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Crate Training

Dog Training Elite

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A young dog receiving puppy crate training from DTE.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Crate Training

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 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

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 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, 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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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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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Elizabeth Souba
    Oct. 24, 2026
    Great staff and easy to work with to coordinate trainings and testing for my Monty to get his pet therapy certification.
  • Charlotte Webb
    Oct. 24, 2026
    We’ve had such a great experience with Dog Training Elite and our trainer, Beth! About a year ago, we tried working with another trainer, chose strictly because of the cheaper price, but we felt like we didn’t get anything out of the experience. This time, we knew we wanted to invest in our dog’s training and find the right support for her needs, and we’re so glad we did! We’ve completed our first five in-home training sessions with our 2-year-old blue heeler, and the progress she’s made has been amazing. We originally started training to help with her anxiety, and Beth has been helping us build her confidence by going back to the foundations and strengthening her obedience skills. Beth is incredibly communicative, always checks in to see if we have questions, and provides written instructions so we know exactly what to practice at home between sessions. We really appreciate how much guidance and support she gives us throughout the process. We’re excited to continue with our public training sessions and group classes and see how much more progress our girl makes. Highly recommend Beth and Dog Training Elite!
  • Chris Rutter
    Oct. 24, 2026
    Great experience. They did a great job training my dog. Good communication and help to continue training once the original training is done. Provided videos on each lesson
  • Kim Moreno
    Oct. 23, 2026
    Our puppy, Skye, is in their service dog training program and loves it there! The trainers are very knowledgeable and always willing to explain things further if need be. They have been a joy to work together as a team to set Skye up for success to be a great service dog for my son! I highly recommend them!
  • Mark Peugh
    Sep. 9, 2026
    Very knowledgeable and friendly always a pleasure
  • Sarah G
    Oct. 23, 2026
    What a fantastic experience for our dog. This training truly changed out dog and because of that, really improved so much about our life. Walks were so difficult - so much pulling, jumping on people and other dogs; we started getting a bad name in the neighborhood. Dog Training Elite helped us so that now walks are so much more enjoyable and fun. We are so grateful!
  • Reginald Huff
    Aug. 22, 2026
    Very professional and was able to answer all of our questions
  • Tia Moore (Velinda)
    Oct. 23, 2026
    DTE has worked with me on training my PTSD Service Dog. Kyle is a fantastic trainer and understands my boy Jake, helping Jake understand the expectations and how to meet them. An important part of training is teaching me those same skills so Jake understands my needs and expectations.
  • K Crosley
    Apr. 28, 2025
    Good night at therapy dog class at the airport! Having been there before I knew what to do with Elijah playing support role. He did help me work with Oakley on exiting elevators which was greatly appreciated!!!
  • pilar herrera
    Oct. 22, 2026
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We cannot say enough amazing things about Dog Training Elite Hill Country! They did an absolutely incredible job with our Bernedoodle, Nala Gene! 🐶❤️ We are beyond happy with the results and so grateful for the time, patience, and dedication Gray and Garrison put into training her. It’s clear that they truly care about the dogs they work with and want to see them succeed. We have seen such a positive difference in Nala Gene, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. If you’re looking for a team that genuinely cares, provides excellent training, and delivers amazing results, we HIGHLY recommend Dog Training Elite Hill Country! Thank you for everything you’ve done for our sweet Nala Gene🐾💕
  • gkck657
    Aug. 27, 2026
    The company is outstanding and takes the time to ensure that you and your dog are in sync with each other. Rhett is a great trainer. Highly recommended this company here in Knoxville.
  • Daniel Decker
    Oct. 22, 2026
    Michael was great!! My fiancé and I are very satisfied with the progress that are dog showed. Worth every penny
  • klshepp ard
    Oct. 22, 2026
    Parker has a true tale t for working with dogs. He came for a consultation and showed me a demonstration with his dog Nash who was amazing and so cute. Then he worked with my dog Mabel for just a few minutes and she was following his commands. Great!
  • Lauren Ujobai
    Oct. 22, 2026
    I am so grateful that I found Taylor 6 months before I adopted my 6 month old Belgian Shepard, Arlo. After I completed some positive reinforcement training, I realized I would need an alternative training method due to his high prey drive. Taylor is beyond knowledgeable about dog body language and behavior, and he will give you all the “tools” necessary to train your dog alongside him. If you are frustrated with your dog’s behavior and have altered your home/daily routine due to it, reaching out to Taylor will be the best choice you ever make. As a first time dog owner of a notoriously difficult breed, I worried that I would have a dog that matured beyond my control. The minute I entered the elite dog training program and completed our first in home training session, all of that worry dissipated. Although we are still completing the group training sessions, at 11 months Arlo is able to walk off leash on trails, is able to control himself around animals like deer and squirrels, and is able to walk past people and dogs without reacting. Training with Taylor has given Arlo and I the gift of freedom, and a much more fulfilling life together.
  • MONICA Hudson MCCARTHY
    Oct. 22, 2026
    So far so great. Our dog seemed to like her first lesson with Justin. He gained her confidence slowly which I liked. We are looking forward to a calmer lifestyle now. Thank you Justin!
  • Maria Guarnieri
    Oct. 21, 2026
    We participated in both the in home and group training, and found the team to be exceptionally skilled at working with our dogs. Over the course of their training (and ours) we have seen tremendous growth and discipline. The trainers are amazing and our dogs love them, and so do we. Highly recommend.
  • G Lam
    Jul. 21, 2025
    We did the training camp and are now starting the group lessons. The arrangements are not cheap, but the instructors are very helpful and always willing to listen. McCall helped us with additional requests for other commands, especially drop it. We're comfortable with the investment because for the price, we're buying a lifetime of support. ADDENDUM: Meggie came to our house today and did our first in house visit today. She was fantastic - very calm, unrestrained, and our dog took to her quickly. We really alleviated the home visit and will need to work on the homework to ensure things stick.
  • Beth Collier
    Oct. 21, 2026
    Highly recommend Matt, Alaina, Becky and Alex. What a great team. We completed puppy training and then Therapy Dog training. I also have to give credit to Alicia for keeping everything and everyone organized. What a great and truly caring dog loving team.
  • Jennifer Price
    Oct. 21, 2026
    Alex Price impressed me very much, breaking thru to my German Shepherd “puppy,” when other trainers were not successful. I have a very very big, very smart, very stubborn 6 mo old German Shepherd, acquired as rescue of sorts. He will outweigh me before full grown - so i totally need him well trained. Alex dedicated the time and patience and his dog whisperer nature to gain the trust and respect of my fur baby. He also trained me very well and left me detailed instructions for homework. Very happy customer and would recommend Alex Price to anyone.
  • Frank Flores
    Oct. 21, 2026
    Michael Kwan is an exceptional trainer, and we couldn’t be happier to have him as our training partner at Dog Training Elite Austin. He is incredibly knowledgeable, polite, and patient, not just with our pup, Maxx, but with me as well. Maxx has grown leaps and bounds under his guidance. Seeing how well he responds to Michael’s methods has us seriously considering taking his training all the way to service dog level. If you’re looking for high-caliber, structured training, I can’t recommend Michael and Dog Training Elite Austin enough!