Why would you want to crate train an older dog? Is it even possible to do crate training with an older dog? Find out here...

Dr. Dennis Fetko, "Dr. Dog" here. First of all, a "well-socialized" crate is one of the four best gifts you can give your dog!

Oh, I can hear you now, "What, a crate! Put my little Pumpkin in a cage!" Few things better represent anthropomorphism than our attitudes regarding crates.
To humans, a crate is a cage and a cage is jail and none of that is any good whatsoever. To a dog, a well-socialized crate is a den and canines have been living in dens for, oh, roughly a million years now--give or take a week. To a dog a den is WONDERFUL! (After you crate train your older dog) You've just got to convince little Balthazar that this square fiberglass and metal contraption is indeed a den. That's why I said a well-socialized crate.

For my techniques on crate training an older dog so that he thinks hanging out in his crate is a great idea, see my ebook, Dr. Dog's FAST, EASY, FUN Behavior Solutions.

But don't just get a crate, throw your dog into it and go away for the day. That may stress an already upset dog enough to cause him to begin chewing himself. I've seen dogs chew their own paws to the bone out of stress and fear.

Used properly by crate training an adult dog, a crate is a great gift to the dog. Used badly it's as cruel a form of punishment as beating. Remember, a crate is used to prevent the problem; it is never used to punish it.

Some of my clients who have done crate training with an adult dog are flabbergasted when they remove the crate and their dog becomes upset. They often end up removing the door and just leaving the thing there. Many times the dog would rather be in it than not.

And, yes, you can crate train an older dog. It sometimes takes a bit longer than with a puppy; but with proper older dog crate training socialization methods, it is just as successful.
Learn more about crate training an older dog from my ebook.