The process for crate training an older dog is simple and straightforward. As a general guide, there are a few basic steps you need to follow:

1. Set up the crate. First things first, you need to make the crate a place that’s comfortable and inviting for your dog. Choose a crate that’s a suitable size for your dog, and fill it with comfy bedding and toys to encourage your pooch to check it out.

2. Introduce your dog to the crate. If you expect your dog to feel comfortable sleeping in a crate immediately, you’re destined to fail. Instead, you need to gradually introduce your pooch to the crate over a period of up to 1 week. Put it in a high-traffic area of your home, leave the door open so your dog can access it at any time, and let them explore this new piece of equipment at their own pace.

3. Build a positive association. The next step when crate training an older dog is to encourage them to see the crate as a great place to be. To do that, you can start by feeding them their meals in the crate. This may be a gradual process if your pooch is fearful of stepping into the crate, so take baby steps. Start by feeding them with the crate door open, then move up to feeding them with the door closed (remembering to let them out once they finish). You can also use some of your pet’s favorite treats to entice them into the crate.

4. Increase crate time. Now you can start increasing the amount of time your senior dog spends in the crate. The key is once again to take it slowly, starting with a period of 1 minute before building up to 5 minutes and then longer stays. Introducing a training command (such as “crate”) at this stage will also help. Give treats and praise to reward your pet for doing the right thing, and gradually build up to time blocks of 30 minutes.

5. Crating while home alone. Once your dog is completely comfortable being in their crate while you’re at home, the next step is getting them used to being in the crate while they’re home alone. Get your dog in the crate and settled at least 10 minutes before you depart, and don’t make a big deal about the fact that you’re leaving (doing the opposite can heighten separation anxiety). Start with short trips away from home, leaving your dog in the crate for a maximum of 1 hour, before trying anything longer.

6. Repeat. It may take your dog a while to break a lifetime’s worth of habits and start forming new ones. Keep your training consistent and stay patient as your dog learns exactly what you want them to do.

You’ll find detailed instructions in our guide to training your older dog to sleep in a crate. And for more information and tips on training senior pooches, check out our guide on how to obedience train an older dog.