Crate training an American Bully puppy
By Nathan Gilmore, March 12, 2022
A crate can be one of the most useful tools for raising a happy, well-behaved American Bully. Used correctly, it gives your puppy a safe, quiet den, speeds up potty training and keeps both your puppy and your home safe when you cannot supervise. Many owners worry that crating is unkind, but dogs are den animals, and most come to love a comfortable crate. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing it right.
Choose the right crate. It should be large enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably, but not so large that it can use one end as a bathroom. Many owners buy a crate sized for the adult dog with a divider to make it smaller for now. A sturdy wire or plastic crate works well for a strong breed like the American Bully. Avoid soft-sided crates for chewers, and remove collars and anything that could snag.
Make it a happy place. Put the crate in a family area at first, with a soft bed and a safe chew toy inside. Leave the door open and let your puppy explore. Toss treats inside, feed meals near or in the crate and praise your puppy whenever it goes in on its own. Never force your puppy in or use the crate as punishment. The goal is for the puppy to see the crate as its own bedroom.
Start with short sessions. Close the door for a few seconds while your puppy eats a treat, then open it. Gradually extend the time to a minute, then a few minutes, staying nearby at first and then stepping out of sight. Use a cue word such as kennel every time, and reward calm behavior. Increase the time slowly and give a treat every time your puppy settles quietly.
Plan for nights and breaks. Young puppies cannot hold their bladders all night, so expect to take yours out once or twice at first. Keep the crate near your bed at night so your puppy can hear you, which reduces anxiety. Give a potty break right before crating and right after opening the door. During the day, do not crate a puppy for longer than it can hold its bladder, roughly one hour per month of age plus one.
Handle whining calmly. Some whining is normal at first. Make sure the puppy has gone potty, is not hungry and is comfortable, then ignore attention-seeking noise. If you let your puppy out every time it cries, it learns that crying works. Wait for a brief pause and then open the door. If your puppy seems truly panicked, go back a step and make sessions shorter.
Avoid common mistakes. Do not leave a puppy in a crate for long stretches while you are at work without breaks, and never crate a dog that has not exercised. Do not use the crate as a place for time-outs. Make sure the room is cool, since bullies overheat easily, and never put the crate in direct sun. As your dog matures and becomes trustworthy, you can leave the door open and give it more freedom.
A well-trained crate habit also helps with travel, vet visits and emergencies. If you have questions about crate training a puppy from our program, contact us. Every puppy we place is raised in a home environment, and we are happy to help new owners get started, so visit our puppies page to see who is available.
See available puppies | Meet our studs | Contact us
NMG Bullies, licensed American Bully breeder. 7534 Briarcliff Cir, Greenacres, FL 33467. Call or text 561-714-2477. Email nmgbullies@gmail.com. Open anytime by text or call. $1,000 deposit reserves a puppy (Cash App $nmgbullies, PayPal paypal.me/nmgbullies). Prices $4,000–$8,500.
