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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.

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, 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

  • Adam Cordover
    Apr. 13, 2026
    Dog Training Elite Suncoast has gotten my dog, Kelev, into tip-top shape to be ready to pass a therapy dog certification test. I look forward to having Kelev help and comfort people through Collaborative Divorces and become a formal member of my team in my law practice!
  • Nancy Jessee
    Apr. 13, 2026
    I would give this group 100 stars if that was an option! I found myself with an unruly young lab puppy (Maisy)that I feared was untrainable. She was jumping on people, constantly in the pool, barking all time, etc. We called Dog Training Elite to seek help - and boy did they deliver! Nate came to the rescue as our trainer and is beyond words amazing. The first day I expressed doubt, but his calm confidence left me feeling hopeful. Nate and the entire group that supports him are patient knowledgeable, and really took the time to understand our dog’s behavior and needs. The training methods were clear, effective, and based on positive reinforcement, which made a noticeable difference in a short amount of time. Ten weeks and lots of practice later I have an amazing companion in Maisy; we are both happier and enjoy spending time together. This program is worth every penny. Nancy Jessee
  • Francisco O. Muniz Feliciano
    Apr. 13, 2026
    Great program for anyone looking for obedience and/or service training for their dog. Rachel & Daniel have great passion for what they do, and it shows in every interaction they have with you and your dog. 100% recommended. Thank you!!
  • Jennette Siebens
    Apr. 12, 2026
    Henri and I began working with DTE Western Chicago in April 2024 and it has been an incredible experience! The trainers are personable and skilled, really understanding and working with the individual characteristics of each dog. Having purchased the Platinum package, Henri has access to everything we need to succeed. We started with individual training in our home, progressing to group classes, passing 3 levels of Canine Good Citizenship tests, and the Therapy Dog exam alongside his 6 handlers/Licensed Therapists! We continue to take advantage of DTE's ongoing support and group class for training maintenance and learning new things. Henri is working at Family Service Association in Elgin, and has joined our staff culture bringing creativity, warmth, and enthusiasm to all of our agency activities. During his working hours, Henri participates in Individual & Family Therapy for children and adolescents. Henri can help his clients with: Building self-confidence Relaxation techniques Storytelling & reading Social skills training Enhancing relationship skills Sharing feelings Emotional support Thank you DTE trainers for helping us shape Henri into such an amazing companion!
  • Chele Phelps
    Apr. 12, 2026
    I’m going to be really honest here, because this comes from the heart. After a really bad experience with dog training in the past, I had pretty much given up. I sent my dog Nitro off to a trainer and it failed—and that kind of disappointment sticks with you. On top of that, hearing all the stereotypes about Huskies even mixed breed being “untrainable” got in my head, and I truly started to believe maybe it just wasn’t possible. Then I got my Pomsky, Nova. I’m so bonded to him and him me, and something in me said to try again… even though I was scared of wasting time, money, and trust on another failed experience. That’s when I found Dog Training Elite (DTE)… and everything changed. As you all know facebook seems to listen… their page came across my feed. Jeremy, Kristi, and their team didn’t just train my dog—they believed in us when I was struggling to believe in myself. They supported me, encouraged me, and even cried with me through the tough moments. When I felt like Nova wasn’t going to get it, they didn’t give up on us. They pushed us through. They made my little velcro gremlin fur ball into an unbelievable independent confident well mannered little obedient dog. Now we are a still a work in progress as people, we are never perfect in life but I’m telling you for my 6 month old “sassy pants” to completely flip like he did in just 2weeks I can’t wait to see how much more he’s going to change and grow and learn in next weeks to come and our journey from here on out 😭❣️🐾🐾 we will be working towards him becoming a service dog . And somehow… they made what felt impossible, possible. If you have a dog that you think is “too much,” or someone has told you there’s no chance—please don’t give up. Pick up the phone and call Dog Training Elite. They don’t just train dogs… they change  lives. Forever grateful ❤️
  • Holly Beadle
    Apr. 12, 2026
    We have an almost three year old mini Aussie doodle, Bindi. She was a sweet, smart dog with lots of energy and love. We had a hard time training her at home so it was difficult taking her all the places we wanted to take her - from simple walks down the street, patio cafes, etc. she pulled so hard on her leash she choked herself, got super anxious about anything she saw or heard - was ready to bark or run after it, etc. We tried a lot of things but nothing really worked. I started researching formal training and landed with Dog Elite. We met to learn more about training and signed up Bindi for the next session. That was Feb-Mar. She’s a very different dog now and we are better owners. We appreciated the videos to help reinforce training for us and Bindi. We’ve attended the Saturday morning trainings and continue to learn more. Bindi loves kids and people in general but would jump on the and get overly excited. She still gets excited to meet people, but is calmer and doesn’t jump on anyone. She does not react to every sight and sound in every situation, which is better for all of us. We are able to take her more places because she follows commands so well and knows how to behave. Bindi is much more relaxed (and so are we) and we enjoy her so much more - from shorter outings like a walk on a trail to a brewery visit to long road trips - it’s all easier, more relaxed and more fun for all of us. We still have more training to do but it’s about one month after her initial training so we feel fantastic about the progress. We are so grateful for the transformation and look forward to continuing learning and training Bindi with Dog Elite’s help. They patiently meet your dog and you where you are and help you understand why you need to handle behaviors and situations in certain way. We highly recommend their services!
  • Shauna Rutter
    Apr. 11, 2026
    I was impressed with the trainers and cant wait to work more with them. So far everything is going well
  • Laurie Ezzell
    Mar. 30, 2026
    Very professional, knowledgeable. So excited to start this journey. My pups loved Rich! Chloe may take the lead when she has treats! Great first session!
  • Jack Wolfe
    Apr. 11, 2026
    Nathan is an excellent trainer. He is encouraging and gives you confidence and patience in working with your pet.
  • Evelyn Harrington
    Apr. 10, 2026
    I had an absolutely wonderful experience with Dog Training Elite. I had Amber for all of my training sessions and she was professional and personable the entire time. She taught me so much! I learned a great deal, likely more than my dog who was an absolute natural and took to the training extremely well. I sincerely feel that my bond with my dog has been made so much stronger after having worked with Dog Training Elite. I have no problems taking my dog into public spaces or walking her. Before training she would pull and try to sniff everything possible. My dog seems so much more regulated and in control. The training has been worth every penny!
  • Jeremy Bordenca
    Feb. 18, 2026
    We have been working with Alaina, and its amazing. Little tips/ tricks each lesson to keep forward progress going. Penny loves to work and lives for the praise. Alaina has helped so much with Penny and makes things over all awesome, to have a pup as a first timer
  • Steve Powell
    Apr. 10, 2026
    Good first experience. She was very helpful to understand what is needed to be done.
  • Amy Janicki
    Apr. 10, 2026
    Just had an excellent session with Tiffany! She clearly knows what she is doing!! My dog is responding so well to the training. Thank you!
  • Donna Smith
    Apr. 10, 2026
    Dog Training Elite has been amazing to work with. The trainers explain everything they are asking you to do and why. They have worked with our schedules as well. We tried online training during COVID with another company, boarding training with another, but no one has really helped us with our anxious Frenchie as much as this team has so far. We are now excited to try group training which we would not have considered a few months ago!
  • Alex Young
    Apr. 10, 2026
    The team is extremely knowledgeable and have a very dialed in training program. 2 weeks of training and I feel like my puppy is set up to succeed forever. 10/10 would recommend
  • Marina Kovalskiy
    Apr. 10, 2026
    From the very first session Jason made training fun and stress free for our 2 year old mini poodle. His team made everything possible to turn our anxious dog in to a calmed and confident companion and a service dog Thank you Jason, Iliana and Laurent for making all this hard work to come true!
  • Sherri Jonas-Lazin
    Apr. 10, 2026
    Hard to break my old habits but Jrlsue really helped with fig walking which we really need She explained why hand commands even if things she knew work better than starting with verbal commands And she taught us mire crate time us ok Ty ty ty Can’t until next session
  • Sherri Jonas-Lazin
    Apr. 10, 2026
    Hard to break my old habits but Jrlsue really helped with fig walking which we really need She explained why hand commands even if things she knew work better than starting with verbal commands And she taught us mire crate time us ok Ty ty ty Can’t until next session
  • Karen Bergeson
    Apr. 10, 2026
    We were so lucky to find Dog Training Elite of Northern Utah! I knew we needed a service dog, but didn't know who to trust. When we started our puppy with them, I saw big improvements even in the first week, and now we have a truly dependable service dog. They really care, and are extremely professional. Zero complaints, only gratitude. Would not hesitate to send anyone to them.
  • Brenda C
    Apr. 10, 2026
    “Had a great experience with Dog Training Elite. Jess was excellent—very knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything clearly. I feel much more confident working with my dog now. Highly recommend!”