I wrote a different article about Crate Training Puppies and Dogs last week. Take a look at it before you read this one, if you haven’t done so already.
Many dogs can be crate trained faster by using targeting. With targeting, you first teach the dog to touch a target and then eventually put that target into the crate. Then you can put “getting into the crate” on cue.
First, teach your dog or puppy to touch a target stick. Info on how to teach targeting is in our clicker training article.
Now that the dog or puppy will touch the target stick, you’ll start to get her closer and closer to the crate. Have the crate out and open. Work at a distance that the dog notices the crate, but isn’t fleeing the scene.
For the steps below, every time you cue “touch,” and the dog does, click and treat. If they don’t, put the target behind your back and put it back out again, saying “touch.” After a few times, if the dog still isn’t touching, the crate is probably to blame. Cut back on the difficulty by changing the location of the target.
- Have the dog turn toward the crate to touch the target – just put the target between the dog and the crate (just a few inches) and tell the dog to “touch.”
- Present the target a step away from the dog, still between the dog and the crate entrance.
- Two steps…
- Three steps… Continue this until the dog begins to enter the crate.
- Put the target further and further into the crate (you may have to put it through the side of the crate.)
- Eventually, the target is at the far back of the crate, so the dog has to enter all the way in.
Once the dog is regularly going all the way into the crate to touch the target, start to say “Kennel,” a second before you cue the touch. Gradually fade the target, making it more and more invisible. If it’s a stick target, start to telescope it shorter or “choke up” on it. If it’s a paper target, cut it smaller and smaller. If you ever say “Kennel” and the dog goes in before you can say touch, skip the “Touch” cue and just click and treat.
Work up to shutting the door longer and longer, as in the other crate training article.
