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Crate Training

Puppy Crate Training in Huntsville, AL

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Huntsville, AL from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL 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 Huntsville

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 Huntsville, AL 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.

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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 Huntsville, 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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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Thomas Weaver
    Dec. 18, 2024
    Great week of refresher training for my medical alert dog. The team always does an outstanding job!
  • Denise Buchli
    Dec. 12, 2025
    Purchased the package where the trainer came to my house for one on one training for me and my dog. The staff provides great communication and ease of scheduling. The trainers are very patient and you can tell they have a love for dogs and use tools for assistance, not punishment. I cannot say enough about how gentle they are when training!!!
  • Matthew Dean
    Dec. 10, 2025
    Have a 5 yr old hound that had regressed and was super stubborn - after a week of camp and two home visits she’s well on her way to being a model dog. Ears are no longer for decoration but she listens and responds better than before, manners have improved, and she’s more focused.
  • Jet Johnson
    Nov. 19, 2025
    Super crazy Aussie/collie mix. I’ve been thru two other unsuccessful Huntsville trainers. JB has the magic touch. In two sessions he removed the stress barriers between dog and human and taught me how to calmly establish harmony with this dog. I can’t wait for future sessions to unveilJacks hidden talents and my new role as Alpha Dog.
  • Vett B
    Nov. 22, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Huntsville have extraordinary trainers!!!
  • Justin
    Sep. 13, 2025
    I can’t say enough good things about JB and his team at Dog Training Elite in Madison. They are knowledgeable, patient, and truly care about both you and your dog. The more effort you put into the training, the more you’ll see in return. The at-home sessions and group classes are excellent, and it’s clear how much the trainers love what they do. Pricing is more than fair for the amount of personalized attention and results you get. Highly recommend!
  • SJ
    Aug. 7, 2025
    I have level 2 autism and have always struggled with public meltdowns when I get overwhelmed. For the majority of my life, my mom was the only one that could calm me down and mitigate any meltdowns. I relied on her and my dad a lot to function and honestly thought that I would live with them or super close to them forever. I was fine with that until I realized I wanted to go to grad school at a university several hours away. For the first time in my life, I realized that I needed support for my disability outside of my parents. After talking with my parents and therapist, we decided a service dog would be worth a try. I immediately searched for programs in my city and happened upon Dog Training Elite Huntsville. My mom always said that your gut knows if something is good or bad, and from the first phone call with Christie I knew that this was the place for me. From the litter assessment to the puppy classes to adult obedience to the service dog classes, JB and Christie were so supportive and helpful. They were kind, understanding, helpful, informative, and just overall compassionate. I always left a training session or class more confident than when I went in. Thanks to them and the rest of the Dog Training Elite Huntsville staff, me and my service dog are now in our very own apartment, (mostly) independent, and getting ready to start grad school. I truly would not have been able to do this if it wasn't for my service dog and I will be forever grateful for Dog Training Elite Huntsville and their amazing staff.
  • Janna Lindsey
    Jun. 9, 2024
    I can’t say enough great things about JB, Paige and the entire team of trainers! JB worked with my Golden Retriever, Meeka, and the transformation has been incredible. From the start, JB was professional, patient, and clearly knowledgeable about dog behavior and training techniques. What impressed me most was how he took the time to understand Meeka’s personality and tailored the training accordingly. The sessions were effective, positive, and engaging—not just for Meeka, but for me as a dog owner, too. I learned so much about communication, consistency, and reinforcement. Meeka was initially going to be a service animal but circumstances changed so JB tweaked her training so she'll be a Therapy Dog. Meeka is now confident, and happy and absolutely the best dog—exactly what I was hoping for. Every trainer I interacted with at this facility was exceptionally well-trained and supportive. It's clear they all genuinely care about the dogs and their progress. If you're looking for a top-notch trainer, JB and Paige are the ones to go to. Thank you for helping Meeka become the best version of herself! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Victoria Rusk
    Jul. 26, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite Huntsville displayed exceptional qualities of patience, kindness, experience, firmness, and consistency throughout their dog training service, effectively helping our family's reactive dog learn obedience training skills and behaviors. Their gentle guidance and professionalism made us confident in their ability to adapt their therapy dog training approach to meet our unique needs.
  • Patty Yuto
    Jun. 19, 2025
    Great training session for my Doberman. I was given very specific fixes to his leash work, as his hormones are coming in and his puppy training has gone backwards. I hear this is typical if you have a male dog. I will get him fixed after he has developed more. The in home training is so awesome and appreciate the patience ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I later changed up training to be at the facility due to my hands and Titan loves it, he gets 8 hours of hands on training which is better for everyone. I continue training g at home. The trainers are all so awesome and this facility is top notch!!!! Love this place and the people. I highly recommend!!!!!
  • Pam Lauderdale
    Jul. 17, 2025
    Paige and JB are amazing!! They have been very patient with me, since I'm learning as well. I'm just a few visits they had me and my pup doing things I thought would take much longer! The techniques they use are simple but very effective. We are working on full Service Dog and I know we will get there with the team we have working with us! Dog Training Elite is simply AMAZING!!
  • Greg Wilson
    Sep. 22, 2024
    The team at Dog Training Elite are amazing! From the moment I called them for information, they have been responsive and easy to work with. My husband is a 100% disabled vet. They helped train our puppy and worked with me on the best Service Dog package. We look forward to continuing training with them!
  • Karen Matheney
    Jun. 26, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite Huntsville have been very encouraging and helpful with our specific training needs. We have only had two sessions but we have learned so much already. Their guidance and expertise have given us confidence in our instructions. We are very pleased with our choice.
  • Dave Jefferson
    Jun. 26, 2025
    Paige has worked with Benjamin several times and showed me how to train my hard headed Benjamin with calm and care
  • Phil Paganetto
    Mar. 3, 2025
    I worked individually with JB and Elinore. They both are amazing trainers.
  • Hunter Dreww
    Feb. 28, 2025
    In just a week, JB and his team made a huge difference in how our dog behaves in public and behind closed doors. If your dog is used to getting his way, Dog Training Elite is where to go. And we 100% will be back.
  • Ruby Drawer
    Jan. 29, 2025
    The professionalism, kindness, patience, and clarity of the trainers at Dog Training Elite Huntsville are truly exceptional, making the puppy training process smooth and effective. Their expertise in obedience training and behavior modification demonstrates their dedication to helping dogs become well-behaved and well-adjusted companions.
  • Kelly Burson
    Jan. 28, 2025
    The trainer at Dog Training Elite Huntsville was extremely friendly, patient, professional, and approachable, making the entire experience with their obedience training program a joy from start to finish, allowing my dogs to learn quickly and effectively. I can't express how absolutely wonderful their program is.
  • Wayne Mahan
    Jan. 14, 2025
    We have a serious anxiety and aggressive dog behavior with one of our dogs. The assurance and result we had just on the introductory visit was enough for us to move forward with Dog Training Elite.
  • Alicia Cerny
    Dec. 27, 2024
    DTE has been a huge help in training my dog Beans, he went from fighting me tooth and nail when it came to getting into the car, to having hopping in without a fuss. Training with DTE has also strongly reinforced the bond between Beans and me.