6 crate training games to play with your dog

Last updated on July 18, 2018

If you’re looking for ways to help your dog love his crate, try playing crate games with him.

Crate games are a great way to teach your dog to voluntarily run in and out of the crate on command, and they are fun for both of you to play.

It is especially helpful to use crate games, as many dogs are not initially happy with confinement. By slowly going through these fun processes, your dog will learn to love his crate.

In this article, I’ve put together six great crate games to play with your dog.

But first…

Before you start

While wire crates are great for a growing puppy, it’s easier to train these games with a hard plastic one airplane crate or soft box.

Toss delicacies in a wire crate sometimes this results in them flying through the bars so if using a wire crate be careful how you throw them.

It’s a good idea to give your dog his meals in the crate, so he’s already starting to expect that going inside means something good is about to happen.

And make sure you have taken your dog to the potty before playing crate training games with him.

Crate Games Basic Guidelines

1. Save your workouts short and fun.
2. Use a release word like “Okay!” or “Edition” or “Freeto let your dog know that he is ready and can come outside. Make sure you put a little energy into saying it, and move to help him see that you want him to get out of the crate.
3. Always train when you are in a good mood. If you don’t feel happy, your dog will feel it and it will affect the training session.
4. A few short sessions a day is enough. Don’t turn it into a rut.
5. You should be playing every game for multiple days before moving on to the next – the concepts build on each other, and later games depend on the skills learned in the earlier games.
6. If your dog won’t go in, even for tasty treats, check out our article on crate training of an older dog for some ideas to get you started.

Here’s a video that discusses some considerations to help your dog enjoy the crate:

Now let’s play…

Game 1: The chest is cool

With the crate door open, scatter some treats outside the door and just inside the crate. Have him eat the treats and throw a few more all the way to the back of the chest. Does he go all the way in to get them? If so, you’re ready to move on to Game 2.

If he doesn’t go all the way in, play this game a few times a day until he warms up in his crate. Be careful not to close the door at this stage – you don’t want him to worry about getting stuck!

Once he happily goes in and out of his crate, it’s time to move on to the next game.

You may want to watch this video on the first steps to getting your dog to love his crate:

Game 2 – Stay a while

Now you want start making a hand signal to go on the bench. Practice waving your hand with your index finger while simultaneously tossing a treat with that hand.

It may feel uncomfortable at first, but with a little practice it will become natural. The move should look like you’re telling your dog to go where you point.

Once you’ve mastered the movement, stand next to the open crate door and throw a treat far into the crate with your hand movement. At this point, he should follow the treat – if not, go back to Game 1.

If he followed the treat into the box, throw another far inside for him. Keep throwing treats inside as he eats, until you see him waiting for another treat instead of trying to leave his crate.

Then add a “Okay!” word in a cheerful voice, encouraging him to come out. This will begin the process of teaching him to wait for you to let him out, rather than trying to jump out of the crate while you open the door.

Be happy and excited that he is doing well, and remember not to close the door during this game.

Game 3 – Just like I said

Now let’s add a command word to the process. Stand by the open chest, just like Game 2, but this time say a cue like “Kennel up!” or “Crate!” just before pointing and throwing the treat.

Make sure you say the word before moving so your pup can realize the word means you’re about to make the move he already understands, and will eventually go in with the word alone.

When he goes in the crate this time, throw several treats in the crate behind him as he eats the first treat.

Do this a few times to emphasize how nice it is to stay indoors, then use a “Okay!” word (“Release” or any other word you chose) in a happy voice, encouraging him to come out. This will begin the process of teaching him to wait for permission to leave.

Practice this a few more times and then test if he gets the link between the word and the deed of going into the coffin.

To test his understanding, stand as you did before and say your command, but this time don’t move. When he comes across the chest, act happy and drop a handful of treats into the chest with him. Add a few more treats when it’s done, then release it as you did before.

If your dog understands, repeat the game a few times more times to help it stick in his memory.

If he doesn’t run in, go back to the hand signal after you say the word a few more times before trying again without the hand movement. And keep the door open for this game at all times.

Even if he “gets it”, he may forget it the next time you play this game. If that happens, try a few times with the signal before trying again without it.

Game 4 – At my command and wait

Now that he’s going in on command, we want to go to work to get out with permission.

Using your verbal command (“Kennel up!” or “Crate!“), send your dog into the crate just like you did for Game 3. Give him a few treats to go in and then get back up and wait to see what he’s going to do.

If he’s eagerly waiting for more treats, throw in another treat and wait again. If he walks out of the crate instead, go back to Game 3 and keep playing until it looks like he’s expecting more treats after going in.

After he waits for treats a few times (just a few seconds), release him with a happy”Okay!and let him know what a good dog he is.

Make sure to practice this a few times a day for a few days before moving on.

Game 5 – Let’s close the door

Now we raise the stakes by closing the crate door while your dog is inside. Take it easy first and have fun!

Use your command to send your pup into his crate and give him a treat. While he eats, the door closes. When he’s done, open the door and say “Okay!‘ to let him out.

Gradual Increase the time you hold the door shut. As you extend the time, say more than 10 seconds, give him a treat through the closed door to reward him for his patience.

Don’t give him a treat or open the door if he’s upset. If he barks or whines or scratches at the door, ignore him and wait for a break in that behavior to release him.

If this pause occurs, don’t wait so long to reward him and release him next time.

Keep playing this game until he can calmly stay in his crate for at least 30 seconds while standing nearby.

Then you can start mixing by moving away from the crate and back to test whether it is quiet or not. If not, make it easier next time.

Game 6 – Say Please

Now it’s time to teach him to respect the coffin’s threshold and not come out until you give him permission. If you’ve played the earlier games, this should be easy for him as you’ve been teaching him your release word all along.

Follow the procedure in Game 5, but now we will require your dog to sit or lie down in the crate before being let out.

To do this, let’s go a little back and forth process of showing him what you mean. This works best if you don’t say anything, but just let your pup figure out what to do by what’s happening.

Wait for him to sit or lie down and then move your hand towards the latch.

When he gets up, take your hand off the latch and stand up straight again. Wait for him to sit (or lie down).

When he sits, touch the latch again. If he doesn’t get up, give him a treat through the bars to let him know it was the right decision. If he gets up, just repeat the process.

After it stays in position when you touch the latch, then start opening the door. Again, if he stands up, just close the latch and stand back up. Repeat the above process.

Eventually he’ll understand that you want him to stay put, and you can get the door open a little while he’s still in position.

At this point, swing the door open and let it go right away, with luck all around. You both did a great job!

Practice this game until you can get the door all the way open and it won’t move unless you let go.

This could take a week or more, so be patient and don’t forget to go through the steps slowly. If at any point he begins to move before being released, close the door quickly – push it back in firmly if necessary.

Final Thoughts

Crate training games are a fun and easy way to learn manners, and they help teach your dog that the crate is a rewarding and comfortable place to be.

By taking the time to teach your dog these games, you avoid the problems associated with using the crate for punishment. When your dog loves his crate, he will find it less stressful when situations arise that require it, even after he has earned his freedom in your home.

Take the time to play these games now, and both you and your dog will be glad you did!