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Crate Training

Dog Training Elite Shreveport

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Shreveport / Bossier City, LA from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Shreveport / Bossier City, LA

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 Shreveport / Bossier City, LA 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 Shreveport

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 Shreveport / Bossier City, LA 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 Shreveport, 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

  • Marian Benton
    Feb. 23, 2024
    Jennifer is an amazing trainer! My dog, Max and I looked forward to the time we spent with her every week. I couldn’t believe what she was able to teach my dog to do. She truly is the best in every way!
  • Brooke Ainsworth
    Feb. 1, 2024
    Jennifer has been amazing with my dog! She is knowledgeable and kind with my pet. She has been able to move around appointments to accommodate my travel schedule as well. Thankful I found her!!!!
  • Suzan Azlin
    Jan. 7, 2024
    Buddy loves them and is doing really good learning to behave.. very nice people who love animals
  • Samantha Legg
    Dec. 7, 2023
    Jen has been fantastic! She has been patient with me and all my questions. She is gentle with my puppy and really seems to enjoy him!
  • Laura Kelly
    Dec. 5, 2023
    In just a couple months, Jen had my 8mo old retriever mix behaving beautifully. And as she continues to work on service dog training, I'm amazed at the new things Sadie is learning weekly.
  • Jaya McSharma
    Nov. 29, 2023
    We love love Jennifer! She’s so good with Zadi and gives us easy instructions to follow every week to help train her! She makes the whole process stress free and really takes your goals into account for her training. And Zadi loves her!!!!!!! Highly recommend!!!!!!!
  • Linnie Emmons
    Nov. 28, 2023
    Jennifer is a great trainer! My dog Lucy used to bark ALL THE TIME. Jennifer worked with us to teach Lucy “quiet”. We are so happy with our newly quiet dog. 5 stars!
  • Emily Price
    Apr. 20, 2023
    I’m so grateful to Jen and Mattie for their help training our dog Suki. She’s come SO far in just a matter of weeks, which is impressive for an 10-year-old dog, and I’m excited to see how she’ll continue to improve. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone in need of training services!
  • JoLynn Kari
    Mar. 31, 2023
    Dog Training Elite has worked wonders with us and our adopted pound puppy. We were a bit overwhelmed with getting her to listen to us and our daughter. The training was tailored to what we needed, started at a base level and built up on the lessons from the prior session. The one-on-one lessons were very helpful and we are looking forward to the group sessions to continue building upon the baseline. Our pup is definitely a part of the family.
  • Lilyana R.
    Mar. 27, 2023
    With the help of Jen and Matti, Carlton has turned into an incredible service dog. They are extremely good at what they do. I can now leave my house without having to worry about passing out, because I know I can rely on my dog. They care for every single pup they meet and treat them with care, no matter the issues. It's hard not to love them immediately. Being a part of their team has been an amazing experience. They aren't just friends, they're family! There are no other dog trainers I would recommend more than them!
  • Pamela Haydel
    Mar. 7, 2023
    Jennifer at the Bossier City location is the best! She worked with our 1 year old female Shiba Inu on her resource guarding (along with many other issues) and it has literally changed our lives. I highly recommend DTE to anyone who has a fur baby! Thank you Jennifer for being the awesome trainer that you are!
  • Erica Hussey
    Feb. 22, 2023
    Jen and Mattie have literally changed the life of my family. Jen helped pick Kira from the pound and through Jen's patient training, she is becoming an amazing service dog! They are not just trainers, they are a part of our family.
  • Laura
    Sep. 8, 2022
    I reached out to Jen and Matti when my Doberman puppy was 6 months old, and they were amazing from the get-go. The first time I talked with them on the phone they asked great questions about my puppy and made me feel like they were on my team already. I felt immediately at ease and confident that these ladies would help me learn how to train my puppy and create a better relationship with her. At first I was mainly seeking help with my puppy’s intense and incessant biting problem. I was feeling overwhelmed and hopeless about the situation. After visiting my home to assess the situation, Jen told me that the biting problem would be the first issue to go! I’ll admit I didn’t think that was possible at the time. But she was right!! Within the first training session, Jen addressed the biting problem and my puppy has stopped nipping and biting entirely. It was a huge relief to see such quick progress and it has only gotten better from that point on! My now 9 month puppy has accomplished commands (off-leash and on-leash heel, running in heel position, 100% recall, speak, load-up, quiet, place, & even property boundaries) that I thought would take YEARS to teach her. I could not be happier with the training I have received and if you’re considering someone else in town, don’t even bother. Matti and Jen truly love and understand animals, plus they are so respectful and empathetic when it comes to people! I NEVER felt like I was being bossed around or shamed for not understanding something. They are patient with both pets and people, and I have no doubt they will get you and your pet where you want to be!!
  • Vince Conrad
    Jul. 29, 2022
    I have seen the effectiveness of DTE Shreveport's training methods and the positive transformation in the behavior of the dogs they train. Jenn and Matti are driven to develop the best possible relationship between each owner and their dog so that they can experience all the 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 contact the dynamic duo at DTE Shreveport.
  • John Clark
    Jul. 7, 2022
    Great place!
  • craig fizer
    Jun. 14, 2022
    Jen and Matti are fantastic trainers. They are dedicated and truly passionate about improving the bond between dogs and their owners. I highly recommend using them for all training needs!
  • George Rehbein
    Jun. 1, 2022
    Jen and Matti are driven women who have hearts of gold. Their dogs Tink and Mabel have progressed tremendously going through the Dog Training Elite training program and I have no doubt these ladies will be helping many dogs in the Shreveport area.
  • Valerie de Armas
    May. 24, 2022
    Matti and Jen are such amazing women and they love their dogs so much. Mabel and Tink are such awesome dogs. These ladies work so hard and their animals are all the better for it!
  • Kelley Rosequist
    May. 24, 2022
    Jen and Matti are amazing dogs trainers and their love of dogs is so obvious in all that they do!