Lesson 1: Learn To Love The Crate

Goal

Your goal in this lesson is for your puppy to realize that good things happen in the crate. To do this, you are going to give your puppy hundreds of delicious treats while it is in the crate over just a few days.

Time Required

Lesson 1 usually takes 1-3 days, with a few 10-minute sessions a day. Some pups will get to Advanced Lesson 1 the first day so you can move on.

When to move on to Lesson 2

When you can do the last step of Advanced Lesson 1 successfully, move on to Lesson 2.

Troubleshooting

If your puppy is fearful of the crate, drooling, shaking, or will not eat treats in the crate, go through Puppies That Are Afraid of the Crate. before returning to this lesson.

Lesson Table of Contents

• Setting Up for Lesson 1
• Lesson 1 Training Sessions
• Advancing Lesson 1

Setting Up For Lesson 1

Set up the crate and gear before starting your training session.

• You will NOT need the sheet covering the crate for this lesson so take it off now.
• Be sure your treats are great.
• Plan your training sessions for what your puppy is hungry. 
• Put the crate in a quiet, non-distracting area for this training.
• Be sure the room is cool enough so your pup is comfortable.
• Before starting, scatter a handful of treats towards the middle and back of the crate.
• Take your puppy out to potty immediately before you begin training so you are sure he does not need to pee or poop.

Lesson 1 Training Sessions

Plan to do 4 10-minute sessions each day for the next several days. Each session should include 8 to 10 "treat fests."

Lesson 1 Training Steps

• Gently place your puppy in the crate and, if necessary, point out the treats in the crate. Leave the crate door open. IMPORTANT TRAINING NOTE!! While your puppy is standing outside the crate, do not toss treats into the crate to get the puppy to go in. Simply put the pup in the crate if it does not go in on its own.
• As the puppy eats the treats already in the crate, start dropping or tossing treats into the crate one at a time but as fast as your puppy can find and eat them. If it misses one, point it out to the pup in an excited voice. Make this a fun game!
• If your puppy stays in the crate, keep tossing in treats for 1-2 minutes then give the pup the release command (“Okay!” “Free!” “Break!) and encourage the puppy to come out of the crate.
• Allow the puppy to leave the crate anytime it wants, but when it does immediately stop tossing treats. Wait a few seconds to see if the pup goes back into the crate.
• If the puppy goes back into the crate, begin quickly tossing the treats again for another 1-2 minutes.
• If the pup does not go into the crate, put the puppy back in the crate and toss in a small handful of treats.
• Repeat these 1- to 2-minute treat fests 8 to 10 times during this training session.
• Do 3 to 4 sessions a day for the next few days. Continue at this level until your pup is happy to be in the crate during an entire session. Then move on to Advancing Lesson 1 below.

Advanced Lesson 1 Training Steps

If your puppy is enjoying the treats and is calm when you put it in the crate, move on to opening and closing the crate door while dropping treats. Here is the progression.

• sometimes close the door but don't latch it.
• once or twice, close the door and latch it but only for a few seconds.
• Close the door and leave it close for 20-30 seconds.
• Close the door at the beginning of the session and try to leave it closed for a minute or two. Keep dropping in treats.

When you can close the door to the crate for 2 minutes without your pup barking, crying, or trying to get out, move on to Lesson 2.