Reintroducing the Crate

by Heidi Atwood

“My puppy was handling freedom well, so we no longer use the crate. Now he is destroying everything!” 

“My puppy sleeps with me every night, but now I don’t know what to do when I need to leave her with someone else.”

“My puppy cries in the crate, so he hates it!”

Puppies that have acclimated well to their new environments may seem trustworthy, house-trained, and focused on appropriate behavior. Then, one day, we aren’t paying close attention and realize the puppy is out of sight. A quick search reveals that the puppy is having a great time in your child’s bedroom, shredding their favorite stuffies. Oh no! 

Give freedom gradually and cautiously, knowing you can reduce it at any time. Your puppy isn’t going to think, “Hey! I could go anywhere I wanted yesterday, and now I can’t!”They will simply accept new boundaries as they learn to handle more freedom gradually. Keep using the crate, a play pen, or a well-supervised, puppy-proofed room to help the puppy learn the rules of your home in a controlled environment. 

Keep in mind that puppies go through a few developmental phases on their way to adulthood. There are two fear phases that can make a puppy more timid and less likely to try new things. Then, as they phase out of those fear periods, they become more confident and might start looking for their own entertainment. In my experience, puppies don’t make the best choices when left to entertain themselves! 

Next, of course, comes the “dreaded” adolescent phase. This is a time when a puppy is trying to figure out how to be an adult dog. They are often at or near their full-grown size, but they are still puppies! This is a crucial time to recognize that your puppy may not have the ability to respect the rules, and they often seek out their own forms of entertainment during this phase. To keep your puppy safe and prevent long-term unwanted habits, it's best to restrict their ability to get into trouble. 

How can we reduce freedom when our puppy isn’t handling it well? Hopefully, you haven't gotten rid of your crate, as it is usually the safest option. If your puppy has outgrown their crate, go ahead and upsize it so they can fully stretch out and get comfortable. An escape-proof pen can also work to prevent wandering and looking for interesting things to get into. For your puppy's safety, reducing freedom is a good thing. 

I find puppies also sleep best when they can't wander. They have no choice, right? They may as well settle down and take a nap when they have no other options. If your puppy naps here and there throughout the day, it can be hard to tell if they are getting the amount of sleep they need, which is around 16-18 hours per 24-hour period. If your puppy gets 8-9 hours of nighttime sleep, it still has time for many daytime crate sessions. A sign that your puppy isn’t getting enough rest is frequent overstimulation and the behaviors that result, such as increased biting, jumping, barking, growling, and the “zoomies.” 

So, how do we reintroduce the crate after the puppy has had freedom? The same way you did when you first brought your puppy home! Make the crate a positive, restful environment by practicing both short and longer sessions in the crate. If the puppy struggles to settle down and rest at night, keep them closer to you while transitioning them back to this space. Think of the crate as your puppy’s comfy, peaceful bedroom where good things happen, and help them make that association by tossing in favorite toys, mentally stimulating items, and pieces of kibble for the puppy to discover. 

Many puppy handlers use the crate only at night or when they leave home, which reinforces the idea that being in the crate means being away from their favorite people for a long time. Break this expectation by offering some fun, short crate sessions now and then, along with the longer naps your puppy needs. Covering the crate, playing soothing sounds nearby, and using a Snuggle Puppy can add comfort and drown out distractions. 

Your puppy may cry or bark as you are trying to reacclimate them to the crate and being away from you at times. Help them understand that this behavior is ineffective by ignoring the attention-seeking noise. If it’s time to remove the puppy from the crate, always wait for at least a short period of quiet so the puppy doesn’t associate crying and whining with successfully gaining attention. 

If you have allowed your puppy to sleep in your bed, I will be honest: it’s going to be a bit harder to move them from this spot...possibly a LOT harder!  Puppies love being next to their humans, and cuddling at night can quickly become their favorite way to sleep. However, there may be times when your puppy wants to wander or look for things to do at night, or when it isn't safe for them to rest outside their crate because of medical issues or procedures. Puppies that wander at night are more likely to need potty breaks, so you may see accidents simply because the puppy is up and moving around. If you travel and need a puppy-sitter, finding someone willing to sleep with your dog may become quite difficult. 

Of course, your goal is to be able to trust your puppy with total freedom - someday - regardless of the distractions and temptations. Working toward that goal may mean that sometimes your puppy can enjoy total freedom, and sometimes it is simply too hard for them. We help our dogs learn appropriate behaviors by preventing them from seeking their own entertainment while they learn that following the rules is more rewarding. 

Relying on your puppy’s crate to keep them safe and prevent unwanted habits from forming is a good thing! You may need to separate your dog from other animals or people at times, or provide a safe, comfortable space for them if they are injured or in their golden years. If you have allowed your dog freedom from the crate and need more help reacclimating them to this space, please reach out to our team of trainers for assistance.