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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

  • Jason Goodson
    Jul. 5, 2026
    Mr. Robert is the best trainer around. Our Bernedoodle was only 3 months old when he started working with him and us, and you can see the difference. I wouldn't hesitate to ask for Robert when you call as the training is worth every penny!
  • Paige Molitz
    Sep. 23, 2025
    Craig has been absolutely amazing!!! We adopted our dog who is a 3 part, German Shepard, Dutch Shepard and Belgian Malinois, in December of 2024 at 6 months old from a rescue shelter after being found abandoned. He came with a lot of challenges- not potty trained/crate trained, lots of anxiety, reactivity, leash pulling, barking, and aggression. We were determined to give him a second chance and with Craig our dog has pulled a complete 180. Our dog is obedient, very well trained (he’s complimented all the time in public), he knows basic and advanced commands, patience, and very much improved reactivity. Craig has also helped us as humans better understand our dog and what’s best for his breed and training. We are very fortunate and blessed to have found Craig! He is the absolute best!! As previously anxious new dog parents, we can’t thank Craig enough, we recommend him to everyone !
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  • Robin Gordon
    Jul. 3, 2026
    Hey any one that is looking for a dog training facility this is the place to go.These trainers are amazing.If I could give a 10 star rating I would.
  • Lisa Bailey
    Jun. 28, 2026
    Aidan is absolutely awemazing!!!! Miss Saffron has always been beautiful in spirit, now in just a couple of sessions she is much more” bourgeois “ than before. Very refined 🤣🤣🤣
  • Amy Schulte
    Jul. 4, 2026
    I called Kristi the day after we got our Golden Retriever puppy. For the first year, we did some intensive service dog training, which was equal parts dog training and owner training. This included several public access visits to places like Costco and Menards. The result: I have the absolute best dog I've ever owned, and I can take her anywhere with confidence. Kristi and Jeremy taught me how to be a "dog whisperer" to my dog's behavioral nuances, and to correct the unwanted stuff effectively. I have such a special bond with this dog because we've done the work together and have mutual trust. She knows that obedience gets her a seat under the table with us at a nice restaurant, a shop around Home Goods (her favorite), or hotel stays with us. Yes - this is possible for a 2 year old Golden! We still attend weekly group classes, and appreciate the ongoing support and training. The investment we made with Dog Training Elite is worth every penny for our Penny!
  • Grant Shuler
    Jul. 4, 2026
    I’ve worked with Scott for about a month now, and it’s been time well spent. He’s a great trainer: calm, patient, and a fun personality dogs really respond to. We’re three sessions in, and it’s already made a big difference in my anxious GSD’s confidence, which is a huge relief to me. Excellent training philosophy!
  • Sheila Wallace
    Jul. 3, 2026
    Josh came to our home to meet our Ozzy, and he was wonderful ! Answered all our questions and had some good ideas for things we could do at home now !!
  • Dori Colwell
    Aug. 1, 2025
    Scott and Jen are AMAZING to work with. When they came to the house to meet us and evaluate my Neko, they took the time to get to know her, her personality, and listened to my concerns about Neko's behavior and my expectations about her training. Scott gave me a couple of tips and things to do with her that I started on following their initial visit. I could already see a change in her behavior. I was nervous about how Neko would act at our first group session, but her behavior had changed so much (for the better) that I actually cried tears of joy when it was over. I cannot thank both of them enough and am extremely grateful to them for their understanding, help, and support. You cannot go wrong with DTE!
  • Elizabeth Ingram
    Jul. 3, 2026
    Elite dog training is great and Aden and all of the trainers are wonderful!! Great experience
  • alan martinez
    Jun. 27, 2026
    Great explanation and answers all my questions
  • Jason Boyce
    May. 26, 2026
    They are the real deal, and know what their doing. I recommend them.
  • Laura Lorenzo
    Jul. 3, 2026
    DTE has proven to be the right choice for our GSD. Jason has put us on the right path for this training to be successful. Coraggio responds well to Jason. We actually feel like proud parents. This was money well spent. Stratford ,CT
  • Vicki Stephens
    Jul. 2, 2026
    We contacted them . We had lost hope of our dog being trained. The dog ,was displaying what we considered aggressive behavor . However that was not the case .The dog had way too much energy and he was being confined to much . Meaning he was on a leash ,and crated at night . The company came to make an assessment . We was assured the dog trainable . Austin ,came .what a transformation ‼️‼️‼️ We call. Austin The Dog Whisperer. The dog loves Austin . We highly recommend Austin . .
  • Lydia Edwards
    Jul. 2, 2026
    I adopted a dog with a high prey drive, so finding the right trainer was extremely important to me. I chose Dog Training Elite Huntsville because I wanted not only one-on-one training but also the opportunity to participate in their group sessions, which we’ll be starting soon. My private sessions with JB have been incredibly valuable—not just for my dog, but for me as well. He takes the time to explain the “why” behind each training exercise, making it easy to understand and continue practicing at home. I especially enjoy when he brings his own dog to our sessions. Having a well-trained dog there provides real-world learning opportunities and adds so much value to the training experience. JB is patient, knowledgeable, and encouraging. I’m already seeing progress and look forward to continuing with the group classes. I highly recommend JB and Dog Training Elite Huntsville to anyone looking for professional, effective dog training.
  • Katie Kropko
    Jul. 2, 2026
    We have had an incredible experience with this team training our pup, Hershey, to be a service dog. From day one, they have been exceptionally patient with her as she learns and adapts to her training. They don't just train the dog; they provide fantastic coaching to help her grow, mature, and succeed, while also helping me learn to communicate with her and meet her exactly where she is at. On top of that, their flexibility with scheduling has made balancing everything so much easier for our family. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for dedicated, thoughtful, and professional dog training!
  • Antonio Banuelossanchez
    Jun. 18, 2026
    This was our 3rd week with Austin training Murry and he has been so amazing and patience with our dog that I would highly recommend him to anyone that want their dog training, the expertise and patience with our dog has been nothing but fenomenal.
  • Patty Presta
    Mar. 3, 2026
    Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t trade him for the world!!!
  • MM Miller
    Jul. 1, 2026
    Bob made a positive impact in our lives during our training with our goldendoodle Willow. He taught us the best way to train Willow to become the more obedient dog we were wanting. His confidence in us meant the world and he was always respectful and encouraging. Not only is Willow now an even better dog, but we feel like we are better dog owners going forward. Thank you so much Bob for being willing to come to our area and improve our lives!
  • Molly Hilliard
    Jul. 1, 2026
    Kim from Dog Training Elite is terrific. She has a very compassionate manner with dogs and people alike, and her guidance helped strengthen my relationship with my dog. Additionally, the ongoing group classes are such a nice option for continuing the work after the individual training is over. We have seen nice progress in our dog's reactive behavior, and we are hopeful that we will see continued change as we implement the techniques were were taught. We view this as a very worthwhile investment in our dog's future.