March 26th, 2025

The Value of Crate Training

I think I’ve heard it all: "My dog is scared." "My dog used to go in it, but then we got rid of it." And so on. It’s always something.

But has anyone considered the downsides of not crate training their dog? Or the benefits of having a dog who willingly goes into a crate because it feels like home—safe and comfortable?

Emma in her crate at home February 27th, 2025

The real problem arises when your dog has to be crated—at the vet for medical procedures, during emergencies, or due to boarding restrictions. For example, I don’t typically board dogs that cannot be crated without experiencing extreme distress or anxiety.

Think about medical situations. Maybe you plan to spay or neuter your dog. You drop them off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon... do you think they’re playing in a daycare? No. They’re in a crate—a metal box—waiting for their procedure. Veterinarians do everything they can to keep pets comfortable, but their job is to provide medical care, not to train your dog to relax in confinement.

So my question is this: do you want your dog to be petrified when you leave them at the vet for a procedure? Or worse—what if they’re in an accident and you have no choice but to leave them overnight? Do you want them terrified, injured, and screaming in panic? No. You want to give them as much peace as possible.

That’s why I crate train. For the sh*t moments. So my dogs don’t have to suffer more than necessary.

Happy CRATE training!

—Addi and the girls