How to Crate Train a Doberman Puppy
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Introduction
Your Doberman puppy probably feels like your whole world right now. Everyone that has seen him instantly goes ‘awww’ and wants to stroke him and to be honest, you can’t blame them. You’re loving every minute of looking after him and having him by your side. However, an important part of his growing up is learning to accept his crate. So, unfortunately, no matter how cute he is, he still needs to learn to use his crate.
Training him to use a crate is good for him in the long run. Firstly, he will have somewhere safe and secure he can escape to, his own territory. Secondly, it will teach him how to spend time on his own, which will prevent him getting separation anxiety when you leave for work. Finally, it will hopefully stop him going to the toilet on your nice floors and causing damage at night when you aren’t around to watch him.
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Defining Tasks
Training any puppy to accept his crate can be a challenge and Dobermans are no exception. You will firstly need to make sure you have the right crate for him. You will then have to take steps to make the crate as comfortable as possible for him. A routine will also need to be established, so he’s used to heading there and feels comfortable when he is in his crate. Successful training often relies on finding the right incentive. Treats or toys will often go a long way.
Because he’s a puppy and Dobermans are confident and obedient, he could respond to training in just a few days. If not and he’s particularly needy, then you may need a couple of weeks before you see consistent results. Get this training right and you will no longer have to worry when you head upstairs at night!
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Getting Started
Before you can start with training you will need a few bits. The right sized crate will obviously be the first essential. You will then need blankets and an array of toys to help it feel like home and make him comfortable.
Stock up on some treats, or break his favorite food into small pieces. They will be used to motivate him throughout training. Try and be there as much as possible to start with; consistency is key if you want swift results.
Once you have all that, you just need willpower and a positive attitude, then work can begin!
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The Introductions Method
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The right size
The first thing you need to do is make sure you choose the right sized crate. He should have enough space to stand up, turn around and move a little, but not much more than that. You don’t want him to think he has room to go the toilet in there.
Positioning
Place the crate in a sociable room, such as the family room or kitchen. You don’t want him to think of it as a dark and gloomy place he’s forced to go to. Then secure the door open so he won’t frighten himself when he enters it for the first time.
Treat lure
To get him in the crate for the first time, place a few treats near the entrance. You can then head over and talk to him in a high-pitched, animated voice. You want him to associate the crate with positive experiences.
Feed him near the crate
To start with, you should feed him his meals near the crate. This will further help him to associate the crate area with happy things. You can also leave his water bowl near there as well.
Build up the time
Start by just playing with him for a minute or two in the crate. Then take him back out for a while. Next time, leave him in the crate for a little while longer. The trick is to gradually increase the time he spends in there.
The Leave Him Alone Method
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Lure him over
Use a treat to get him into the crate to start with. You can place one in front of the crate and another inside. You can also point to the crate and use a high-pitched voice to encourage him.
Stay close
Once you have gently secured the crate, leave him in there for a couple of minutes, but stay close. To begin with, you want to put him at ease by sticking around. You can talk to him and play with him through the sides. Then release him for a few minutes.
Increase the distance
A bit later on, place him back in the crate but this time move a little farther away. Keep doing this until you can leave the room for several minutes. If he begins to look anxious or scared, then you’re moving too quickly.
Toys
To make him feel more relaxed when he is inside the crate, place some toys in there. A food puzzle is also an effective technique to keep him occupied. Laying down a blanket or two will also help put him at ease.
Location
If you have an older dog in the house too, his bed should be placed nearby. You do not want your crated Doberman puppy to associate the crate with isolation. Once he’s comfortable in the crate for a considerable time period, you can then move it to a location you prefer. But to start with, try and keep it somewhere sociable.
The Routine Method
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Say good morning & good night
You need to get him in a routine of staying in his crate. This will help him know you will always come back for him. So, spend a couple of minutes saying good night and stroking him and then do the same first thing in the morning when you wake him up.
Toilet time
It is important he also gets into an effective toilet routine. If he’s locked in the crate and desperate for the toilet, he won’t associate it with happy moments. So, take him out in the morning, throughout the day and in the evening. If he’s a young puppy, the more you can take him out the better.
Cold shoulder
If he’s been to the toilet, had plenty of water and food, yet he still whines at night when you leave him, then you need to try and ignore him. If you don’t, you are telling him that whining is the way to get what he wants. You need him to accept the crate.
Exercise
Doberman puppies cannot be left in the crate for too much of the day. This is particularly important if they are very young. So, make sure he gets plenty of exercise and isn’t kept in there all day and night.
Treats
If he associates the crate with positive rewards then he’ll be much more likely to spend time in there. So, leave the odd treat in there. Also, leaving one in there each evening is a fantastic way to get him to go in each night, without any hassle.
Written by James Barra
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 01/24/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Higgins
Doberman
Three Months
Question
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0 found this helpful
Our puppy has no issues sleeping in the crate at night or during the day when he needs his naps. The issue arises when he needs to go into the crate when he’s wide awake and I need to leave the house. He starts to whine, cry, howl and bark constantly. The max I have left him alone as I left was 1 hour. During that time I used a voice recorder and he did not stop for the full hour. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jan. 11, 2024
Higgins's Owner
Forty
Doberman Pinscher
Eight Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Our puppy is in a crate but we don’t know if we should close the bedroom door or keep it open for him
June 4, 2023
Forty's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, If the door to the crate is closed, and pup's crate is located in the bedroom in their crate, then whether the door should be closed or not depends mostly on the other noises and animals in the home. If there is a medium or low amount of noises from people coming and going, and there are not other animals who will wander into the bedroom, then the door can be left open. If the home is very loud or there are animals who will wander into the bedroom and possibly disturb Forty, then I would close the bedroom door. Furthermore, if pup is aggressive toward any people or animals in the home, or tends to bark a lot when they hear noises out of the bedroom, then I would also close the door for the added safety and to decrease the chances of pup learning to bark more habitually while you are away. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 6, 2023