Skip to main content

Is it cruel to crate-train a German shepherd?

A member of the herding group, German shepherds are known for their keen intellect, courage, loyalty, and eagerness to please. German shepherds are one of the most popular breeds in the world, and they can often be found employed as service dogs and working alongside law enforcement. When they’re not hard at work, these clever pups are often found romping through the yard with children. Despite their large, intimidating size, shepherds make wonderful family dogs as long as they’re trained properly. Crates are popular training tools, but is it cruel to crate-train such an active dog? We’ll tell you everything you need to know.

A German Shepherd lying in a pen.

How long does it take to crate-train a German shepherd? 

As one of the world’s most intelligent breeds, German shepherds have the ability to learn new tricks with very few repetitions. With that being said, crate-training a dog usually takes longer than teaching him how to sit or stay. But there’s some good news: because they’re so smart, German shepherds can be fully crate-trained in about a month as long as you work with your dog consistently. 

As a general rule, puppies should be left in a crate for one hour per month of age, but they should never be kept in a crate for longer than four hours at a time. Puppies have small bladders, and the last thing you want is to inadvertently teach your pup that he’s supposed to do his business in his crate. By the time your pup is six months old, he should be able to sleep in his crate overnight without having any accidents.

Crate-training tips

Whether you have a young puppy or an older dog, crate training requires time and patience. We’ve rounded up a few tips to make the training process easier for you and your dog. 

#1: Buy the right size crate for your dog

Crate training begins with choosing the best crate size for your dog. You may want to purchase a crate large enough to accommodate his adult size

#2: Start off slowly

If your dog has never spent time in a crate before, easing her into it is the best way to go. Leave the crate open in a room where you spend plenty of time. Your pup may wander into the crate without being told to do so. 

#3: Make the crate feel homey

Once your dog is used to the crate’s presence, place a blanket, dog bed, water bowl, and a few favorite toys inside to make the crate more attractive to your dog. Now you can try closing the door and leaving your pup in his crate. 

#4: Ignore her protests

Some dogs may bark or whine, but you shouldn’t let your pup out until she quiets down. If you open the door the instant your pup whimpers, you’ll teach her that crying means she’ll be let out of the crate. Unless your dog is genuinely in distress, you shouldn’t remove her from his crate when she cries.

A German Shepherd sits inside a metal enclosure.

Are German shepherds hard to crate train? 

While crate training a German shepherd puppy may seem easier than training an adult dog, studies show that sometimes the reverse is true. Older dogs are more mature and have longer attention spans than young puppies, so don’t worry if you’ve adopted an older dog. According to the American Kennel Club, “Crate training is an invaluable tool for facilitating housetraining, which almost all GSDs take to quickly and easily. In fact, many GSD owners will find that this is one of the easiest breeds to housetrain, as long as constant supervision and consistency are required.” 

German shepherds are remarkably intelligent dogs, which makes the training process much easier than it otherwise could be. However, remember that all dogs learn at their own pace. Your pup may take longer to crate-train than your friend’s German shepherd. And, if you’ve adopted an older dog, you may have to help her unlearn prior behaviors before you can successfully crate train her.  

Where should your German shepherd puppy sleep?

While some people believe crate training any dog is cruel, that’s not necessarily true. Crate training should never be used as a punishment or a substitute for spending time with your dog, but there’s nothing wrong with crate training a dog as long as you do it correctly. According to the professionals, your German shepherd puppy should sleep indoors in a crate. Not only does crating your dog at night make housebreaking easier, but it also keeps your dog safe. Puppies, especially German shepherd puppies, explore the world with their noses, which can lead them to mischief. If your pup is sleeping soundly in a crate, he won’t be able to chew your shoes, furniture, or garbage while you sleep. 

A long-haired German Shepherd sits in a kennel.

Crate training is one of the most controversial topics amongst dog owners, but research shows that crating your dog can help her feel safe and secure. Make sure your dog’s crate isn’t sitting near a hot window or near a drafty spot, always keep water in the crate, and remember that crating your dog should never be used as punishment. With time and patience, your German shepherd will come to view her crate as her den, and she might even choose to spend time there on her own.

Editors' Recommendations

Mary Johnson
Contributor
Mary Johnson is a writer and photographer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work has been published in PawTracks and…
Puppy potty training your Bichon Frise–why is it so difficult?
This is why Bichon Frises are one of the hardest breeds to potty train
A closeup of a Bichon Frise lying on a wooden floor.

Puppy potty training is challenging no matter what dog breed you're working with, but some breeds are more difficult to train than others. Contrary to popular belief, sThe 8 smartest dog breeds, ranked aren't always easier to train, as intelligence often lends itself to a stubborn streak. The clever and spunky Bichon Frise — pronounced bee-shon free-zay in the French language, with emphasis on the first syllables — is a notoriously difficult breed to housebreak despite being highly intelligent.

Let's look deeper into the history of the Bichon Frise and what makes this particular breed so hard to potty train. Plus, we'll share a few hacks to combat each potty training issue. 

Read more
Don’t have a Roomba? Think twice before adopting an Australian Shepherd
A woman lies on the floor and cuddles a brown and white Australian Shepherd

When you think about high-shedding dog breeds, which ones come to mind? Many recall large Northern breeds like Alaskan Malamutes or even smaller fur balls like the Pekingese. Australian Shepherd shedding, though, isn’t nearly as widely understood. Perhaps this feature gets shadowed by their coat’s gorgeous patterns and coloring, or maybe it’s because this breed tends to spend so much time outdoors, leaving fur there instead. Whatever it is, it’s raised many questions about the best way to groom the smart and playful Australian Shepherd.
Before taking to your favorite search engine to find the first answer you see, check out what Australian Shepherd experts had to say. We checked in with animal hospitals and breed organizations to get the dirt on Aussie shedding, and this is what you’ll want to know:

How bad does an Australian Shepherd shed?
Australian Shepherds are revered for their gorgeous, multicolored coats, but have you ever thought about the downside to all that fur? It’s true — this breed is known for moderate to heavy shedding, and it can be tricky to keep up with during coat-blowing season (via Australian Shepherd Club of America).
The Australian Shepherd’s coat consists of two layers of water-resistant, self-cleaning fur — but don’t be fooled. Even though the natural oils of Aussies' skin keep their fur slick and clean, you will need to give them regular baths and grooming sessions. State Road Animal Hospital has good news for pet parents of this breed, though: Aussies only need baths every few months, so your job may not be as tricky as it seems.

Read more
How to teach (almost) any dog breed to excel at agility training
An Australian Shepherd jumps hurdles in an agility competition.

Training your dog is a fantastic way to strengthen the bond between fur baby and pet parent. If you've ever grown frustrated with teaching your pup basic commands like "sit" and "stay," then you may want to give dog agility training a try. While it may sound counterintuitive, it can actually improve your pup's behavior in the long run. Wait, what? How does that even work? Well, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), "Agility is just for fun. There's no need to stress over how quickly your dog learns these new skills."

Because we know that dogs learn best through positive associations, teaching your pooch a few dog agility skills alongside basic training will help strengthen his mental associations between learning a new skill and having fun. Neat, right? Here's what you need to know to get started.

Read more