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Crate Training

Puppy Crate Training in Houston, TX

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Houston, TX from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Houston, TX

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 Houston, TX 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 Houston

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 Houston, TX 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 Houston, 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

  • Daniel Medina
    Sep. 10, 2025
    The trainers at Dog Training Elite transformed my Labrador into another amazing dog. They are awesome at what they do and I’m very grateful for them they helped me with my service dog. I’m a Marine Veteran and I will give them 100 stars if I can Thank You Thank You Thank You sooo much Dog Training Elite.
  • Mike Donnelly
    Aug. 25, 2025
    I had self trained a dog I had about 40 years ago with great success, but have not attempted any training in years. So when I got a new dog in last December, I tried my hand at training again and found I really did not have the correct technique anymore. I tried using the training service at a pet store, but soon realized that was not working either, so after much research on the internet, I decided to contact Dog Training elite. Rachel contacted me back and we made an evaluation appointment. They showed up on time and I could tell immediately that they were very committed in this job. I was very impressed on the responses they got from our dog. a 100+ pound Belgian Malinois we recently got through a local shelter. worth noting this dog was adopted two times before we got him, and was brought back due to being hyper active. On the evaluation day, they were not only able to handle him well but actually were able to get him to start paying attention to commands given. We decided to hire Rachel and Daniel to help train our dog. I will have to say you do need to pay attention to what they say and do you part in helping to train your dog. We did our part and within 4 months, our dog was calm and payed attention to the commands given. We were so impressed with this outcome, we decided to go the next step and get him certified as a Service Dog and then started the training for the Task we needed him to preform. with Daniel and Rachel's help and guidance, we were able to complete this in less then two months. I have to say that Rachel and Daniel are very committed to dog training and extremely knowledgeable in this area. They know how to handle dogs and communicate to their owners. I highly recommend Rachel and Daniel. If you commit to your part in this endeavor you will be very pleased in the outcome.
  • Daniel Hudson
    Aug. 23, 2025
    Daniel and Rachel at Dog Training Elite North Houston have been outstanding to work with. Their patience, professionalism, and deep knowledge of dog training made a tremendous difference with my German Shepherd puppy. They provided clear guidance and effective techniques that helped establish obedience and good behavior. I am very impressed with the results and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking quality training for their dog.
  • Cissy Carter
    Aug. 23, 2025
    Daniel and Rachel have helped us with our lab pup. Her obedience and ability to take an easy walk have improved significantly. She is learning so much from their expertise! We highly recommend their services.
  • Zuleika Suescun
    Jul. 14, 2025
    We’re so happy we found this place! From the very beginning, we felt truly personalized attention that filled us with both confidence and peace of mind. We knew we were leaving our pup Apollo in the best hands. Special thanks to Jan Hernández, who patiently and clearly explained each step of the training process. He helped us understand not only the “how,” but also the “why” behind every part of it. His dedication and professionalism made a difference from day one. During the public training sessions, we were amazed to see how much more confident Apollo became—he understood the commands better and, most importantly, it was clear that he was enjoying every moment. Watching him grow and feel happy has been one of the best decisions we’ve made as a family. Thank you, Jan, and thank you to the entire team for helping us bring out the best in our furry friend. 100% recommended! 🐾✨
  • Claudia Rubio
    Jun. 9, 2025
    We’ve had a fantastic experience with Dog Training Elite West Houston. The team is professional, knowledgeable, and consistently reliable—always organized, punctual, and responsive to any questions we have. Our dog has shown major improvement in the behaviors we wanted to work on, and we’ve learned a lot about how to support her confidence and obedience. The training has helped both our dog and us grow together. We highly recommend this company and plan to keep working with them as we continue building our skills and helping our dog overcome her fears!
  • Alana Newman
    Jun. 2, 2025
    We have had an amazing experience so far. Especially with our trainer Jan Hernandez! He is great with Oliver - patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly effective. He has helped us make great progress.
  • Mark Miller
    May. 16, 2025
    Bob was An amazing trainer who took control of my dogs quickly and made them manageable. I have two 100 pound English labs who would just drag my wife and kids when they try to walk them. After several visits with Bob my dogs are the best behaved pets on our neighborhood trails. I would highly recommend Bob he did an outstanding job!
  • Alisa Borisovsky
    Apr. 2, 2025
    Excellent training service! Rachel transformed my service dog in a matter of days with her methods working better than any I have tried previously. Rachel and Daniel are both amazingly experienced trainers. You can tell they have a passion for it which makes it much more motivating for both the handler and the dog. Rachel went above and beyond with scheduling me and accommodating my crazy work schedule as a traveling healthcare worker. I couldn’t thank them enough for helping me with my sweet girl Ellie!
  • carey swan
    Mar. 7, 2025
    We were extremely impressed with wonderful Alex who came to the house for initial review and training. Then we met Jan for the in depth instruction. Jan Hernandez is the GOAT-Greatest Of All Times- dog trainer. His explanations and directions are comprehensive but clear. He is kind, intelligent, funny, professional and PATIENT…with dogs as well as humans. Our puppy is a pistol, but Jan maintained the perfect pitch with her throughout. VERY PLEASED.
  • Thomas Cramer
    Mar. 5, 2025
    Jan Hernandez is the best trainer for Us. Beckett has learned so much and will shape into a great service dog. Highly recommend the Dig Training Elite program and. Especially Jan!
  • Stacie Stagg
    Oct. 7, 2024
    I researched this facility after my neurologist and therapist agreed my needs required a service dog. Getting the dog was one thing. Training him? Another thing. Due to some medical issues, Cyno had to be quarantined from the public. Cyno started to be a lot to handle with puppy energy. Nibbling, chasing our cats, barking at people wearing hats (weird trigger, I know) disobedience, nervousness, seperation anxiety, etc. I was completely worried he was not cut out to be a service dog. We brought Cyno to DTE West Houston. Jan has been working with us and within TWO weeks of obedience, I have a completely different dog. We were given homework each day to strengthen skills with Cyno. Jan answered any questions, no matter how small or dumb I thought they might be. Jan answered with utmost patience and understanding. It's not just the dog who needs training. A human also needs to be trained just as well as their dog to be keep up the good work the trainers put in! Cyno is now more confident, well behaved and interested in his work. My cats are chill with Cyno now. He's a completely different dog from before DTE. I have no doubts now that he's cut to be a service dog. From service dog to companion dog, i have no doubts DTE West Houston can help. And I am super glad they exist honestly. Without them, I don't think my boy would be as wonderful as he is without their guidance and help.
  • Cliff Carey
    Jan. 23, 2025
    We adopted a rescued Chihuahua, Lynda, from Mutts and Meows. We were told she was the longest resident no one wanted her because she was what Mutts and Meows said skittish and not social. This was far from the truth this girl was filled with fear from abuse and probably from a man. However we were not going to let her go back and live in fear. Looking at our options we chose to try a trainer, we choose, Dog Training Elite West Houston and it was the best decision we could have made. The very first home visit, Alex had this girl calm, we could get a harness and leash on her, we were able to walk her, was able to touch Lynda and we could pet her, before Alex, we could not even get close to her or she would run and hide anywhere and anyway. She was so scared of us and everybody she was so sad. I swear Alex is part dog we were so amazed and impressed over the weeks she has improved 90% she still has a problem with Cliff but Loves Mary Ann and that’s enough for now. We want to send a heartfelt thank you to Alex of (Dog Training Elite West) and the entire staff that helped make the process so easy Lynda is happy, calm, and knows that this is her forever home. Linda still gives Cliff the stink eye but we are working on that. She will walk past him and will sleep in the bed with him and let him feed her. Thank you
  • Herbert Davis
    Nov. 14, 2024
    Jan has worked with my German Shepherd for 2 months now and the experience has been great! Very informative, helpful and the results have been noticeable from the start! I would absolutely recommend the training that your dog or pup will receive from dog training elite. Trainers and staff are very kind, patient and will work through all problems or concerns you bring to their attention.
  • Rebekah Crowder
    Oct. 12, 2024
    Bob is amazing! Our puppy was a poor emaciated rescue in need of love and security and once settled and healthy, was a very rambunctious pup. Bob has the patience of a saint in working with our baby and giving us practical milestones, lots of encouragement and advice along the way. Our puppy is MUCH better behaved and providing the structure needed makes for a happier household all around.
  • Jason Beeson
    Sep. 6, 2024
    Rachel and Daniel with Dog Training Elite are the best! They went above and beyond to meet my training needs for my service dog Pearl. Extremely knowledgeable in obedience and service dog training. I highly recommend going to Rachel and Daniel for your service dog or obedience training.
  • Tim Williams
    Sep. 7, 2024
    From the moment they stepped in my house I could see the passion for training and the lov for dogs they had. They move as slow or as fast as your dog needs. Shaping the training to suit your pet always reminding you that you are now a part of their family and they will always be there to help. Not only did they teach my Goose(dogs name) to be my battle buddy(service dog) but they taught me how to work with him. They have given me the ability to start to get my life back. I can’t ever repay them for that.
  • Ashley Upton
    Sep. 2, 2024
    Gosh, I can't love this place more. Jan is FANTASTIC. He trained our service dog, Leia, and I have zero negative things to say. He is thorough, patient, and so knowledgeable. If we ever get another dog we will 100% come back here and request him. You won't be disappointed in using DTE!
  • Wesley Whitley
    Aug. 24, 2024
    I can’t believe how wonderful it has been working with these two veterans. They both are so easy to get along with and so flexible with their schedules. This team of trainers love your dog as much as you do. They are on time and attentive to your questions at just about any hour. The e collar, treats and the understanding to your dogs needs are the tools to success. If you put in the work and do their exercises you to can have success with your dog. I loved being in their company and feel like they are family. Thank y’all for a job well done. I’ll see you on Saturday!
  • Kale and Beckie Sanders
    Jun. 20, 2024
    Could not say enough great things about Dog Training Elite!! Daniel and Rachel are the absolute best! They are beyond knowledgeable in their field, they are excellent with our Taco and the rest of our pack. they are kind, caring and compassionate. They are just the best people and run an excellent training program. They will be the ONLY dog training service we recommend. A+++