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Crate Training

Dog Training Elite

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training

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 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

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 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, 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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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • M Sarmiento
    Dec. 31, 2025
    We have been really happy with Elite dog training. We have 2 muts. We have a 11 year old and an 2 year old and they are learning a lot. Parker is excellent with both dogs and has helped us learn a lot as well. We have really seen a significant improvement in the dogs already. We would highly recommend Parker and Elite training!
  • jordan jensen
    Dec. 31, 2025
    This has been the best dog training experience we could have asked for. Our dog has learned so much and is well on the way to becoming an excellent service dog. We are incredibly grateful to the wonderful trainers who have supported our puppy’s growth and progress. Reina has been our primary trainer, and she has been outstanding and always patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful in answering all of our questions. We truly appreciate all of her guidance and support.
  • Odette Lopez
    Dec. 31, 2025
    Experience/expertise, friendly and collaborative.
  • Brian Fritzel
    Dec. 31, 2025
    5 out of 5 stars – Highly Recommend Dog Training Elite! I just completed the obedience training program at Dog Training Elite with my Belgian Malinois, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. From the very first session, the trainers were professional, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. They didn’t just focus on teaching commands—they empowered me as the owner with the tools and techniques to reinforce the training at home, building a stronger bond and real confidence in everyday situations. My Pup has transformed from pulling on the leash and getting easily distracted to walking calmly at heel, responding reliably to commands (even off-leash in distracting environments), and just being an all-around joy to be around. The combination of in-home sessions and group classes was perfect for progressing from basics to real-world application. What stood out most was the genuine care the team showed for both dogs and owners—they’re supportive, responsive, and truly passionate about what they do. If you’re looking for effective, positive training that lasts, Dog Training Elite is the way to go. Thank you for giving us the skills to enjoy life together even more!
  • Christopher Snow
    Dec. 31, 2025
    Matt was awesome, I'd like him for the next group of sessions I schedule.
  • Simona Monnati
    Dec. 30, 2025
    Jess, the trainer assigned to me is superb both in knowledge and manners. She has been listening carefully to the issues I wanted to solve. After only one week of work I can see a great improvement. I recommend her to anybody interested in training. Nero (my dog - a big fluffy German Shepard) loves her… I can tell he is eager to start classes! Thank you Jess for your knowledge and dedication ! Simona
  • Suzanna Gallehugh
    Dec. 30, 2025
    I worked with Michael, and he was great with my dog Oliver, who is a terrier mix. Michael was very patient and showed me exactly what to do when trying new commands with Oliver and then made sure I was doing everything correctly on my own. He also encouraged me to text him with any questions or issues that came up in between our one-on-one sessions and responded promptly. Oliver was always excited to see him for our sessions, and I now have a much calmer, less anxious, and happy dog!!
  • Blair Dowdy
    Dec. 30, 2025
    Gray and Denise with Dog Training Elite Hill Country are amazing! Their communication was clear and timely, making the entire process stress-free. The training sessions were highly effective—my dog showed noticeable improvement after just a few visits. They are incredibly helpful, offering practical tips and ongoing support that made me feel confident in continuing the training at home. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional, caring, and results-driven dog training!
  • 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!!! We have now finished our 8th training session and I am very happy with our progress! Family members who have not been around since training has started said they can really tell a difference in my dog’s behaviors!!! This photo is after training- he is exhausted!
  • Laura Chase
    Dec. 30, 2025
    The one-on-one training for both me and my dog was so successful. Our trainer took the time to work through any issues we had and took a very personalized approach. The group classes with the other dogs was super beneficial as well. I couldn’t recommend them more!
  • Joshua Scranton
    Dec. 30, 2025
    Very professional and kind! They were very helpful with any and all questions I had about my dogs training and/or what each behavior he was showing meant! I would recommend Dog Training Elite Kentuckiana to anyone who needs or wants to have their dog trained!
  • Dan C
    Dec. 29, 2025
    Jess is so helpful and wonderful to work with. She is incredibly knowledgeable and puts my wife and I at ease every time we have a session. Highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for guidance and confidence that you are raising your puppy correctly.
  • Emily Cooke
    Dec. 29, 2025
    We started our four month old husky in the obedience training program and have nothing but great things to say about Angela, Sharon and the DTE team! Any question we had about training or the process was answered thoroughly and thoughtfully. The individual in-home training sessions were incredibly helpful to us and our puppy—Angela was positive, patient and tailored each season to get the most out of our puppy without overwhelming him. We’re so grateful to the DTE team for the progress we’ve seen so far and are looking forward to group classes!
  • Felicia Carrington Wilburn
    Dec. 29, 2025
    A well trained dog is a joy to live with. Our dog trainer Laydon H. was a pleasure to work with. Day 1 she had our dog Juliette a French bulldog under her control. She immediately reinforced positive behavior. She gave clear commands and was patient with us, the dog owners and our dog. More importantly she listened to our needs. She gave us a helpful tip on what snacks to feed our sensitive stomach French bulldog. Julieete enjoys her snacks now! Thank you Laydon was giving us the tools to have a well behaved and calm dog! During this Elite training experience we also met Kayla F. who was also a good dog trainer. Before starting the lesson she ensured we didn’t have any questions from the week before. She also reviewed the previous weeks training with our dog Juliette, which I thought was very helpful. We met trainer Patrick once during public training with our dog. He was knowledgeable and very patient with Juliette. He gave her praise when needed and even offered some solutions to a few questions we had. Elite trainers are the best of the best! My husband and I thank you all for what you have done for our family. Juliette is a complete joy now in our home. We feel confident we can continue her training with the tools you gave us! Thank you Elite!
  • Keith Harrison
    Dec. 27, 2025
    Jaime has been fantastic with my dog. He explains the reasons behind my dog’s behavior and how to go about redirecting him to the desired response. Jaime has a true gift with dogs.
  • Claire Butrimowicz
    Nov. 1, 2024
    Matt was SO helpful and a great teacher. He explained why with all the commands and showed me how to use the pinch collar which Marvin was very receptive to. It was a game changer and very little pressure needed for him. We made a good re-start today and I’m looking forward to the remaining lessons as well as many follow up group lessons!
  • Riley Doherty
    Dec. 26, 2025
    All of the trainers we have worked with have been great and the group classes have been great for our dog Bear. Marshall has gone above and beyond working with Bear and recommending the best places for our lessons so we can get the most out of them. Would highly recommend Marshall and all of the other trainers we have worked with!
  • Sandra Nolin
    Dec. 24, 2025
    My niece has a 110 lb. Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Benji) that at the beginning of training was out of control aggressive. In our first evaluation meeting with Marshall, I was so impressed that I told the gal at the office that we would wait for an opening in his schedule rather than opt for another trainer. Marshall's consistency, understanding of what our family requires, and his ability to work with many different types of dogs is amazing. I have a 68 lb Leopard Catahoula (Gracie) that we needed Benji to play nice with. Marshal, with expertise, patience and grace showed us how to make this happen. He always puts safety first. He has also agreed to give us some tips on integrating a third dog that regularly visits, a 25 lb. Mini Poodle, Yorkie, Shih Tzu designer dog (Ewok). I simply can't say enough about Marshall's level of professionalism, his calmness in handling not only the dogs, but the owners as well. He has given my niece so much more of a sense of confidence in herself and her ability to manage her dog. I'll try to post some pics later.
  • Donald Vervaecke
    Dec. 23, 2025
    They are the nicest and most sincere people I have ever met. Chuck and Kat are so good at training owners and their dogs! Thank you all for helping me have a better relationship with my dog .
  • Adam Jarvis
    Dec. 23, 2025
    Phenomenal experience. Reina has been a world class trainer not only for my Malinois but for me as well. We are both progressing at a pace I believe is perfect for us. Great company, great program!