ammerman
    Jan. 15, 2025
    Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Kylo, our 8 year old Golden Retriever earned his Canine Good Citizen award today! It was by chance that I met Ramiro and his team at Dog Training Elite. They were holding a group class at the park and I asked their opinion on help with an older dog. And I’m so glad I asked. Kylo’s unpredictable reactivity to other dogs was just one of his traits that couldn’t be corrected even after attending several different dog classes. Ramiro came to our house to meet us (a free evaluation). It didn’t take long to realize that this training would be different. We chose the Platinum Obedience Package with 8 one-on-one training sessions plus much more. Ramiro came to our house for training sessions. Kylo learned new things. Just as important, Ramiro worked with us and I learned how my behavior made a difference in Kylo’s reactions. I wish I would’ve found Dog Training Elite years ago! Check them out!
  • Angela Koerner
    Jan. 13, 2025
    We just completed the in-home portion of Rico's Platinum Obedience Package. DTE has been 100% the best investment we could have made with our boy, and we couldn't be happier with the results. With Rico being a purebred Rottweiler, his breed stigma, size, and our living situation in a larger condo community, it was important for us as confident owners to have a well-mannered big boy. Our trainer, Marcy, was absolutely fantastic, and I cannot say enough great things about her. She made training fun, tailored each session to Rico's specific goals, and challenged us with things to try between sessions. This really allowed our stubborn boy to excel. I was ecstatic when Rico passed his AKC Canine Good Citizen certification at only 7 months old! The number of compliments we receive out in public with Rico is unbelievable. He walks confidently and proudly right next to me, does not react to the busy world around him, and can enjoy his best life at times off-leash. This team is over the top, flexible, reliable, and super compassionate. You can tell that they really love the work they do! We are so proud that Rico is part of the Elite pack and look forward to attending group classes. Thank you Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin!
  • John Spanbauer
    Jan. 7, 2025
    Ramiro and his team were excellent at training and professional. Thank you.
  • Jessica Tryba
    Jan. 3, 2025
    Ramiro was amazing for Apollo and I. Apollo is young doberman and a service dog in training. With Ramiro's very patient and communicative training style, Apollo passed his Canine Good Citizenship test at under a year old. He has learned multiple important commands. Ramiro and the team at Dog Training Elite are always on hand to help address issues or concerns. Every lesson we walked away feeling supported and encouraged. Any dog I have going forward will be going to Dog Training Elite.
  • Mike Smits
    Jan. 2, 2025
    It was such a great experience, I would highly recommend! The training was amazing. Our pup is well behaved, does tricks and we want to thank dog training elite for working with us, we learned so much!
  • Adam Palazzo
    Dec. 13, 2024
    They were so helpful and adaptive to the individual needs of my Tato. With their training and tools his obedience is night and day better. There were so many other benefits but seeing my dog live his best life with their help has been amazing. The only regret I have is not signing him up sooner.
  • Jaime Schmitt
    Dec. 11, 2024
    We purchased the Platinum Obedience Package after we adopted our Kiki Pancake this past summer. We are experienced husky owners and Kiki was our fifth husky so we thought we could train her like our past huskies. Kiki proved us wrong. She is the epitome of a stubborn husky and too smart for her own good. I reached out to DTE and they responded quickly and we had a consultation set up within a week. Kiki started training in October and graduated her Platinum Obedience Program this week. The change in Kiki is unbelievable! She is a completely different dog. Kiki comes when we call her, she understands and performs basic and secondary commands, she stops unwanted behaviors when we tell her to and she walks like a little lady on a leash instead of dragging her mom through the neighborhood! When we initially had problems with her ecollar, Stephany came out the next day and worked with us to find options and alternatives that would work for her so we didn't lose training time. We are so incredibly grateful for Ramiro, Stephany and team and their hard work and dedication to our Kiki! They are so patient with our stubborn and defiant husky! It's a huge relief to not feel alone and to have support when you have a dog that knows how to push all your buttons! We're looking forward to group classes and continuing Kiki's training with Dog Training Elite!
  • Tyler Bredael
    Nov. 13, 2024
    We adopted our second dog, Kora, a little over a year ago. She had a lot of energy and anxiety, and was a constant source of stress. She barked at visitors for hours, snapped at people, and was a nightmare on walks. She would urinate and chew things up whenever we left a room without her. We tried treat and clicker training on our own, but it seemed like she just was getting more anxious. We didn't feel comfortable bringing her anywhere like we do with our other dog, and were considering rehoming. Ramiro from Dog Training Elite was a game-changer. He patiently explained the root causes of Kora's behaviors and provided us with clear, effective training techniques. With his guidance, we were able to provide structure and help Kora become a more confident and well-behaved dog. Thanks to Ramiro's expertise, our dog is now a joy to be around. She's calmer, more obedient, and much better socialized. Even the behaviors not directly relating to obedience have greatly improved. Now we feel comfortable bringing her to other peoples' houses, to the park, and to the store. It's been a rewarding experience, and now that Kora passed the canine good citizen test, we're excited to join group classes. We're so grateful for the positive transformation and highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone struggling with a challenging dog.
  • Emma Tabachnick
    Nov. 12, 2024
    We just completed training (platinum package) of our Boxer Tiki. Tiki needed help with reactivity. We used trainers before, but never achieved any tangible results. We couldn’t have people at our house, the door bell triggered Tiki’s reactivity to the point that we couldn’t open the door. Dog Training Elite was our last resort. With Ramiro’s guidance we achieved great results. Ramiro is very patient, knowledgeable and has very commending presence. With Ramiro’s help we not just improved Tiki’s behavior. The whole experience help us to be better leaders for Tiki. When the door bell rings, now Tiki goes to his place, we can take him to the public places. It wasn’t possible before. It is work in progress, but with Ramiro’s help we are on the right track. We are very impressed with the results. Highly recommend.
  • Rochelle Huss
    Nov. 10, 2024
    Our experience with Dog Training Elite has been fantastic! Allison is extremely knowledgeable, patient, helpful, and overall absolutely wonderful. Our Atlas always looked forward to seeing her and working with her every week. We are thrilled with the transformation of behavior and confidence that Atlas has gained. These humans and pup highly recommend!!