Course Details
3 WEEK CLASS - Practical skills for calm, reliable crate behavior
Does your dog bark, whine, or struggle to settle the moment you close the crate door or walk away? For many dogs, the crate can become a place of barking, restlessness, or frustration rather than relaxation.
This class is designed for both dogs who are new to crating and those who may be struggling to settle or relax when confined.
This class is a great fit if:
- Your dog vocalizes or struggles when crated
- Your dog can be in the crate but doesn’t truly relax
- You’re starting crate training and want to do it right from the beginning
- You’re tired of managing the crate instead of having your dog feel comfortable in it
Instead of simply managing behavior, we will focus on teaching the skills that lead to calm, confident crate behavior. When dogs understand how to settle and what is expected of them, the crate becomes a place where they can relax and feel comfortable.
Here’s what makes this class a must:
- Clear, step-by-step training to build calm crate behavior from the beginning or rebuild it in a way that makes sense to your dog
- Practical strategies to teach your dog how to settle and relax in the crate
- Guidance on introducing crate door closure and handler movement without creating stress
- Troubleshooting for common challenges such as whining, restlessness, and mild barrier frustration
- Real-life applications so your dog can remain calm in the crate at home, in class, or in new environments
Whether you are preventing issues or working through early struggles, this class will give you a clear plan and the tools to help your dog feel more confident and relaxed in the crate.
If you’re ready to start building real crate skills, this class will give you a clear plan to follow.
Extra support included: A Teacher’s Assistant (TA) will be available to support bronze students.
Teaching Approach:
Lectures are released on the first day of each week and include step-by-step written instruction plus short demonstration videos. Most videos are between 20 seconds and 2 minutes long, making them easy to fit into busy schedules. Videos are designed to be understood even without sound; if speaking is important, the lecture will clearly outline what is being said. Homework is included at the end of each lecture so you always know what to practice. Supplemental lectures and videos will be posted as needed.
Instructor: Nicole Wiebusch Nicole Wiebusch CPDT-KA (she/her) has been active in dog sports for over 25 years. What began with 4-H quickly grew into a lifelong passion for dog sports. (Click here for full bio and to view Nicole's upcoming courses)
