What to Consider When Crate Training Your English Cream Golden Retriever Puppy

Crate training is a process of teaching your English Cream Golden Retriever puppy to feel comfortable and safe in a crate. It usually takes a few days or weeks of gradual introduction and positive reinforcement to crate-train your dog successfully.

There are many benefits to crate-training your dog. Crates provide a safe and secure space for your dog to stay while you are away from home. They can also be used to help manage your puppy’s behavior, such as keeping them from getting into the trash or on the couch.

Crate training is not right for every dog, so it’s important to consider whether or not it is a good fit for your dog before starting the process. For example, dogs with severe separation anxiety or rescued dogs that have been abused in the past with crates are not likely to appreciate their crates. If you decide to crate train your dog, you should keep a few things in mind to make the process go smoothly.

In today’s article, let’s explore what you should know about crate training English Cream Golden Retrievers. Here’s what you need to know:

The Process

1. Choose the Right Size Crate

Your dog should be able to stand up and turn around comfortably in the crate. If you have a puppy, you can get a crate that will grow with them by getting a larger size and adding a divider to make the space smaller.

You can make the crate homier by adding a crate mat or bedding, along with some of your puppy’s favorite toys. Keep in mind that younger dogs have higher energy and if they have not yet been trained not to destroy things, anything that goes in the crate is at the mercy of their playful needs!

2. Put the Crate in a Quiet, Safe Place

You want your dog to feel like the crate is a safe place to be. Choose a spot in your home where there is not much foot traffic, and your dog can feel relaxed. The crate will become your dog’s space that they can call their own. Like humans, sometimes dogs need a little space or some peace and quiet on their own!

When they are truly comfortable with their crate, it is not uncommon to find them going in there of their own accord because it’s a place that they feel is truly theirs. For this reason, it’s also important to not invade your dog’s crate. That’s their space, and barring any emergencies, it should stay theirs.

3. Introduce Your Dog to the Crate Gradually

Start by putting their food or a favorite toy in the crate and letting them explore it on their own. Once they seem comfortable, you can try closing the door for a short period of time while you are still in the room. Increase the time the door is closed as your dog gets more comfortable.

4. Never Use the Crate as a Punishment

Your dog should always associate the crate with positive things. If they have an accident in the house, do not put them in the crate as a punishment. This will only make them fear the crate and make crate training more difficult.

You can encourage your dog to enter the crate through positive words of praise or through training treats. With time and consistency, your English Cream Golden Retriever puppy will learn to appreciate their crate and many will use it as a time for a nice little nap, especially after a long walk!

5. Be Consistent

Once you start crate training, it is important to be consistent. If you only use the crate sometimes, your dog will never learn to stay in there on their own. If you intend to use the crate as a place for your puppy to sleep through the night, then expect for the first few nights to be challenging. Your puppy may whimper, whine, bark, or yelp – this is just because they miss you, not because they are in pain!

It’s important to stick to the training. Praise your puppy for a night well spent in the crate and make sure they enjoy their time during the day with you with play time, walks, training, and building that bond between you two.