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Crate Training

Dog Training Elite Central Nashville

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Nashville, TN from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Nashville, TN

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 Nashville, TN 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 Central Nashville

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 Nashville, TN 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 Central Nashville, 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

  • Hetzel Family
    Dec. 18, 2024
    Cosima was awesome! Our dog Frankie learned so much! Cosima was always patient, soft-spoken and kind. We look forward to the group training and we know that Frankie will be the best-trained dog we’ve ever had!
  • Laurette Carle
    Nov. 19, 2024
    Cosima has been wonderful training our rescue pup! 3 of 5 lessons in, our strong-willed, often stubborn puppy has been maturing well, improving her behavior and attention to us. She loves Cosima and is she certainly tired after her brain works so hard learning new things! Adding after lesson 5: so impressed with Cosima’s patience and skill as she finished the fifth lesson today with our Bella! Our puppy has responded well to this method of training and we look forward to group lessons now!
  • Maryanne Hoemann
    Dec. 17, 2024
    Excellent!!!
  • Sara Turnquist
    Dec. 11, 2024
    Reina from Dog Training Elite Central Nashville came to do an in-home evaluation of our 4 month old puppy. She was extremely knowledgeable, courteous, concise, and transparent about the training options, what the sessions would be like, and answering our questions. As well as being personable. We are very excited to start working with this group!
  • Elizabeth Rutan
    Dec. 11, 2024
    Carol is great! I was nervous to spend so much money and afraid it wouldn’t work, but the training has been incredible for our big guy.
  • Diana Kersey
    Dec. 10, 2024
    Cosima did a great job training my dog! I highly recommend dog training elite!
  • jankeT31
    Dec. 4, 2024
    Carol was pleasant and seemed knowledgeable through her experiences.
  • alisha brown
    Dec. 3, 2024
    Reina was super sweet- wonderful assessment at our home! Took the time to see where our boy was at in his training and make a plan that is for him!
  • Karly Kramer
    Nov. 27, 2024
    I absolutely love our trainer Reina! She is doing beautifully helping me out with my boy, Bolt. She is a very sweet individual that has an amazing vibe to her! I wouldn’t trade Reina for anything! Before we started with DTE, my boy was very reactive towards any noise, person, or dog. We have only had 4 sessions so far, and Bolt seems more comfortable with himself and our older dog, Lucas, which was a problem before we started training. Today after his session, he KISSED LUCAS!!! I have never seen them so comfortable with eachother before, and I think the confidence raise that the training is doing is helping him tremendously!! He has a long way to go, but so far, Bolt is doing very good with his emotions!! I highly recommend Dog Training Elite if you have a reactive/aggressive dog! They treat their clients amazingly, and they understand when the dog is struggling with a command and will help the best they can!! Don’t ever think your aggressive or reactive dog is untrainable, because Dog Training Elite shows otherwise!!!
  • Donnie Womble
    Nov. 25, 2024
    Jennifer was very polite and helpful in the office
  • jonathan hill
    Nov. 25, 2024
    The representative Jen was very easy to work with, friendly, and informative. A+ service!
  • Kaitlyn Bullard
    Nov. 24, 2024
    Carol was great. I was so scared my dog wouldn't do well in this setting but after the first visit she calmed down so much. I can't wait to take her into the therapy clinic with me!
  • Robert Nettles
    Nov. 23, 2024
    Carol has done an excellent job of giving us practical strategies to merry our busy lives and our puppy’s personality into a thriving relationship
  • Melissa Ball
    Nov. 22, 2024
    Jen is very helpful. She explained so much. Thank you!
  • Evan
    Nov. 22, 2024
    10/10, loved working with Jen, will definitely recommend.
  • Kelsey Kah
    Nov. 20, 2024
    Carol has been amazing! She’s helped transform our home from utter chaos to more controlled chaos with our three dogs. We hired Dog training elite to help us manage some aggression between our Great Pyrenees, goldendoodle, and German Shepard. Plus some general training they all needed. We can now get them to stay in place with company and walk right beside us. Thank you!!
  • Teycha Texeira Hernandez
    Nov. 20, 2024
    Reina is training my puppy right now and the process had been amazing. She is very sweet but strict when she needs to be. Very pleased with the process so far.
  • Katie Bohannon
    Nov. 14, 2024
    One lesson down and magic has already happened! Five stars!
  • Dannie Harris
    Nov. 8, 2024
    We are so excited about beginning training for Arwen. Reina was welcoming and so knowledgeable. Looking forward to our next appointment.
  • David Doucette
    Oct. 11, 2024
    Great initial meeting. I think this company has the right program from my Biewer Terrier. Looking forward to seeing results!