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Crate Training

Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Green Bay / Appleton, WI from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Green Bay / Appleton, WI

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 Green Bay / Appleton, WI 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 Northeast Wisconsin

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 Green Bay / Appleton, WI 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.

Start Crate Training Today


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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 Northeast Wisconsin, 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!

Get Your Free Assessment

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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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Theresa Matson
    Jun. 9, 2025
    Dog Training Elite was amazing with our 5-year-old Springer Spaniel, Finn! From the very beginning, he connected instantly with Marcy, which made the entire training experience even more effective and enjoyable. Honestly, Finn caught on quickly—it was us humans who needed the most guidance! Marcy was incredibly patient, kind, and full of knowledge. She not only helped Finn improve his behavior but also gave us the tools and confidence to continue reinforcing the training at home. We’re so grateful for her expertise and would highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone looking for a professional, compassionate trainer.
  • Margaret Gorz
    Jun. 6, 2025
    Dog Training Elite and Marcy? Awesome! We've been super happy with our experience at Dog Training Elite, and especially with our trainer, Marcy. We brought Kramer in because his recall was a bit of a nightmare, and he was really into jumping on people. Honestly, thanks to Marcy's hard work and knowledge, Kramer's like a whole new dog! Marcy seriously went the extra mile. She spent tons of extra time with Kramer, making sure he really got what she was teaching. Plus, she made sure we understood how to keep up the training at home. You can tell she genuinely cares about the dogs and their families. And her flexibility with scheduling and how she approached things made everything so much easier for us. Kramer's listening way better now, and his recall is awesome. We're still working on the jumping, but it's definitely much better than before. Overall, he's just a happier, more well-behaved guy. If you're looking for a dog trainer who's patient, knows her stuff, and really invests in your dog's success, you absolutely have to check out Marcy at Dog Training Elite!
  • Kelly Lambert
    Jun. 5, 2025
    Brianna was amazing as well as all the staff! Murphy loved it and learned all his commands! I highly recommend this training for your dog!
  • Melissa T
    Jun. 4, 2025
    We feel so lucky we found Elite Dog Training NE. Our Rocky got so big so fast, he became unmanageable in our day to day life. Marcy was (and continues to be) a lifesaver in our Rocky adventure story. She is kind, patient, and always left us feeling confident that we CAN control our dog in any situation. Her approach to "training" is rooted in teaching the animal first, then holding them accountable for what they know. His biggest challenges were extinguished at our first session. Parts of the training process are hard and emotional, much like parenting...but the outcome has been so worth it. She always made sure we felt good about our progress and adjusted as needed. I have never witnessed this level of humanity placed on both the animal and the owner and it is truly amazing. We have since formed a more loving bond with our dog and wish everyone got the opportunity to experience life with a trained dog!
  • George Basler
    May. 28, 2025
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite. Marcy was very knowledgeable, patient and kind. We saw a huge difference in behavior in our little 6 pound Shih Tzu mix after only one session. After six sessions we have a calmer and more obedient dog. Thanks so much Marcy. You were wonderful.
  • Virginia Suechting
    May. 28, 2025
    Ramiro is an effective and efficient trainer and clearly understands dogs behavior. Both of our dogs, young and old, finished with strong responses to commands. Ramiro designed our dogs specific needs for our rural home and trained both my husband and me to carry on at the end of our program. It was a really successful experience because we feel well trained as well as our dogs.
  • Lisa Benson
    May. 20, 2025
    We absolutely loved working with Elite. We started with puppy training and moved into the obedience training. From our first consult to our last training session we felt confident in the Elite staff. Our puppy Jemma enjoyed her time with our trainer Marcy and they made a nice connection. Marcy was an absolute delight to work with. Marcy’s Patience and the ability to make every session a positive and upbeat learning experience for both of us. We completed our last private session today and look forward to our upcoming group sessions. Elite dog training is definitely worth the investment in our new family member.
  • JJ Jenkins
    May. 8, 2025
    The in home and personalized training stood out against other training opportunities in the area. Highly recommend. Flexible scheduling and practical dog training for all aspects of life.
  • Bryan Schaller
    May. 7, 2025
    Ramiro did an amazing job with Jade and taught us so much about training. 100% improvement with her behavior and our confidence in training. Looking forward to group classes!
  • Kathryn Colmer
    Apr. 29, 2025
    We are so happy with the results of this training! After 8 lessons, Bella is calm in public now and fun to take on walks! She comes when we call her and listens so much better! Ramiro was kind and professional and did a great job teaching my husband and I how to use the training tools. Worth the investment! We highly recommend this dog training!
  • Christina Romatowski
    Apr. 23, 2025
    AMAZING!! We are working towards therapy dog certification and this program has been the answer! Ramiro has helped us immensely and in a few short weeks we’ve seen such progress. Dog Training Elite is a must for anyone wanting to train their pup!
  • Jess & Jef
    Apr. 22, 2025
    Training with Ramiro has been great. He was able to come to our home where Mochi had some unpredictable behaviors and give us training exercises we can continue to utilize. Mochi has gained so much confidence and so have we! We’ve also learned training techniques we can use for our other dogs. We’re really excited to get started in the group classes and continue to build on what we’ve learned this far!
  • Catherine Daley
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We are so pleased with the training we received for our dog Stella! My fiancé and I signed Stella up for training after experiencing some reactivity toward my dog as well as on walks. Before we started training, we were on edge a lot because we never knew when Stella might show aggression toward my dog. I also didn’t feel comfortable walking Stella by myself because of her leash manners and reactivity toward people and other dogs on walks. Each week we worked with Marcy on teaching our dog some basic commands and how to correct unwanted behaviors. Marcy did a great job explaining to us what we needed to do and why. We have seen such an improvement with Stella! We know how to handle different behaviors now and I am able to take her on walks independently which I didn’t think would be possible. The training was so worth it, we would definitely recommend Dog Training Elite!
  • Matt Werner
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had an incredible experience with the entire team at DTE. Our trainer Marci was amazing to work with and talk things over each week. Very understanding and always had great insight and tips to handle any issue we threw at her. The process works wonders if you want it to work and put the time in during the week while the trainer isn’t with you. We loved our experience and are already looking forward to the free group classes to keep learning more.
  • Beth Scharenbroch
    Apr. 18, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin was the best decision I could have made for dog training. Ramiro was great. I highly recommend them! It not a quick fix it definitely takes work but the end results are worth it.
  • Nicole Dorn
    Apr. 12, 2025
    We have a 10 month old Doberman named Tito that started showing signs of aggression and reactivity with other dogs and people. We were frustrated and in desperate need of training for Tito and for ourselves as well. Our training experience with Ramiro exceeded our expectations with the very first lesson. He made everything fun and easy for us in our home and made sure we were set up for success. Tito has showed so much improvement, but consistency is key. We look forward to doing the work, and starting group classes. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite of Green Bay for your training needs. Mark and Nicole Dorn Appleton
  • Jon Logan
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Dog training elite is a must for all dog owners. We adopted a very shy puppy from the humane society and she would barely get out from underneath the kitchen table. We worked with Stephany, Ramiro, and Hannah during our Platinum Package and it was with every penny. Our little girl now sets the standard for any four legged friend we may ever have. I would highly recommend them and your dog is worth the investment. You and your friend will be very happy with the results. ROXY gives the service 4 paws up.
  • Mary Jo White
    Apr. 10, 2025
    Stephanie, Brianna and Hannah Thank you so much for the great job training Hazel. Day one we noticed a huge difference in her behaviors and her Frenchie attitude. So happy with everything she has learned in short time. Looking forward to future lessons.
  • Regan Henrickson
    Apr. 8, 2025
    We just finished a GREAT training course for our “too smart” blue heeler. Finding the right program for her was our biggest concern. And with a young family at home, we had to get it right the first time. Ramiro was great with her. He knew exactly how she needed to be trained to get the best results out of her. Each class was more for us and what we needed to do, than for her. We left each class impressed with our teamwork and the growing strength of our bond. He showed us how to work with her intelligence and kept her engaged the whole hour. She is already a new dog after 6 short weeks. He gave us all the tools we needed to continue her future training. We are very thankful for Dog Training Elite for showing us what she’s capable of and giving us one less thing to stress about.
  • Brooke
    Apr. 4, 2025
    Stephany and Brianna are the best ever! Highly recommend this place. Will forever be going here for training
  • Theresa Matson
    Jun. 9, 2025
    Dog Training Elite was amazing with our 5-year-old Springer Spaniel, Finn! From the very beginning, he connected instantly with Marcy, which made the entire training experience even more effective and enjoyable. Honestly, Finn caught on quickly—it was us humans who needed the most guidance! Marcy was incredibly patient, kind, and full of knowledge. She not only helped Finn improve his behavior but also gave us the tools and confidence to continue reinforcing the training at home. We’re so grateful for her expertise and would highly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone looking for a professional, compassionate trainer.
  • Margaret Gorz
    Jun. 6, 2025
    Dog Training Elite and Marcy? Awesome! We've been super happy with our experience at Dog Training Elite, and especially with our trainer, Marcy. We brought Kramer in because his recall was a bit of a nightmare, and he was really into jumping on people. Honestly, thanks to Marcy's hard work and knowledge, Kramer's like a whole new dog! Marcy seriously went the extra mile. She spent tons of extra time with Kramer, making sure he really got what she was teaching. Plus, she made sure we understood how to keep up the training at home. You can tell she genuinely cares about the dogs and their families. And her flexibility with scheduling and how she approached things made everything so much easier for us. Kramer's listening way better now, and his recall is awesome. We're still working on the jumping, but it's definitely much better than before. Overall, he's just a happier, more well-behaved guy. If you're looking for a dog trainer who's patient, knows her stuff, and really invests in your dog's success, you absolutely have to check out Marcy at Dog Training Elite!
  • Kelly Lambert
    Jun. 5, 2025
    Brianna was amazing as well as all the staff! Murphy loved it and learned all his commands! I highly recommend this training for your dog!
  • Melissa T
    Jun. 4, 2025
    We feel so lucky we found Elite Dog Training NE. Our Rocky got so big so fast, he became unmanageable in our day to day life. Marcy was (and continues to be) a lifesaver in our Rocky adventure story. She is kind, patient, and always left us feeling confident that we CAN control our dog in any situation. Her approach to "training" is rooted in teaching the animal first, then holding them accountable for what they know. His biggest challenges were extinguished at our first session. Parts of the training process are hard and emotional, much like parenting...but the outcome has been so worth it. She always made sure we felt good about our progress and adjusted as needed. I have never witnessed this level of humanity placed on both the animal and the owner and it is truly amazing. We have since formed a more loving bond with our dog and wish everyone got the opportunity to experience life with a trained dog!
  • George Basler
    May. 28, 2025
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite. Marcy was very knowledgeable, patient and kind. We saw a huge difference in behavior in our little 6 pound Shih Tzu mix after only one session. After six sessions we have a calmer and more obedient dog. Thanks so much Marcy. You were wonderful.
  • Virginia Suechting
    May. 28, 2025
    Ramiro is an effective and efficient trainer and clearly understands dogs behavior. Both of our dogs, young and old, finished with strong responses to commands. Ramiro designed our dogs specific needs for our rural home and trained both my husband and me to carry on at the end of our program. It was a really successful experience because we feel well trained as well as our dogs.
  • Lisa Benson
    May. 20, 2025
    We absolutely loved working with Elite. We started with puppy training and moved into the obedience training. From our first consult to our last training session we felt confident in the Elite staff. Our puppy Jemma enjoyed her time with our trainer Marcy and they made a nice connection. Marcy was an absolute delight to work with. Marcy’s Patience and the ability to make every session a positive and upbeat learning experience for both of us. We completed our last private session today and look forward to our upcoming group sessions. Elite dog training is definitely worth the investment in our new family member.
  • JJ Jenkins
    May. 8, 2025
    The in home and personalized training stood out against other training opportunities in the area. Highly recommend. Flexible scheduling and practical dog training for all aspects of life.
  • Bryan Schaller
    May. 7, 2025
    Ramiro did an amazing job with Jade and taught us so much about training. 100% improvement with her behavior and our confidence in training. Looking forward to group classes!
  • Kathryn Colmer
    Apr. 29, 2025
    We are so happy with the results of this training! After 8 lessons, Bella is calm in public now and fun to take on walks! She comes when we call her and listens so much better! Ramiro was kind and professional and did a great job teaching my husband and I how to use the training tools. Worth the investment! We highly recommend this dog training!
  • Christina Romatowski
    Apr. 23, 2025
    AMAZING!! We are working towards therapy dog certification and this program has been the answer! Ramiro has helped us immensely and in a few short weeks we’ve seen such progress. Dog Training Elite is a must for anyone wanting to train their pup!
  • Jess & Jef
    Apr. 22, 2025
    Training with Ramiro has been great. He was able to come to our home where Mochi had some unpredictable behaviors and give us training exercises we can continue to utilize. Mochi has gained so much confidence and so have we! We’ve also learned training techniques we can use for our other dogs. We’re really excited to get started in the group classes and continue to build on what we’ve learned this far!
  • Catherine Daley
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We are so pleased with the training we received for our dog Stella! My fiancé and I signed Stella up for training after experiencing some reactivity toward my dog as well as on walks. Before we started training, we were on edge a lot because we never knew when Stella might show aggression toward my dog. I also didn’t feel comfortable walking Stella by myself because of her leash manners and reactivity toward people and other dogs on walks. Each week we worked with Marcy on teaching our dog some basic commands and how to correct unwanted behaviors. Marcy did a great job explaining to us what we needed to do and why. We have seen such an improvement with Stella! We know how to handle different behaviors now and I am able to take her on walks independently which I didn’t think would be possible. The training was so worth it, we would definitely recommend Dog Training Elite!
  • Matt Werner
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had an incredible experience with the entire team at DTE. Our trainer Marci was amazing to work with and talk things over each week. Very understanding and always had great insight and tips to handle any issue we threw at her. The process works wonders if you want it to work and put the time in during the week while the trainer isn’t with you. We loved our experience and are already looking forward to the free group classes to keep learning more.
  • Beth Scharenbroch
    Apr. 18, 2025
    Dog Training Elite Northeast Wisconsin was the best decision I could have made for dog training. Ramiro was great. I highly recommend them! It not a quick fix it definitely takes work but the end results are worth it.
  • Nicole Dorn
    Apr. 12, 2025
    We have a 10 month old Doberman named Tito that started showing signs of aggression and reactivity with other dogs and people. We were frustrated and in desperate need of training for Tito and for ourselves as well. Our training experience with Ramiro exceeded our expectations with the very first lesson. He made everything fun and easy for us in our home and made sure we were set up for success. Tito has showed so much improvement, but consistency is key. We look forward to doing the work, and starting group classes. We highly recommend Dog Training Elite of Green Bay for your training needs. Mark and Nicole Dorn Appleton
  • Jon Logan
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Dog training elite is a must for all dog owners. We adopted a very shy puppy from the humane society and she would barely get out from underneath the kitchen table. We worked with Stephany, Ramiro, and Hannah during our Platinum Package and it was with every penny. Our little girl now sets the standard for any four legged friend we may ever have. I would highly recommend them and your dog is worth the investment. You and your friend will be very happy with the results. ROXY gives the service 4 paws up.
  • Mary Jo White
    Apr. 10, 2025
    Stephanie, Brianna and Hannah Thank you so much for the great job training Hazel. Day one we noticed a huge difference in her behaviors and her Frenchie attitude. So happy with everything she has learned in short time. Looking forward to future lessons.
  • Regan Henrickson
    Apr. 8, 2025
    We just finished a GREAT training course for our “too smart” blue heeler. Finding the right program for her was our biggest concern. And with a young family at home, we had to get it right the first time. Ramiro was great with her. He knew exactly how she needed to be trained to get the best results out of her. Each class was more for us and what we needed to do, than for her. We left each class impressed with our teamwork and the growing strength of our bond. He showed us how to work with her intelligence and kept her engaged the whole hour. She is already a new dog after 6 short weeks. He gave us all the tools we needed to continue her future training. We are very thankful for Dog Training Elite for showing us what she’s capable of and giving us one less thing to stress about.
  • Brooke
    Apr. 4, 2025
    Stephany and Brianna are the best ever! Highly recommend this place. Will forever be going here for training