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Crate Training

Dog Training Elite Indianapolis

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Indianapolis, IN from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Indianapolis, IN

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 Indianapolis, IN 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 Indianapolis

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 Indianapolis, IN 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 Indianapolis, 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

  • tracy cherba
    May. 9, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been WONDERFUL and extremely helpful in getting my Bella girl ready to be my service dog. I would highly recommend them to anyone that is looking to train their service or therapy animal.
  • Holly Gullett
    May. 7, 2025
    Elijah did a great job, focusing on the problem behaviors I reported. I’ve always been impressed with DTE training staff, during one-on-one lessons and then during group classes. Elijah’s explanations, methods, instructions were clear and easy to follow. I’m confident our pup will catch on quickly with consistent practice and we’ll both be able to enjoy our walks again soon.
  • Candace Harlan
    Apr. 22, 2025
    We were very happy with our trainer. He was very helpful and gave us a lot of information to help us with our training.
  • Hannah Shockey
    Apr. 30, 2025
    Elijah is great. He is really patient and it's so obvious he wants you and your dog to succeed. He is easy to relate to, very kind and great with my dog. I appreciate all of his help.
  • K Crosley
    Apr. 28, 2025
    I really appreciate Elijah from Dog Training Elite as he has helped me so much in training my puppy. I love the program DTE offered me and get so many compliments on how well mannered my puppy is. My neighbors have been very complimentary on my puppys progress too!!! Program well put together with concise directions from my trainer. If i have questions in between sessions I can reach out to my trainer which has been wonderful. They worked with me in personalizing sessions as needed to address any concerns or problems I had in training my puppy. Group classes review and reinforce what has been learned in individual sessions. A great help. Elijah is truly a dog whisperer!!!!
  • Thomas Korecki
    Apr. 25, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite did an amazing job training my sweet little girl, Olive! And providing me with the knowledge and tools to tame her rambunctious nature and calm her anxieties. A worthwhile investment in creating a happier and healthier dog!
  • Makaela Hudson
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Josh has been amazing. Have seen so much progress even with only a few sessions.
  • Chris Sargent
    Apr. 22, 2025
    My pup was very stubborn and had terrible recall. This dog training has made her one of the easiest pups to walk and call back. Worth every penny.
  • Brenda C Gordon
    Apr. 21, 2025
    My dog is a Cane Corso so proper training was a priority. I researched the available options before deciding to train with Dog Training Elite. I asked them lots of questions and let them know my expectations. The preliminary interview with the company owner, Doug, and our family (including our dog) satisfied my expectations. The first training session was great. Our trainer was Josh. We had the best first session learning how consistent and clear commands make for quick understanding. Our dog responded to Josh better than I anticipated.
  • Sarah Randall
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite and highly recommend them. Elijah was easy to work with, professional, knowledgeable and made training fun.
  • Devon Sundberg
    Apr. 16, 2025
    I adopted a large dog for the first time. I knew I needed training from the get go to ensure she would follow instructions and not jump on people. Dog Training Elite was responsive. The owner was at my house in a couple of days, a few days later we had our first puppy training session in home with Elijah. He was knowledgable and never judgmental about what we accomplished or didn’t. Our dog, Olive, started training on site. She loved it and couldn’t wait to get back everyday. Now she weighs about 50lbs. She heels, sits, stays in place and comes reliably. I am still able to reach out to the staff at DTE for guidance on issues and attend their Saturday sessions. It continues to be a very good investment.
  • Elizabeth Todd
    Apr. 14, 2025
    Our Bernedoodle was much more to handle than the yellow labs we had in the past. Dog Training Elite was a godsend. Very professional. They gave us all the tools to work with our dog. Elijah, our trainer, did a great job demonstrating and explaining. Very knowledgeable. Our in-home puppy and then obedience classes followed a strong logical progression that was easy to follow and practice. It was well worth the cost. I’m looking forward to attending some group classes.
  • Melissa Hicks
    Apr. 12, 2025
    We have had the best experience with Elijah and dog training elite! They are kind, respectful, flexible and absolute experts! Scheduling is always hard for us with 2 active kiddos! They were awesome in making sure we could get everything done timely! I would absolutely use them again
  • Anne Weinblatt
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Thanks to our work with Josh, Apollo has become a great companion puppy to me. I tried two other training programs and did not have success with them. Dog Training Elite has made a big difference for both of us. I highly recommend them.
  • Jean Fox
    Apr. 9, 2025
    We can’t thank Doug, Josh and all the trainers at DTE enough for the incredible work they do with our new family member, Remy. She struggles with reactive and aggressive behaviors, but their calm, patient approach and deep understanding of dog behavior has made all the difference. They gave us practical, easy to follow training techniques that have helped her make incredible progress. Especially grateful for the coaching and encouragement we receive as her handlers. We couldn’t be happier with the team’s expertise, kindness and dedication - it was made all the difference. Highly recommended the DTE Team!
  • Sarah Clark
    Mar. 12, 2025
    I could not have asked for a better training experience. Tater was more than excited to attend the two week training every day and the trainers did an excellent job of working with him. He left the two weeks well behaved and trained to the commands the team worked on with him and is continuing to do extremely well at home. Couldn't recommend more!
  • Regan Esch
    Feb. 16, 2025
    Very happy with the progress my two pups have made. In the two week day camp training DTE taught my 7 and 5 year old doodles to heal and walk nicely on a regular leash! Much better manners and impulse control. All of the trainers have been very friendly and knowledgeable. Love the ongoing support with In home sessions and group classes. Wish we trained with you years ago! Highly recommend.
  • Courtney Colby
    Feb. 16, 2025
    I'm so grateful for Dog Training Elite! I completed the Platinum Obedience training program with my Golden Retriever George and have only great things to say about DTE and the team. George is a high energy, playful, loving, and very smart 2 year old. We had been through a training program when he was a few months old that was less involved with the owner. One of my favorite parts about training with DTE is how rewarding it has been for me to be apart of the training with George. It has strengthened the trust in our relationship so much, I've learned so much more about him through the process, and I feel so well equipped to continue to work with him and be a leader for him as he continues to grow. This team is so dedicated to the continued growth and education for you and your dog and it shows. George and I always look forward to our Saturday Group Class and our Therapy Dog in Training courses where we sharpen his focus, fine tune his skills, strengthen his confidence, and learn new activities we can practice at home. Thank you so much DTE! George & Courtney
  • Brittany Pierson
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We highly recommend DTE to anyone interested in training! They came to us and worked with our schedule. Our husky, Odin, is stubborn and very energetic. DTE not only taught him commands but also gave us a better way of challenging him mentally (which really helps with his energy levels). Odin always loved seeing his trainer Elijah Turner. Elijah was great with Odin but also explained every aspect of the training techniques to us which made a world of difference. The package we purchased also had unlimited group classes and those are great for keeping everything fresh.
  • Denise Rider
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We are working with Dog Training Elite to train our daughter's diabetes alert dog. They are amazing to work with and so extremely helpful and full of great information. At 8 months old our puppy already knows how to alert for low blood sugar and sit, place, heel etc. Never knew a dog could learn so much so quickly! They make the process fun and easy for both handler and dog. Would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to train a pet to those looking to train a service dog!
  • tracy cherba
    May. 9, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been WONDERFUL and extremely helpful in getting my Bella girl ready to be my service dog. I would highly recommend them to anyone that is looking to train their service or therapy animal.
  • Holly Gullett
    May. 7, 2025
    Elijah did a great job, focusing on the problem behaviors I reported. I’ve always been impressed with DTE training staff, during one-on-one lessons and then during group classes. Elijah’s explanations, methods, instructions were clear and easy to follow. I’m confident our pup will catch on quickly with consistent practice and we’ll both be able to enjoy our walks again soon.
  • Candace Harlan
    Apr. 22, 2025
    We were very happy with our trainer. He was very helpful and gave us a lot of information to help us with our training.
  • Hannah Shockey
    Apr. 30, 2025
    Elijah is great. He is really patient and it's so obvious he wants you and your dog to succeed. He is easy to relate to, very kind and great with my dog. I appreciate all of his help.
  • K Crosley
    Apr. 28, 2025
    I really appreciate Elijah from Dog Training Elite as he has helped me so much in training my puppy. I love the program DTE offered me and get so many compliments on how well mannered my puppy is. My neighbors have been very complimentary on my puppys progress too!!! Program well put together with concise directions from my trainer. If i have questions in between sessions I can reach out to my trainer which has been wonderful. They worked with me in personalizing sessions as needed to address any concerns or problems I had in training my puppy. Group classes review and reinforce what has been learned in individual sessions. A great help. Elijah is truly a dog whisperer!!!!
  • Thomas Korecki
    Apr. 25, 2025
    The team at Dog Training Elite did an amazing job training my sweet little girl, Olive! And providing me with the knowledge and tools to tame her rambunctious nature and calm her anxieties. A worthwhile investment in creating a happier and healthier dog!
  • Makaela Hudson
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Josh has been amazing. Have seen so much progress even with only a few sessions.
  • Chris Sargent
    Apr. 22, 2025
    My pup was very stubborn and had terrible recall. This dog training has made her one of the easiest pups to walk and call back. Worth every penny.
  • Brenda C Gordon
    Apr. 21, 2025
    My dog is a Cane Corso so proper training was a priority. I researched the available options before deciding to train with Dog Training Elite. I asked them lots of questions and let them know my expectations. The preliminary interview with the company owner, Doug, and our family (including our dog) satisfied my expectations. The first training session was great. Our trainer was Josh. We had the best first session learning how consistent and clear commands make for quick understanding. Our dog responded to Josh better than I anticipated.
  • Sarah Randall
    Apr. 18, 2025
    We had a great experience with Dog Training Elite and highly recommend them. Elijah was easy to work with, professional, knowledgeable and made training fun.
  • Devon Sundberg
    Apr. 16, 2025
    I adopted a large dog for the first time. I knew I needed training from the get go to ensure she would follow instructions and not jump on people. Dog Training Elite was responsive. The owner was at my house in a couple of days, a few days later we had our first puppy training session in home with Elijah. He was knowledgable and never judgmental about what we accomplished or didn’t. Our dog, Olive, started training on site. She loved it and couldn’t wait to get back everyday. Now she weighs about 50lbs. She heels, sits, stays in place and comes reliably. I am still able to reach out to the staff at DTE for guidance on issues and attend their Saturday sessions. It continues to be a very good investment.
  • Elizabeth Todd
    Apr. 14, 2025
    Our Bernedoodle was much more to handle than the yellow labs we had in the past. Dog Training Elite was a godsend. Very professional. They gave us all the tools to work with our dog. Elijah, our trainer, did a great job demonstrating and explaining. Very knowledgeable. Our in-home puppy and then obedience classes followed a strong logical progression that was easy to follow and practice. It was well worth the cost. I’m looking forward to attending some group classes.
  • Melissa Hicks
    Apr. 12, 2025
    We have had the best experience with Elijah and dog training elite! They are kind, respectful, flexible and absolute experts! Scheduling is always hard for us with 2 active kiddos! They were awesome in making sure we could get everything done timely! I would absolutely use them again
  • Anne Weinblatt
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Thanks to our work with Josh, Apollo has become a great companion puppy to me. I tried two other training programs and did not have success with them. Dog Training Elite has made a big difference for both of us. I highly recommend them.
  • Jean Fox
    Apr. 9, 2025
    We can’t thank Doug, Josh and all the trainers at DTE enough for the incredible work they do with our new family member, Remy. She struggles with reactive and aggressive behaviors, but their calm, patient approach and deep understanding of dog behavior has made all the difference. They gave us practical, easy to follow training techniques that have helped her make incredible progress. Especially grateful for the coaching and encouragement we receive as her handlers. We couldn’t be happier with the team’s expertise, kindness and dedication - it was made all the difference. Highly recommended the DTE Team!
  • Sarah Clark
    Mar. 12, 2025
    I could not have asked for a better training experience. Tater was more than excited to attend the two week training every day and the trainers did an excellent job of working with him. He left the two weeks well behaved and trained to the commands the team worked on with him and is continuing to do extremely well at home. Couldn't recommend more!
  • Regan Esch
    Feb. 16, 2025
    Very happy with the progress my two pups have made. In the two week day camp training DTE taught my 7 and 5 year old doodles to heal and walk nicely on a regular leash! Much better manners and impulse control. All of the trainers have been very friendly and knowledgeable. Love the ongoing support with In home sessions and group classes. Wish we trained with you years ago! Highly recommend.
  • Courtney Colby
    Feb. 16, 2025
    I'm so grateful for Dog Training Elite! I completed the Platinum Obedience training program with my Golden Retriever George and have only great things to say about DTE and the team. George is a high energy, playful, loving, and very smart 2 year old. We had been through a training program when he was a few months old that was less involved with the owner. One of my favorite parts about training with DTE is how rewarding it has been for me to be apart of the training with George. It has strengthened the trust in our relationship so much, I've learned so much more about him through the process, and I feel so well equipped to continue to work with him and be a leader for him as he continues to grow. This team is so dedicated to the continued growth and education for you and your dog and it shows. George and I always look forward to our Saturday Group Class and our Therapy Dog in Training courses where we sharpen his focus, fine tune his skills, strengthen his confidence, and learn new activities we can practice at home. Thank you so much DTE! George & Courtney
  • Brittany Pierson
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We highly recommend DTE to anyone interested in training! They came to us and worked with our schedule. Our husky, Odin, is stubborn and very energetic. DTE not only taught him commands but also gave us a better way of challenging him mentally (which really helps with his energy levels). Odin always loved seeing his trainer Elijah Turner. Elijah was great with Odin but also explained every aspect of the training techniques to us which made a world of difference. The package we purchased also had unlimited group classes and those are great for keeping everything fresh.
  • Denise Rider
    Feb. 15, 2025
    We are working with Dog Training Elite to train our daughter's diabetes alert dog. They are amazing to work with and so extremely helpful and full of great information. At 8 months old our puppy already knows how to alert for low blood sugar and sit, place, heel etc. Never knew a dog could learn so much so quickly! They make the process fun and easy for both handler and dog. Would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to train a pet to those looking to train a service dog!