How Do You Successfully Crate Train Your Goldendoodle?

To crate train your Goldendoodle, focus on creating a positive association with the crate, using patience, and maintaining a consistent routine. A properly crate-trained Goldendoodle will find housetraining easier, is less likely to engage in destructive behavior, and gains a safe, comfortable space to call their own.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of crate training your Goldendoodle. We’ll discuss how to choose the right crate, introduce it gradually, and offer tips for overcoming common challenges. By following these steps, you’ll help your Goldendoodle learn to love their crate and set them up for success.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

What is crate training and why is it important for Goldendoodles?

Crate training is the process of acclimating your Goldendoodle to spending time comfortably in a crate. It provides numerous benefits, including promoting better potty training, offering a safe haven for relaxation, and simplifying travel with your furry companion.

Crate training has loads of benefits for pet parents. 

Peace & Quiet

Dogs are den animals & they absolutely love small, cozy spaces. A crate should become your pup’s favorite safe place to go when the outside world becomes way too overstimulating. So, the kennel will quickly become a tool in your pup’s arsenal to self-regulate his behavior if he is overwhelmed.

Traveling

A crate-trained pooch is an absolute must for frequent flyers. Your dog must be crated on trains, planes, and buses, which really helps if he is crated in the car. This keeps your pup and other passengers safe. 

Protect Your Pup

When I was renovating my kitchen, my dog was completely intrigued by the noises of the construction. Every time the jackhammer would start up, he would run toward the kitchen to investigate. So, I had to speed up my crate training process to safely crate my pooch in my room for a couple of hours a day.

Crating your pup also keeps him safe from household supplies that can seriously harm him, including rat bait, mouse bait, fabric softener sheets, antifreeze, or insecticides.

Protect Your Home

Sometimes, even the most well-behaved pup tends to behave a little naughty. This could manifest in destructive behaviors like ripping up cushions, peeing in random corners of the house, and getting into the trash. To prevent this, teaching your dog to enter his crate all by himself is good. 

Potty Training

Since dogs are den animals, they are naturally predisposed to keeping their toilet area separate from their sleeping area. So, if they are confined to a crate with a potty pad & a bed in it, they are more likely to relieve themselves on the potty patch than on the bed. This will foster the habit of peeing on the pad, which is invaluable for further potty training.

Recovery

If your dog ever needs to recover from an illness or surgery, he will need to stay in his crate for long periods so that he doesn’t harm himself.

Is It Easy to Crate-Train a Goldendoodle?

Yes! Like other designer breeds, Goldendoodles are easy to train due to their parent’s attributes.

Thanks to their Poodle genes, Goldendoodle puppies are extremely intelligent. Thanks to their Golden Retriever genes, they are also very eager to please. This winning combination makes most types of training a breeze!

With consistency, hard work, and dedication, you will definitely be able to crate-train your Goldendoodle pooch.

What Are the Steps to Crate Train My Goldendoodle?

So, how exactly do you start crate training? Or how do you train a Goldendoodle to sleep in a crate? We’ve compiled a couple of crate training steps to simplify the whole process.

Buy the Right Crate

The first & most crucial step is to prepare the crate to make it as inviting as possible for your puppy. Start by selecting the best crate for your Doodle puppy.

The kennel must be large enough for your pooch to turn around & fully stretch out. The crate should have enough ventilation holes if you live in a warm, humid climate. Buying a metal crate with lots of visibility is a good option for a first-time crate, so your pup doesn’t feel isolated.

Decorate the Crate

Now, you can add a few elements to make the kennel more comforting & inviting. Begin by adding a couple of blankets & cuddly toys.

If you have a younger Goldendoodle who’s just left his old home, you can consider adding a litter blanket with the familiar scents of his mother & littermates. This will keep your pup more comfortable with entering the crate.

Keep the Doors Open

The first real step of the learning process is to keep the doors open & slowly encourage your pooch to enter the kennel. Keep the doors of the kennel completely open & toss in a couple of high-value treats, like freeze-dried liver or boiled chicken breast.

Keep the crate near you in an area with a lot of foot traffic. Let your dog investigate the crate of his own volition. Do not close the door yet, even if your pup enters.

Use Cues

Now that your dog is used to entering the crate, you need to start associating the action of entering the kennel with a verbal command. Keep throwing treats into the crate, and each time your dog enters, say a command like “Good Night,” “Crate Time,” or “Bedtime.”

Your Doodle will subconsciously begin to understand that the command means to enter the crate.

Reinforce the Commands

At this point, the most important thing is to reinforce the verbal commands you have laid the foundation for. Keep using those commands & encouraging your pup to enter the crate. When he does, give him tons of treats and verbal praise.

Close the Door

At this point, you are ready to start closing the kennel door. Once your Goldendoodle is able to enter the kennel once you say the command, you will begin to close the door after him.

If he starts to whine for longer than a minute, you should let him out & restart the training process in 10-15 minutes. After a few weeks of training, you will find that crate training your Goldendoodle puppy at night is a breeze!

What Is a Good Crate Training Schedule for a Goldendoodle?

A good crate training schedule for a Goldendoodle typically takes around six weeks, focusing on gradual introduction, positive association, and increasing the duration of crate time. While there’s no right or wrong timetable, it’s important not to rush the process & make sure you spend enough time on each stage.

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide that ensures your Doodle has enough time to assimilate to the kennel life slowly.

What Are Some Essential Tips for Crate Training a Goldendoodle?

• Give him lots of physical exercises: A tired pup won’t be bouncing off the walls inside the crate. Give him tons of exercise before your crate training session to mellow him down & make him more responsive to training.
• Give your Goldendoodle ample potty breaks: Ensure your hound’s bladder is fully drained to make him as comfortable as possible. Take him out for a bathroom break at least 30 minutes before you begin training.
• Stay around the crate: To make sure your pup doesn’t suffer from a serious case of FOMO, make sure that you stay near the crate at all times so that he can see you.
• Start with naps: If you’re feeling intimidated about sending your pup to the kennel for bed, you can start by closing the door behind him for some of his midday naps. Since it’s shorter, your Doodle is more likely to stay in the crate for the whole time.

Wrapping Up

Crate training your Goldendoodle is one of the best things you can do for both yourself and your furry friend. With patience, consistency, and the steps outlined in this article, you’ll help your Goldendoodle see their crate as a safe and happy place. Not only will it make potty training a breeze, but it will provide them with their own cozy den to relax in and keep them safe when you can’t supervise.

Ready to transform your Goldendoodle’s behavior? Download our free crate training checklist for a step-by-step guide and bonus tips! Start today and see the difference a crate can make in your life.