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Crate Training

Puppy Crate Training in Nashville, TN

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training in Nashville, TN from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training in Nashville, TN

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 Nashville, TN 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 Central Nashville

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 Nashville, TN 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 Central Nashville, 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

  • Tessa Tuttle
    Sep. 24, 2025
    I would 100% recommend these guys to help with your pup needs. They are so awesome, so very grateful for there help. Steve my dog, and I are so happy.
  • Taya Fillmore
    Sep. 24, 2025
    I am so grateful that I decided to do Dog Training with Dog Training Elite. My standard poodle used to pull on the leash all the time and jump on guests. Now he is the most distinguished gentleman, I am so happy with his progress and training!
  • Brooklyn Borgquist
    Sep. 1, 2025
    thank you so much to Parker at Dog Training Elite for helping me with my rambunctious Labradoodle. He used to bark at every thing outside our door. It felt like we couldn’t even have dinner and talk to each other without hearing Myers bark. Now he can lay down on his place and relax while we eat dinner. I’m so grateful that we decided to invest in dog training!
  • Sadie Eyre
    Aug. 27, 2025
    Thank you so much to Parker at dog training, elite for saving our sanity when it came to our dog. I was at my wits end with my dog, jumping all over everybody and pulling on the leash. Now she is so polite and walks like an angel. I loved my private in-home sessions with the trainers. Everybody was so amazing! Thank you, Dog Training Elite!
  • McKay Peery
    Aug. 27, 2025
    I am so grateful that I called Dog Training Elite! My dog was jumping on every guest that walked in the door and counter surfing. She would get sick and I would take her to the vet from what she would eat. Now she respects the boundaries of our guests that come over and no longer counter surfs. Thank you so much to Parker at dog training late for your expertise and help. I would recommend dog turning elite to everyone!!
  • Mark Hodge
    Aug. 26, 2025
    Thank you Montana and Parker for your patient endurance while training our very stubborn French Bulldog. Our dog Gideon has aggressive tendencies and Elite trainers has given us the tools needed to work toward a more obedient/well behaved pup. Still work to do, but making progress!
  • julie warren
    Aug. 18, 2025
    My insecure golden retriever lacked confidence and social skills! Elite did a great job of not only building his confidence, but helping me understand him.
  • Simon Tv
    Aug. 14, 2025
    I am so pleased with DTE!!! We currently have a 1 year old golden retriever at 78 pounds. Callahan! Named after “Dirty Harry Inspector Callahan” Clint Eastwood… We had senior pups a Beagle and Bassett Hound before they recently passed. With Callahan we have gone from seniors at 20 mph to Callahan at 100 mph (!) Callahan’s breeder recommended dog training. I have never done dog training. Googling, I saw DTE had great reviews. We started with 1 on 1’s at our house. Then group training! Some shout outs to the fabulous trainers at group : Montana, Liam and Andi. All professional and know what they are doing with dogs. I’m probably forgetting someone? But all excellent. But I’m not forgetting PARKER! I swear this man must have been raised with wolves and dogs. He’s part of the pack and instinctively knows how to handle dogs. I had issues with Callahan heeling and running after everything on our walks. Squirrels, runners, cyclists, etc. Parker has helped me control Callahan. We have the proper collar. Parker taught me collar adjustment, collar location on dog’s neck and leash snap. I learned change direction when I see distraction. Like a bunny. Parker also had me practice on him as if he were the dog, feeling the dog pull and learning when I needed to snap. At first I was late lots with my snap but eventually I got the hang of it. Highly recommend DTE. Worth the investment in training a dog. They are responsive and flexible to meet you and your dog’s needs. And request Parker if you really need lots of help! Catherine and Callahan
  • Alexis Pantorilla
    Aug. 11, 2025
    Dog training elite has been a GAME CHANGER!!! Cannot recommend them enough. My dog got attacked and has never been the same. Within the first two sessions she was already a completely different dog. I’ve been recommending them to everyone I see- every time I leave my house people comment saying that my dog is so well behaved. Sooo so so well worth it over and over again. If you’re thinking about doing it- DO IT!
  • Mark Esposito
    Aug. 9, 2025
    I am so glad that I put my dog Winnie in training with Dog Training Elite. We had found her as a stray on the side of the road in Nashville and she needed training to be able to adjust to living in our house. She now is amazing with respecting all of our house guests that come over and grown so much in confidence. Thank you to Parker at Dog Training Elite in Nashville for all of your help!
  • audrey esposito
    Aug. 9, 2025
    Rizzo is my sweet rescue dog that constantly barked at everything! On walks he was very reactive towards other dogs. He wasn’t a bad dog but just really annoying! He now stops barking when I tell him to, and I can walk past other dogs with no barking or reactivity. If you are looking for dog training in Nashville give them a call! They changed my life! And Rizzo loves the trainers!:)
  • Helen K
    Aug. 9, 2025
    Trainers were great! My dog has become calmer, walks better on a leash and recalls commands quicker.
  • Mac Mullen
    Aug. 2, 2025
    I’m astonished at how much my dog has retained in the duration of this course. Parker, Kenna and Montana were FANTASTIC trainers for my boy. He is disciplined and loves to train- I can only thank the team for making it so fun. He is great with other dogs, very patient and obedient, which is hard to train into his breed. I’m very happy we went with Dog Training Elite Central Nashville, 5 stars.
  • Jessica Riley
    Jul. 22, 2025
    Montana is a true dog lover and was amazing with our (very stubborn) dog. She was patient, supportive, and really helped us understand how to work with Koa instead of against him. Training felt less stressful and way more doable with her guidance. We only wish we had found Montana and her team earlier.
  • Kade Carter
    Jul. 11, 2025
    I was out in Nashville for the summer and got an emotional support dog to help me out with my stressful job. Before I found Parker and Dog Training Elite, Russel was a bit to rambunctious he was always barking and some neighbors were upset. I am super happy with their training program and Russel is now a huge blessing to me. THANKS GUYS
  • Jessica Lucyshyn
    Jun. 30, 2025
    We are very pleased with the training! Our dog has learned so much in a short time!
  • Jess and Marty Dulworth
    Jun. 25, 2025
    Parker was amazing at helping out our big guy Earl here in Nashville! Earl was too rough around kids sometimes and he wasn’t able to play with our family. He totally changed and is very gentle and loving!
  • Frank Stone
    Jun. 18, 2025
    Zoe was pretty barky and seemed scary coming out to neighbors. She is now really friendly and very loving around new people. Super happy with Parker and all the work they did at Dog Training Elite. Highly recommend, definitely worth the cost.
  • Connor Harman
    Jun. 17, 2025
    Training has been great! The staff is awesome, making the process easy. Excited to finish the training and start the service dog portion. Highly recommend dog training elite
  • Nolan Rhem
    Jun. 16, 2025
    Our dog, Teddy, is 9 years old. Although not really aggressive, he would get highly anxious when strangers came over (even if they were friends) and bark nonstop. It was hard to have guests in our home. We were concerned that he was too old to be trained not to behave this way. Montana was able to teach Teddy a handful of basic commands within a few weeks. When ordered to behave with these commands, we noticed Teddy quickly become much less anxious with practically no barking at all around guests. Montana did a great job with Teddy and I highly recommend Dog Training Elite.