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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

  • Mary-Kate Wilson
    Sep. 1, 2026
    My dog and I LOVED our experience at dog trailing elite. Not only does my dog get excited for the training sessions but it has really made her more calm and obedient. I wish I did this sooner. Highly recommend them! The trainers are so nice and reply to my messages so quickly. I'm so pleased with their services!
  • Bianca Santiago
    Aug. 31, 2026
    We’ve had such a great experience with DTE! My dog Hera is a Pom and she has learned SO much since we started training. She used to be very reactive whenever we came across other dogs in our neighborhood, which made our walks pretty stressful at times. With the at-home training, the trainers gave me the right tools and commands to understand how to handle those situations and redirect her attention. The difference has honestly been huge. Hera is so much calmer and easier to redirect around other dogs now, and our walks have become way more enjoyable for both of us. She’s also much more attentive to me, and her recall has improved tremendously! I feel like I understand her better and know how to communicate with her instead of just getting frustrated when she reacts. We’re still always working on things, of course, but seeing how far she’s come makes me so proud of her. Definitely recommend DTE and the girls! 🐾❤️
  • Michelle Ramie
    Aug. 31, 2026
    I would not hesitate to recommend Dog Training Elite for both their training and daycare services. Training techniques are personalized to your dogs needs/personality. Tina has been effective with our somewhat stubborn Boston Terrier. Well worth the money.
  • Kristin Shantz
    Aug. 31, 2026
    We adopted a black mouth cur hound about a year ago when he was not quite 2 years of age and had been in a foster home. After having him in our home for a few weeks, although he was a great fit with our kids there wasn't a ton of consistency in his past training. He has a strong prey drive and can be reactive at the fence. He is very loyal to his people but has days he can be selective. About 6-8 weeks after adopting him, we were able to get started with DTE. I have never been a huge fan of e-collars (also didn't understand how to use them) and though we've had dogs all our lives, never had such a strong pup. He pulled both of my older sons down to the ground on a leash when walking to chase animals. The team at DTE was very clear about the 2 week training program and expectations (from both dog and owner). We kept up with homework and we continue to take him to occasional day trains and group classes. My older kids can walk him alone now, he has learned recall even with distractions , and even my 4 year old can handle him on a leash with supervision and give him certain commands with ease. We were skeptical of the cost, but it has been the best training to build both skills for our dog and confidence for our family in handling him. We are always getting compliments on how well he listens and how calm he is out in public. We also know how to read him and give him a break when needed. Some of this is personality, but we built a trust between us and I'm glad we did it early on in his start with our family.
  • Jake Taylor
    Aug. 31, 2026
    I had an amazing experience with my dog doing service dog training here. They come to you for training and every session I am shocked how quickly my dog, Puzzle, was listening to commands. My dog went from pulling on a leash on every walk to walking right beside me in 1 session.
  • Debbie Richardson
    Aug. 31, 2026
    Consultation appointment went really well with Aiden. He explained things throughly.
  • Lee Foster
    Aug. 31, 2026
    When I signed up for classes I wasn’t sure if anything would work or help me and my dog. She was impossible to walk on a leash comfortably or to have a leisurely walk. Very reactive when a person or dog would walk by. She was way too crazy. Hard to just walk by anyone without wanting to jump up and pull toward them. Just overly excited. But it really has made a HUGE difference. It’s actually amazing to me the difference, even in the first 2 days. From being dragged into the building by my dog the first day to an easy walk to the building the next. We are both much happier now. It’s been a great experience.
  • Ashley Murphy
    Aug. 30, 2026
    We had a great experience with Nathan! He did an awesome job training our puppy and us! Our puppy now has manners when guests visit and stays with us on walks. We appreciate all that you did!
  • Matthew S
    Aug. 30, 2026
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite (DTE). Truman is my 25 pound Mini Bull Terrier that was extremely reactive to other dogs on the other side of fences or on a leash with their owners. Walks would get stressful and needed a lot of active avoidance of situations where another dog could get within 10-12 feet of Truman. Not a good life for a dog or fun for me. After two weeks of focused doggy "boot-camp" and homework, Truman's behavior was an order of magnitude better. His first hour long outdoor group class after "graduating" involved about twenty other dogs and their owners. Truman kept his cool (ie., making good doggy decisions), with Truman and numerous other dogs walking or weaving by. That would have been literally impossible with even one dog three weeks earlier. He is much, much better with the basics like recall, sit, down, heel, door manners, etc.. Truman and I still have a lot of work to do to get all his much better behaviors solid, but I think DTE has given us the tools we need to be successful at getting Truman to his best life as a well behaved little dog in the outside world.
  • Tamela Giroux
    Aug. 30, 2026
    First meet was great. My pup loved meeting the “dog whisperer”. I look forward to learning from him!
  • Alexandria Sandoval
    Aug. 29, 2026
    John did an amazing job with our pup. Our pup started showing reactive tendencies and would ignore any recalls. He would make people feel uncomfortable by his bark and appearance. After even a few sessions of just obedience trainings , our pup was starting to calm down. John really took his time and explained everything for us and was available whenever we had questions. Our pup is doing way better and is reactivity is way down. We will continue to go over the basics with him. Thank you to John and Elite Dog training for your time and guidance.
  • Sizzle Sizzle
    Aug. 29, 2026
    Aiden was able to come out and explain the dog training program. He entered every question that I have and brought his friend along to demonstrate some of the commands and things that we would be learning during training.. it was able to provide me with a reasonable quote and expectations for next steps. I'm looking forward to working with him.
  • nadira santiago
    Aug. 29, 2026
    Maggie is amazing, she goes detailed on how to properly train our dog. Before training she take time to observe and understand how our pup is. Highly recommend 👌
  • Amanda Anderson
    Aug. 29, 2026
    Our trainer Kim is fantastic! We have done four of our 5 in-home classes and one group class. Group class was amazing. Would recommend Dog Training Elite Kansas City to anyone with a dog.
  • Donita Covington
    Aug. 29, 2026
    good experience
  • beverly weiner
    Aug. 29, 2026
    JB brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his training. As an educator of both Zsa Zsa and myself, he adapts to our needs, explains tasks clearly, and corrects promptly. Working with JB is a pleasure and the results are gratifying.
  • Vicki Stephens
    Aug. 28, 2026
    This was our goal, to create a bonding with us ‼️
  • DEBBIE DIBBLE
    Oct. 22, 2025
    Chloe is great. You can tell that she enjoys her work, takes it seriously and is very good at it. I trust Chloe with my girl.
  • Dawn Slocum
    Aug. 28, 2026
    Chloe is the best with both of our pups. She helped tremendously when we were at our wits end.
  • Thomas Slocum
    Apr. 21, 2026
    The trainers are extremely professional and knowledgeable. It is a joy to see how far in just a few sessions our Lab has progressed.