Crate Training an Older Dog

The purpose and rules of crate training an older dog are the same as those for a younger dog, with a few slight variations.

Is your adult Golden Retriever already reliably housebroken? Probably, if you've owned him since he was a puppy. Then why should you bother with a crate at all?

When you visit someone's home who is allergic to dogs, you can be considerate and keep your Golden's lovely coat from circulating throughout your host's house.

Having a place where your Golden Retriever can see and hear you, but not be underfoot to spread his fur around, will reduce stress for everyone involved.

Crate training an older dog is also a great way to make sure you can bring your buddy with you when you travel.

Your Golden Retriever may be the absolutely best behaved dog in the world, but some hotels and motels require dogs to be in a crate anyway.

It's possible that previous guests didn't take their doggie responsibilities seriously, and allowed their four-legged companions to chew or soil the room. As usual, that spoils it for the rest of us responsible pet owners.

All you can do is bring along your dog's "room with a view" and put it where he can keep an eye on his people and everything going on. If you've gotten him used to his crate at home, he'll be happy to sleep in it when you're on the road.

Speaking of traveling, keeping your Golden Retriever in a crate while you’re driving is much safer for both of you than letting him roam around the car or van.

Crate Training Techniques

Now put a favorite toy and a favorite treat in the crate. If your dog just reaches in for the treat, praise him, try it once more and quit for the day.

Your dog may go right on into the crate and go to sleep, which would be easy and wonderful. After all, his pillow is in there.

But what if he doesn't go in on his own?

Then you can begin to feed your dog in his open crate.

Place his food dish at the back of the crate, tell him "Okay" and walk away.

If he wants to eat, he knows where his food is. Don't close the door yet.

After he's used to eating and sleeping in his crate with the door open, just close the door when you all turn in for the night. And open the door when you wake up in the morning.

Ta da! That's the absolutely easiest method for crate training a dog of any age.

What if you just bought an older dog that's never been crated? Since he's a new member of your family, you'll need to take it more slowly. He doesn't yet know anything about a crate or his new home.

The main purpose of crate training an older dog who is new to your home is to help you make sure he's housetrained before letting him have the run of the place. Since he has better bladder and bowel control than a puppy, the process won't take as long.

Just follow the same steps as you would for crate training a puppy, and he'll graduate with flying colors in no time.

Using a crate with a new dog will also give him a sense of security.

Everything's strange and a bit scary for your new family member.

Though Goldens tend to adapt quickly to new situations, a crate can provide an oasis of security in this desert of unfamiliarity.

As soon as he realizes his crate is a place where he can go anytime he wants to be alone, he'll settle right in and be happy to call it his own "Home Sweet Home."

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