Crate Training for Separation Anxiety: Not the quick fix you're looking for

As a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant specializing in separation anxiety, one of the questions I receive often from clients and potential clients is “do you recommend crate training for separation anxiety?” Other times, people come to me already having tried crate training and not found it the right strategy for them and they are looking for permission to stop using this tool that distresses both themselves and their dogs.

Great News: You don’t NEED to crate train

If you are struggling with crate training and feel that you need to continue to “power through” to avoid “failing” at the training you were assigned for your dog, I have good news: crate training is not a requirement for a happy life with your dog! While crate training can have its uses, especially for dogs who are frequently traveling or visiting the vet, it is not a necessity for absence training. In fact, I know many dogs for whom eliminating the crate is the first step in their journey to home alone success.

Crate Training: The opposite of a “quick fix”

While crate training is frequently recommended as a preventative or “cure” for separation anxiety, the truth is that many dogs experiencing separation-related behavior problems are also experiencing confinement anxiety! For dogs who are anxious about being left alone, crating them may prevent the destruction of your home or belongings, but it won’t protect your dog from the deep fear that they are feeling in your absence. “High impact” crates which promise to withstand all attempts to escape can lead to significant physical and psychological damage to the dogs trapped inside with their panic. As we say in separation anxiety training: if the crate didn’t break, the dog probably did!

For dogs who are anxious about isolation or about separation from one specific person, crating them isn’t going to fix the problem. In fact, many dogs become more anxious when crated, because they now feel trapped. While crate training can be an important management strategy for young puppies or newly adopted dogs who are comfortable in their crates, it’s generally not a part of my recommendations when you are starting absence training. Not only is it unhelpful for most dogs, but putting your time or energy into crate training can use up your limited training bandwidth on something that isn’t really essential! Let’s put your effort where it will make the most difference and practice the skill your dog really needs: learning to relax while home alone.

No, your dog’s crate is not a den.

Now, I know what you may be thinking. “Dogs are den animals, right? They like their crates!” While it’s true that many dogs enjoy tucking themselves into cozy nooks, it’s important to recognize that a “den” in the wild isn’t locking in its inhabitants! A crate that locks them in when they want to leave feels as much like a “safe den” to your dog as a prison cell would feel like home to you. When dogs lose the option to leave and are unable to escape without your assistance, it can get pretty scary to see you walking out the door!

Maximizing agency and giving choices can be a big factor in building stress resilience and reducing fear in dogs, and a locked door they can’t pass through goes against that goal. Training your dog to tolerate being crated for short periods of time can be a big help for travel, vet visits, and other contexts where confinement is necessary, but absence training generally proceeds more smoothly when we take the crate out of the equation.

Find what works for you and your dog

If you feel like you “failed” at crate training, give yourself a break! I speak with a lot of people who tried crate training and then decided it wasn’t for them or for their dog, and that’s okay! If crate training is a big priority for you and will help you and your dog live a more joyful life together, it’s a goal we can certainly tackle in our work together - but please don’t feel like you’ve somehow “messed up” as a dog guardian if your dog isn’t comfortable in a crate. There are lots of other ways to keep your dog, your home, and your sanity safe while navigating absence training.

If you’re ready to leave behind “one size fits all” advice and tackle your dog’s separation anxiety with a personalized training plan built just for you, please get in touch! I’d love to help you navigate through the jungle of misinformation and find your unique path to success.