The Highest Quality

Dreamydoodles NW produces high-quality Labradoodles & Aussiedoodles from our own bloodlines that we’ve carefully refined for the past 17 years.

Health Assurances

All our puppies come from genetically tested parents with loving, well-balanced temperaments, ensuring happy, healthy, and well-adjusted companions.

Go-Home Puppy Pack:

We send you home with a week’s worth of food, cuddly scent blanket, toys, up-to-date on vaccinations, dewormed with records booklet, and a 2-year genetic health guarantee!

Crate Training Your Puppy DOESN’T Have To Be Stressful – McCann Dogs Video!

What is Crate Training?

Crate training is the process of teaching a dog to be comfortable and safe confined in a crate. It can help with house training, travel, and keeping dogs from chewing on things.   A crate allows you to safely leave your puppy home when you are away, or unable to supervise her.

What People Think?

Most people believe that crate training, when done correctly, is a valuable tool for dog owners, providing a safe space for their dog to relax and significantly aiding in house training, especially for puppies; however, some people view it as confinement and worry about potential stress if not implemented properly, particularly for dogs with separation anxiety issues.

As with many sensitive issues today, the truth lies somewhere in-between but most important is how the crate training is approached and implemented. Educate yourself beforehand and train responsibly.

Why crate train?

  • Routine: Crate training can help reinforce a routine, providing dogs with a sense of stability.
  • House training: Puppies naturally avoid soiling their sleeping and eating areas, making crate training an invaluable tool for teaching puppies to go potty outside. 
  • Anxiety relief: For anxious dogs, a crate can provide a sense of security and help them calm down and help to teach them how to self-sooth.
  • Safe travel: For safely transporting dogs in a car and crates are required when flying.

What Dogs think?

When properly introduced and used positively, most dogs actually do enjoy their crates, viewing them as a safe and secure den-like space, similar to how wild dogs seek out small enclosed areas to rest and feel protected; however, some dogs may not enjoy being crated but this usually depends on how they were originally introduced to the crate.

Do vets recommend dog crates?

Most veterinarians, trainers, and breeders recommend crate training dogs young. Crate training is an essential part of housebreaking puppies, as dogs don’t like to soil their sleeping quarters.

Crate Training FAQ’s!

Buying the Crate and Setting Up The Crate
midwest crate

Buying Your Crate?

For Dreamydoodle puppies, we recommend you use purchase the 30 inch Medium size crate for potty training by MidWest Homes for Pets – Double Door iCrate
Size: 30.7″ L x 19.3″ W x 21.5″ H

When setting up your puppy’s crate, you can consider the size, comfort, and how you’ll train your puppy to use it.

Crate Size Matters: The crate should ONLY be big enough for your puppy to turn around, lie down, and sleep, it should NOT be so big that your puppy can soil one side and sleep on the other.

Place the crate in a calm, quiet area where your puppy is unlikely to be disturbed while resting inside. Make sure the crate is sturdy, properly assembled, and secure to prevent it from collapsing accidentally before using it with your puppy.

Make the crate cozy and comfortable by adding a couple toys or chews. You can try adding a blanket but if your puppy starts to soil their bed or blanket in the crate then you should remove those until your puppy is more consistently potty trained to go outside.

You may want to try covering the top and sides of the crate with a blanket to reduce the external stimulation from outside the crate. The first couple times you put them in their crate you should leave the door open while you sit with them and pet and calm them while they’re still learning to relax and enjoy their new space.

Crate or an X-Pen for Potty Training?

During the potty training stage, you can use both a crate and an x-pen either together or separately. The crate works best for sleeping and quiet moments, while the x-pen is perfect for daytime use, playtime, or providing a safe space when you can’t supervise your puppy, like when you’re at work.


What is an X-Pen?

The Midwest exercise pen, or playpen, is a portable enclosure designed to give dogs and puppies a safe, contained space to play and move around and are really helpful during potty training if you work and can’t let them out of a crate often enough. You can also put the crate inside the x-pen and you can also add a potty spot using a grass patch or a washable  pad!

Playpens provide a safe space for your puppy, keeping them secure while helping to prevent potty accidents on your floors or chewing up your furniture, electric cords, or other potentially harmful items.

Can I leave my 8 week old puppy in a playpen when I’m at work?

Yes, leaving your puppy in a playpen while you’re at work can be a safe and practical way to manage their behavior.

Make sure the playpen is puppy-proofed and includes essentials like fresh water, safe toys, and a comfortable resting area.

Rotating the toys regularly can also help to keep your puppy engaged and provide mental stimulation, reducing the risk of boredom or separation anxiety.

How to Crate Train Your Puppy

How to Crate Train Your Puppy

Crate training is a great way to give your puppy a safe, cozy space to relax, and when done correctly, it’s a key tool for house training and reducing anxiety.
The whole point of using a crate for potty training is that a dogs natural instinct is to keep themselves clean and not to go to the bathroom where they sleep.

Create Positive Associations
Make the crate a welcoming place by lining it with a soft blanket, adding a few toys, and keeping the door open so your puppy can explore at their own pace. As they become more comfortable, encourage them to go inside by tossing treats or feeding meals in the crate. This will help them associate the crate with positive experiences.

Introduce Gradually
Start by closing the crate door for short periods while you’re nearby. Slowly increase the time, making sure your puppy stays calm. Never use the crate as punishment! It should be a safe, comforting space where your puppy feels secure, not scared.

Incorporate into Daily Routines
Crate your puppy when you’re busy, like preparing meals or working, to help them get used to it. However, puppies, especially younger ones, shouldn’t be crated for long periods. Make sure to give them plenty of playtime and bathroom breaks outside the crate to avoid boredom or anxiety.

Timing is Key
Puppies should never stay crated for too long. A general rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold its bladder for an amount of hours equal to its age in months plus one. So, for example, a 3-month-old puppy can stay crated for about 4 hours.

What to do with a Frantic Puppy in the Crate?

What to do with a Frantic Puppy in the Crate?

  • It’s important to avoid letting your puppy get too upset or frantic in their crate.
  • There’s a big difference between normal puppy whining and full on “frantic puppy”.
  • Frantic puppy behavior can actually sound more like screaming, while desperately trying to escape, or even potentially hurting themselves by trying to bite the crate.
  • Light scratching at the door is pretty normal the first few times, but if your puppy is frantically pawing at the crate, you’ll notice the difference.
  • If you see your puppy getting to a frantic point, you can try making a loud noise or saying something to them which should help to snap them out of it and interrupt the behavior at least long enough to try starting over.
  • Wait for a moment of quiet before you try opening the crate door, this is a good time to take them outside for a quick potty break.

Frantic behavior may happen for a few reasons:

  1. First-time crate experience: If you just stuck them in the crate and shut the door without easing them into it, you may have moved too fast. Slow down and start over.
  2. Too much freedom too soon: If you’ve allowed your puppy full access to the house, let them sleep in your bed, and then suddenly tried putting them in a cage, it’s no surprise they’re gonna be upset. This “spoiled puppy” behavior can feel like a tantrum, as they’re already used to having full freedom.
  3. Your puppy is overstimulated which can happen when your dog is overwhelmed and can’t cope with certain triggers in their environment.

In either case, the answer is still the same:

  • You need to start over and re-introduce them to their crate (slower).

Take your time introducing your puppy to their crate. The introduction process may take a day or so, so remember to be patient. It’s best to do this training during the day when you don’t need sleep.


Three Steps to Crate Introduction
Step 1: Start with Crate Familiarization
  • Put the crate on your bed or the floor and put your puppy in the crate.
  • Lay next to the crate (with the door open), position your body to gently block the entrance, and put your arm inside the crate with your puppy.
  • Speak to your puppy in a calm, soothing tone and softly pet them and try to get them to relax with you.
  • You can give them a chew stick to help distract them but it’s important to remember that this is not playtime, the goal is to calm them down, not to get them excited.
  • The goal is to create a relaxed, positive environment around their crate.
Step 2: Close the Door Gradually
  • Once your puppy is comfortable, gently close the crate door while staying nearby.
  • Continue offering reassurance through your presence and voice to help them associate the crate with security and calmness.
Step 3: Increase Distance and Close the Room Door
  • When your puppy seems relaxed or better yet, asleep, with the door open, you can begin moving a short distance away from the crate.
  • Eventually, close the room door to help them adjust to being alone in the crate.
  • Be patient, as this transition may take a few attempts. A bit of whining is normal, but avoid reinforcing frantic behavior.

This gradual process will help your puppy feel safe and comfortable in their crate, fostering independence over time.

Tone of Voice and Body Language:
Tone of Voice and Body Language:

Be mindful of your tone of voice and your body language when training your puppy. Dogs recognize and respond to our voice patterns. They’ll associate your vocal cues, tone of voice, and speech patterns with your different emotions and use this information to better understand and interact with us.

Cheerful tones show approval and playfulness, while disappointed tones convey disapproval. Soft and reassuring tones express affection, while firm tones get a dog’s attention. The caution tone is used in emergencies to stop a dog in its tracks.

Dogs distinguish words and tone much like humans do!

You Dog learns to recognize your voice above all others, as shown during  Functional MRI brain scans. Parts of their brain will light up when they hear their owners voice more than it will with a strangers voice. It comforts them to hear your voice, and you can even try singing or speaking directly to them in a higher pitched and cheerful tone to relax your puppy when they are feeling stressed.

Our four-legged friends have a little patch of their brain devoted to deciphering emotions in human and dog voices,  scientists reported in the journal Current Biology.

If you’re acting anxious or frantic, your puppy will pick up on this and may become even more stressed.

Puppies often look to us to gauge their environment. If you’re acting unusually nervous or worried, then they’ll assume there must be something to be anxious or nervous about, and they’ll mirror your energy.

Take a deep breath. It’s most likely not as serious as it seems. Remember, your puppy is not hurt—they’re more then likely being loud and dramatic because it’s worked in the past.

Training Tips and Schedule
Training Tips and Schedule
  •  Establish a routine for your puppy, as they need frequent bathroom breaks, especially after eating, drinking, playing, and napping.
  • Take your puppy outside on a leash to the same spot each time.
  •  Use the same que word like “Go Potty” every time and when they go potty in the right place, praise them and offer them a treat.
  •  Most puppies need to eat puppy food 3 times a day. Make it easier to remember by planning their meal times around your own breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Do not “free feed” your puppy! A puppy who can freely eat all day, will also poop all day. A consistent feeding/eating and sleeping schedule is VERY important. Put them on a timed feeding schedule so that you can better gauge when they should need to go or about 30 min after they eat.


more Training Tips:
  • Keep an eye on your puppy while they’re indoors, watching for the signs they need to “go” like sniffing or circling and when you do, quickly pick them up and take them outside to their potty spot.
  •  Handle accidents calmly. If accidents happen and they will, clean them up promptly with an enzymatic cleaner to remove any odors and prevent your puppy from eliminating in the same spot again.
  •  Avoid punishment, as your puppy will not associate the punishment with their earlier behavior. Instead, stay calm and focus on cleaning the spot thoroughly to avoid confusion or fear.
  •  Never compare your new puppy to your last puppy or a friends puppy. Every puppy just like every human child is a unique individual and will react differently to new things like crate training, new environments and new people.
  •  A puppy crying in their crate can be one of the saddest sounding and most challenging parts of crate training a new puppy. Some puppies may struggle with crate training and it might take them a little longer, but in my experience, I’ve never had a puppy who didn’t eventually come to enjoy having a safe space to relax and sleep in their crate. Never let a puppy get totally frantic in their crate. There’s a huge difference between a “frantic puppy” and “normal crying and complaining puppy”
  •  Patience and consistency make all the difference!


Potty Training Steps

To crate train your puppy quickly focus on making the crate a positive space by gradually introducing it, feeding meals inside, placing it near your bed for comfort, and steadily increasing the time spent in the crate with positive reinforcement, including treats and praise, while ensuring they are taken out frequently enough for bathroom breaks and no accidents.

Key steps Potty Training Steps:

Introduce the crate positively: Leave the crate door open with treats scattered inside to let your puppy explore it at their own pace and associate it with positive things.

Feed meals in the crate: Start by placing their food bowl near the crate entrance, then gradually move it further inside as they become comfortable.

Short crate sessions: Begin with very short periods (a few minutes) in the crate, gradually increasing the time as your puppy gets used to it.

Nighttime crate placement: Keep the crate close to your bed during the first few nights to provide comfort and reassurance.

Bathroom routine: Take your puppy outside immediately upon waking up and after playtime to encourage them to go to the bathroom in the designated area.

Positive reinforcement: Use praise and high-value treats when your puppy enters the crate willingly or stays calm inside.

Use a Verbal Command: Use a que word every time like “Crate” or “House”, “Bedtime” etc. and they will learn to go in their crate on command.

Supervise and respond: Monitor your puppy while in the crate and only let them out when they are calm; if they whine, try to distract them first and get some quiet before releasing them. Taking them out while they’re still whining only teaches them that whining or barking will work with you again.

Important considerations: Choose the right crate size: Select a crate that is just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

Never use the crate as punishment: Crating should always be a positive experience, not a form of punishment.

Consult a professional trainer: If you encounter significant challenges with crate training, consider seeking guidance from a certified dog trainer.

crate-training-puppy

The secret of success

The “secret” to successful crate training is to make the crate a positive space for your dog by consistently associating it with positive experiences like treats, chews, and calm relaxation, while gradually increasing the time spent inside, all while being patient and consistent with your training routine; essentially, making the crate a place your dog wants to be, not a punishment area.

Where should you put their Crate?

Ideally, you should set it up in the bedroom or near you until they’re comfortable in their crate and then you can move it if needed. Dogs are very social, and they like to be around their family. 

Buying a Crate

When buying a crate for your dog, you want to consider things like the size of your puppy, material (plastic, wire, steel), and durability and  how you’ll be using the crate (travel, house-training) and whether you want to add a cover.

how to crate train your puppY

To crate train your puppy, focus on making the crate a positive space by gradually introducing it, feeding meals inside, placing it near your bed for comfort, and steadily increasing the time spent in the crate with positive reinforcement, including treats and praise, while ensuring they are taken out frequently for bathroom breaks.

Crate Size?

Crate Size Matters: The crate should ONLY be big enough for your puppy to turn around, lie down, and sleep, it should NOT be so big that your puppy can still soil one side and sleep on the other.