How to Stop Your Dog From Breaking Out of the Crate

By Ed Frawley  |  Last modified: March 29, 2022

URL Copied!

People whose dogs learn to break out of crates often purchase the more expensive aluminum dog crates. They do this thinking these crates are more secure and will solve their problem. To an extent, this is true and it works because these dogs are not going to get out of the aluminum crates. But some dogs (that have gotten out of a number of crates in the past) actually become so wound up and crazy in their attempt to get out of these crates that they hurt themselves. They get so worked up in the crate that they either cut their mouth or cut their feet from scratching until they bleed.

This is the reason that we do not replace dog crates for dogs that injure themselves trying to get out of the crate.

For many of these dogs, the aluminum crate is only a small part of the solution. These dogs need remedial training along with a more secure crate. Many times, owners will try the training before they buy the aluminum crate and many times, the training solves the problem.

Here are some training options I recommend:

1. Have the dog wear a muzzle in the crate.

View our article on how to select and size a muzzle for your dog. I recommend the wire basket muzzles for this.

2. Give the dog a treat.

Sometimes simply giving the dog a cow's knucklebone or a treat toy will work.

3. Give the dog more exercise.

Give the dog more exercise. Tired dogs have way fewer behavioral problems. Mental exercise is also great for dogs. We recommend marker training your dog and playing relationship games

4. Train your dog.

Train this dog while you are home to be calm in the crate. Run him through a pack structure program. Our pack structure program deals with a dog learning to be calm and submissive in a dog crate. You can also get our pack structure program as a DVD which goes more in-depth on living with your dog.

5. Learn remote collar training.

Dogs that have been allowed to develop into this problem may need to have remote collar training to discourage this chewing and or digging in the crate. View our Remote Collar Training for the Pet Owner DVD to learn how to properly use a remote collar.

6. Use a bark collar.

Dogs can also wear no-bark collars in crates. The majority of dogs who bite and chew crates will growl and whine when they do this. Our bark collars are the best on the market. They work on vibration and not sound. So even when the dog whines, he is corrected. These collars can have the stimulation level adjusted. Bottom line is, they stop dogs from barking on day one.

Oftentimes, people whose dogs injure themselves trying to break out of crates take their dog to the vet and ask what to do. The vets will prescribe pills to calm the dog. I am not a fan of this. Pills only cover up the problem. They solve nothing.

If vets do not give you the above information, they are not a dog trainer. Bottom line is that 99.9% of vets are either not dog trainers or very poor dog trainers. They offer less than accurate training advice and more often than not, incorrect training advice. In my 45 years of breeding and training dogs, I have only met 3 or 4 vets that I considered dog trainers.

Shop Crates

Shop Treat Toys

Shop Training Supplies

Enroll in Training Courses

About Author

Ed Frawley

Ed Frawley is the founder and owner of Leerburg.com and has been producing professional dog training videos since 1982. Over the years, he has collaborated with some of the most respected dog trainers in the country. His body of work includes 194 full-length training DVDs and 95 comprehensive online courses. In addition to these, he has produced and published over 4,000 short training videos available free of charge on Leerburg.com and across the company's social media platforms.

Ed and his wife, Cindy—also a professional dog trainer—bred working-line German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois for more than 35 years. Although they retired from breeding in 2009, they had produced over 300 litters by that time.

Ed also served as a K9 handler for the local sheriff's department for 10 years, working in partnership with the West Central Drug Task Force. During his time in law enforcement, he handled multiple narcotics and patrol dogs and conducted more than 1,000 K9 searches. If you want to learn more about Ed, read about his history here.

Share this article on social media:

URL Copied!

Have a dog training question?
Ask Cindy.