When Should You Stop Crate Training a Dog?

By Lizz Shepherd

Instructions

Successful Training

Step 1:
Some dogs will always need to be confined to a crate to remind them to hold it when their owners are away or asleep. Others can be taken out of training once they show reliable behavior. Pay attention to how well your dog controls himself if you are considering ending crate training. If your dog still has accidents regularly, continue the training.

Puppies versus Adult Dogs

Step 1:
Most puppies will not be ready to end crate training before they reach adulthood. This time varies for each breed. A Labrador reaches adulthood at about three to five years of age. A chihuahua reaches adulthood after about eight months to a year. Once your dog is an adult and well house-trained, end the crate training. If your dog begins to have accidents again, start back with the training to reinforce the idea of holding it until the proper time.

Crating Less Often

Step 1:
Instead of stopping the crate training all at once, some dogs will benefit from being crate trained every other day or only on weekends to keep him reminded how to control himself for long periods. The number of times that the crate is used each week can be gradually reduced until the dog no longer needs the crate as a reminder.

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