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Crate Training

Puppy Crate Training in Boston, MA

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Boston, MA from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Boston, MA

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 in Boston, MA 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 in Boston Metro

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 in Boston, MA 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 in Boston Metro, 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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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Franklin Smith
    Oct. 4, 2025
    Trainers I worked with like Patrick and Matt are the best!!
  • Alex
    Sep. 18, 2025
    Trainer Laydon came to my home, was amazing with my cane corso, training was informative and very steady I never felt rushed. You can tell she loves her job and I look forward to more sessions. Thank you Laydon!
  • Selasie Djokotoe
    Sep. 15, 2025
    Tiffany did an amazing job taking her time to know boss and explain all the obedience training that will help him. We tried instant crate training to access where boss is at and what we need to do to continue to make him a better dog. He jumped a lot when Tiffany came and she started redirecting that energy.
  • Christina Helbert
    Jul. 18, 2025
    Tiffany was incredible during our initial meeting- she was very expreienced, patient, kind, and listened well. We felt very heard, validated, and hopeful for our four-legged friend to become her most happy and calm self! Laydon has been an incredible dog trainer! Her knowledge, patience, advice, care and help has helped Tilly so much, and us "humans" now have the tools to better understand and train our dog. An absolutely astounding company!
  • Donna Ricci
    Aug. 14, 2025
    Tiffany is an outstanding trainer, she listened to our concerns, addressed them. Tiffany asked many questions about our dog Tyson before she even started the training session. Tiffany worked with Tyson and us to resolve concerns in a positive, friendly manner. I look forward to working with Tiffany again!
  • Tina Chaput
    Sep. 9, 2025
    Tiffany is helping us now with our second puppy (almost 8 months)! She has an incredible understanding of different dog personalities and their needs. She is so patient and supportive of my training as the dog parent, I’m so grateful!! My dog babies are growing into great dogs!
  • Srikanta Jois
    Sep. 3, 2025
    Had an awesome experience. Thank you for training our stubborn golden retriever puppy. She is doing great and not leash pulling, jumping and follows all commands.
  • Josh Hammers
    Aug. 29, 2025
    Extremely pleased with Dog Training Elite and their trainers! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a great training team.
  • Liz Sher
    Aug. 29, 2025
    It was great meeting Tiffany. We talked about and girl and how we are going to move forward. We even taught my girl the paw command.
  • Sue Connaughton
    Aug. 21, 2025
    We appreciate the experience with Elite Dog Training. We worked extensively with Matt who always gave constructive feedback and provided guidance for me and my dog throughout each session. At the end of each session, Matt provided us with tips and “homework” to practice prior to our next session. This was helpful and held us accountable to try everything we could to ensure our dog was successful. I highly recommend Elite Dog Training for anyone who needs a confidence boost when setting appropriate boundaries with their dog!
  • Jane flink
    Aug. 13, 2025
    Tiffany made my dog’s first visit to Home Depot, more comfortable, and easier than I could’ve imagined. So very happy with my dogs progress in mine too!
  • Timothy Hall
    Aug. 12, 2025
    We had a great training session. Belle Amie is doing very well in training. Great team of trainers.
  • Jacob Kirschner
    Jul. 31, 2025
    Our dog Atlas has been reactive ever since he hit 8 months old. We couldn’t take him to group classes anymore because of his dog reactivity and we gave up on training in any sort of group environment. We were drawn to dog training elite because of the one on one sessions it offered. We signed up in the hopes that we could get Atlas a little more under control as we also had a newborn in the house. They did not disappoint, the variety of trainers we saw were all very knowledgeable and helpful in different ways. After our first few one on one sessions, we were encouraged to join a group class. I was extremely hesitant to take atlas because I was afraid of him reacting. But, Our first group class went so well and I was shocked. He had an initial reaction but our trainer Marcus took over for us and corrected him. After that, not a single reaction the rest of the hour. The second group class went even better. No reactions whatsoever, the trainer didn’t even need to step in. Atlas is so much more well behaved now that he is well trained. I know new dogs, people, and situations still make him anxious. But now he is able to take these things in stride and choose to react in a better way. If you’re on the fence about this training I would recommend it to anyone struggling with a reactive dog. The picture is of atlas at a group class In Home Depot. Before training he never would have been able to sit still while other dogs were around.
  • Kelsey Wolf
    Jul. 29, 2025
    Tiffany was excellent and answered all of our questions! We're feeling a lot better about taking on the training of our new puppy!
  • Luann Smith
    Jul. 25, 2025
    Tiffany once again did a great job. She went through the training documentation, explained everything and answered my questions. We got the e-collar on and worked on some commands with that. She followed up thru email with suggestions of things that could help. My dog Pumpkin likes and trusts her. As do I. LuAnn Smith
  • IRENE Butler
    Jul. 23, 2025
    I’ve had several trainers work with us and what’s nice is the different ideas and methods each has.Tiffany’s approach was refreshing and had me thinking differently. We are going to try some new things this week and maybe my dog will respond more positively with this different approach.
  • Wrong Side of Heavan
    Jul. 16, 2025
    Tiffany was very professional and knowledgeable. Was very happy for her direction today.
  • Jena Pantano
    Jul. 15, 2025
    Truly Exceptional Training Experience We have been working with Dog Training Elite since Tully (Tallulah) was a puppy, starting with their puppy sessions and continuing through adult sessions to prepare for the Public Access Test. We just completed our final adult lesson before the test, and I truly believe this is the best training program available. We trained in different locations, which was perfect for exposing Tully to new environments. Every trainer we worked with had different tricks up their sleeve for all kinds of behaviors. No matter what challenge came up, someone on the team had a helpful strategy ready to go. We worked mostly with Matt K and Tiffany for individual lessons, and they have been incredible. Their guidance, patience, and ability to clearly explain things made each session effective and enjoyable. The group classes at Boston Common are also one of our favorite parts. Tully has made so much progress in that setting, and we always walk away with something new and valuable. A huge thank you to Marcus as well. Anytime I felt overwhelmed or unsure about Tully’s behavior, I sent an email to the team, and Marcus always responded with thoughtful, detailed advice. His ongoing support between sessions has been incredibly reassuring and helpful. Thanks to Dog Training Elite, people constantly compliment how well-behaved Tully is. We’ve learned so much and built a solid foundation that we’re now carrying into task training for service work. If you’re looking for a training program that truly works and a team that genuinely cares about your dog’s success, this is it. I’ve looked into other programs, and I would recommend Dog Training Elite over any of them. They are hands down the best for all kinds of training needs.
  • Yuliya Sukennik
    Jul. 15, 2025
    We’ve been training our American Bully, Blue “Bun”, with Richard and Matt and we couldn’t be happier with the experience! From the very first session, it was clear that they truly understand dogs and love what they do. Blue is always excited to work with them, and it’s amazing to see how much she enjoys the learning process. The course has been absolutely awesome, not only is Blue progressing with each session, but we’re also learning so much as owners. Richard and Matt explain everything clearly, are incredibly patient, and tailor their approach to meet our dog’s unique personality and needs. We feel more confident, connected, and in sync with our pup thanks to their guidance. Highly recommend their training — it’s a game-changer for both dogs and their humans! 🐾
  • kai gannon
    Jul. 10, 2025
    Haven't even started training yet but she was very helpful, she answered every question we had, she explained the ecollar usage and how it's not used to be harmful, and she took us through the whole process, and even helped me figure out a different payment plan. She was very respectful in our home and our doggy loved her! he could not stop sniffing the other dogs on her 🤣 can't wait to start classes 😁