How to Crate Train a Puppy at Night

Many dog families prefer crate training to create a happy and balanced life with their dogs. Crate training has a lot of benefits. It protects dogs from stressful situations like going to the vet or traveling. Crate training also comes in handy when you have a guest who is afraid of dogs or you have to host people that your dog doesn't know yet. It is a really good way to give your dog a daily routine which is crucial for a balanced life. 
 
Crate training requires a lot of practice and effort. In fact, every learning journey with your dog, or even with yourself needs practice. You should be prepared for this. You may encounter some problems in crate training as well. However, there are always a lot of things to do in such situations. It's important not to panic when you don't see improvement for a while. sometimes you would feel like nothing is working and you have to start all over again. This is a common thing when you consider any type of training. Do not give up if you believe crate training is the right thing for your fur family. Trying to maintain the right communication with your dog would be the best course of action.
We would like to state the general rules of crate training. So you can have a reference list to check. We also listed some ideas on how to solve problems when you feel like you are stuck in your crate training process. 
 
Let's dive in. 
 
dog is looking happy in his dog crate

 

General Rules of Crate Training

The crate is a safe personal space for your dog. To teach him that, you should also believe this. 

Choose the suitable type of crate for your pup. You can use heavy-duty crates for traveling, and wooden dog houses for a more comfortable experience. 

Don't put your dog in the crate for an extended period then he can hold his bladder. This may affect your dog's potty training in a negative way. 

Always remember there are training steps to accomplish your goals. Encourage yourself to learn various training techniques. 

When there is a potty mistake in the crate, do not punish your pup. Clean the crate immediately and use a deodorizer.

Be extra cautious when you put your dog in the care summertime. Especially in plastic crates, the temperature can immediately rise. 

Do not forget to put fresh water in the crate. Also a soft blanket and a toy that contains your pup's favorite treat or peanut butter.

Never keep your dog in the cage for more than 4-5 hours, except the entire night and in compulsory situations. 

Do not skip any play and exercise time. Daily walks are the best tool to create a bond between you too. They also help the crate time to be smoother. 

If your dog barks, howls, or does any other irritating behavior while inside the cage, never let him go if there is no emergency. If you let your dog out, you will be rewarding him for his bad behavior. The next time he enters the crate, he does the same things again.

Do not put your dog in the crate only when you are going out of the house. If you do this, he will think that you will leave when he enters the crate and will have trouble getting into the cage.

Always remove the leash when putting your dog in the crate. the leash and other gear may cause your pup to get stuck, especially if you use a wire crate. 

Remember, crate training is not a magical solution to avoid bad habits. Consistency, practice, and positive association are the key here. 

TroubleShooting

1. Spend time with your dog in front of the crate with the doors open.

2. Whenever your dog looks after the crate (for example, looks at the crate), reward and love him. Repeat this over and over.

3. You will see that over time, your dog's interest in the crate will increase. In the next step, you will want more from your dog. Now, don't reward him for just staring at the crate. Wait and reward and love him only if he moves towards the crate.

4. Repeat the first 3 steps over and over and make things harder for your dog each time (like rewarding him for getting too close to the crate on subsequent reps). Then, when your dog steps into the crate, reward and encourage him.

5. Your dog will now start to enter and exit the crate. By taking things to a higher level; this time reward him when he sits inside, not when he gets in.

6. The last step, now your dog is inside the crate, he is sitting. Now close the crate door and feed him from outside (keep the crate door closed for a few seconds at first and increase this time over time).

7. You can add a verbal command to this if you want. I use the "Go to Bed" command as the command. If you say "go to bed" every time your dog enters the crate, your pup will make the connection with the verbal command over time.