The crate should be a space for your dog to be calm and relaxed. Here's a few tips to help reinforce the calm behavior.

• Give your dog a crate command (ex. "crate" or "kennel") for them to enter the crate.
• The dog is not allowed to be pushy, demanding, or barge out when they come out of the crate. They need to be calm and wait until you give their release command ("okay", "break", "release" etc.).
• Reward your dog for being calm and quiet while the crate door is closed.
• Correct any excessive behaviors such as whining, barking, digging, chewing, or trying to escape out of the crate.

Troubleshooting

Crate Training can be a challenge for some dogs. Here are a few tips to help with common behaviors owners struggle with:

Excessive Whining or Barking

• Try covering the crate with a thin blanket. This prevents them from being able to see what's going on and causes most dogs to settle in quickly.
• Try interrupting the behavior with a loud noise such as a can with coins inside or Pet Corrector spray. This is very effective if you have a noise-sensitive dog.
• Implement the "quiet" command. After each correction tell your dog "quiet".

Anxiety in the crate

• Feed your dog their meals inside the crate to create a positive association.
• Offer special treats or toys that your dog will only have in the crate.