Help! My Puppy Cries in the Crate for Hours: What Can I Do?

Is Your Puppy Crying in the Crate All Night or When Left Alone? Here’s How to Help

Crate Training and the Challenges of Bringing Home a New Puppy

Bringing home a new puppy is incredibly exciting—and, let’s be honest, a little overwhelming too.

With so much advice floating around, it’s easy to feel unsure about where to begin and what to focus on first. But here’s one thing most professional trainers agree on: crate training can be one of the most helpful tools for raising a happy, well-adjusted puppy.

When introduced in a positive, gradual way, crate training helps with housebreaking a puppy, prevents destructive chewing, and gives your puppy a safe space to rest and recharge—especially when you can’t supervise them or need to step away.

But what happens when your puppy cries in the crate all night long? Or panics the moment you leave the room—even for a second?

Some puppies will whine, bark, howl, or cry for hours when left alone or crated. And that can make it nearly impossible to sleep, work from home, or run a quick errand without getting a noise complaint from your neighbors.

You may have heard advice like “just let them cry it out,” but if your puppy is clearly distressed and not settling, that can feel really hard to sit through, especially if you're worried about disturbing your neighbors.

As a new puppy parent, you’re not alone if you’re wondering:

• How long should I let my puppy cry in the crate at night?

• How can I get my puppy to stop crying in a crate? Should I ignore the puppy whining—or comfort them?

• If my puppy is crying during crate training, should I let them out and stop using the crate altogether?

• My puppy cries when left alone—whether I leave the room or go to work. What can I do?

These are completely normal questions, and the answers depend on what’s really going on beneath the surface of your puppy’s behavior.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• Reasons why your puppy cries in a crate (or kennel)

• How to recognize the early warning signs of puppy separation anxiety and what causes it

• How long to let a puppy cry in a crate (and when to intervene)

• Why and how to crate train your puppy and why not to give up

• The first steps to helping your puppy feel safe, calm, and confident in the crate or on their own using gentle and positive training methods

Why Does My Puppy Cry in the Crate or When I Leave?

It’s completely normal for a puppy to cry or whine in the crate or when left alone, especially during their first few days in a new home.

This behavior is a natural response to the stress of being separated from their mother, littermates, and everything they’ve ever known.

However, understanding the reason behind your puppy’s crying is key to helping them feel safe and secure.

By identifying the root cause, you can respond in ways that build their confidence, strengthen your bond, and prevent more serious issues—like puppy separation anxiety—from developing.

Common Reasons Your Puppy Whines in the Crate or Cries When You Leave:

1. Transitional Anxiety

   It’s completely normal for puppies to feel disoriented and lonely after being separated from their mother and littermates. Crying is a natural response to this major life change—it simply means your puppy is feeling anxious as they adjust to unfamiliar surroundings.

   👉 What to do: Establishing a consistent daily puppy confinement schedule—with predictable time in a crate or playpen—can help your pup settle into a routine and feel more secure in their new environment.

2. Due to Boredom or Loneliness

   Puppies are naturally curious, energetic, and social creatures that are prone to boredom and loneliness—especially when confined alone with excess energy to burn. If your puppy cries, whines, or barks for hours, it may be a sign that they need more mental and physical stimulation.

   👉 What to do: To reduce whining and crying caused by boredom and loneliness, make sure your puppy gets plenty of age-appropriate exercise, interactive play, and fun and gentle craining sessions before crate time or being left alone.

3. Need to Go Potty or Physical Discomfort

   If your puppy is crying or whining in the crate—especially at night—they may need to go potty. Young puppies have small bladders and limited control, so overnight potty breaks are often necessary. Crying can also signal physical discomfort, such as hunger, thirst, feeling too hot or cold, or lying on uncomfortable bedding.

   👉 What to do: If your puppy cries at night, take them out for a quick potty break or adjust their environment to improve comfort. Avoid engaging in play or offering too much attention, as this can reinforce the behavior and turn it into a habit.

4. Attention-Seeking or Demand Behaviors
   If your puppy whines, cries, or barks in the crate, they may be trying to get your attention and influence your actions—what’s known as action-prompting behavior. In this case, they’re hoping that making noise will get them let out of the crate.

   But if you consistently respond by opening the crate when they vocalize, you may accidentally reinforce the behavior, teaching your puppy that persistent crying gets results.

   👉 What to Do: Stay calm and neutral while your puppy is crying. Avoid eye contact, talking, or petting. Wait for a few seconds of quiet before engaging with them or letting them out. This helps your puppy learn that calm, quiet behavior—not vocal demands—leads to attention and freedom.

5. Crate Anxiety and Negative Crate Associations in Puppies
   If it’s your puppy’s first night in a crate, they have crate anxiety because they have never been crate-trained before or are in a completely unfamiliar environment. But if your puppy cries nonstop or refuses to settle in their crate, they may have developed negative crate associations with crate time. This is common in puppies who have experienced the crate as a source of stress rather than comfort.

   Your puppy may fear the crate if they were:

   • Not crate-trained before

   • Left to “cry it out” without support or positive conditioning

   • Left alone in a crate for long periods (like while you’re at work or during stressful travel, like plane flights)

   • Crated in loud, chaotic environments such as pet stores, kennels, or parties

   In these cases, the crate becomes associated with fear, frustration, or abandonment—instead of safety and security.

   👉 What to do: If your puppy is scared of the crate, try shortening your crate training sessions, using a puppy playpen, or setting up a safe confinement area with baby gates in a quiet part of your home (like the kitchen or hallway). This gives your puppy a secure space to relax while you work on slowly rebuilding positive associations with the crate.

6. Pain or Illness

   If the whining and crying are new, excessive, or accompanied by symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, limping, or loss of appetite, your puppy may be in pain or feeling unwell.

   👉 What to do: Always rule out medical issues with your veterinarian if something feels off.

7. Separation Anxiety

   If your puppy whines, cries, howls, or barks excessively in the crate or when left alone—even for just a few minutes—they may be experiencing puppy separation anxiety. This fear-based, panic-driven response is one of the most common behavioral issues in young dogs and shouldn’t be ignored.

   Signs of Puppy Separation Anxiety:

   • Inability to settle in a crate, playpen, or when left alone

   • Crying or barking for 30 minutes or longer

   • Signs of distress regardless of being confined or loose in the home

   Puppies with separation anxiety aren’t just misbehaving—they’re having a stress response to confinement and isolation, often rooted in fear of abandonment or lack of coping skills.

   👉 What to do:
   Help your puppy feel safe being alone by training them to relax in the crate while you're nearby, then gradually increasing the time and distance of your absences. Use gradual desensitization and positive associations—like special treats or calming toys—to build comfort and confidence. Never force crate time or punish anxious behavior, as this can worsen the fear. For more serious cases, consult a certified dog trainer who specializes in puppy separation anxiety.

While it’s totally normal for puppies to fuss a little when they’re first learning to be alone or spend time in a crate, if the crying goes on for a long time—or gets more intense instead of better—it could be a sign that something deeper is going on.

If you’ve already made sure your puppy’s basic needs are met—like food, potty breaks, playtime, and comfort—but they still can’t settle during crate time or short separations, you may be seeing the early signs of puppy separation anxiety, not just normal adjustment fussiness.

Much like a panic attack in humans, separation anxiety can trigger intense emotional distress, making it nearly impossible for your puppy to calm down or self-soothe when confined or left alone. That can make crate training incredibly frustrating and even make simple things—like taking a shower or stepping out to grab the mail—feel stressful.

Spotting the Early Signs of Puppy Separation Anxiety 

An example of the distress calls and escape attempts of a puppy with separation anxiety.

If your puppy is struggling with separation anxiety, there are usually several early warning signs that show up during crate time or when they're left alone—even just for a few minutes.

These behaviors often seem mild at first, but over time, they can escalate into more serious issues if not addressed early on.

Here are some common signs to watch for:

• Hyper-Attachment/Velcro puppy: A velcro puppy might follow you from room to room (like all puppies do), but get distressed if they can’t see or follow you, even for a few moments, like when you are in the bathroom or taking out the trash.

• Loss of bladder or bowel control: An anxious puppy might urinate or defecate in their crate or playpen, or when left alone, even if they’re otherwise house-trained.

• Distress vocalizations: A distressed puppy may whine, cry, bark, or howl nonstop while confined to a crate or left alone. In more severe cases, the vocalizations may escalate into frantic, high-pitched screaming that can last for hours.

• Excessive shaking, panting, pacing, or drooling: Anxiety may cause your puppy to tremble uncontrollably, pant heavily, pace or circle, and/or drool excessively, sometimes soaking themselves in their own drool.

• Destructive behaviors: Puppies in distress may bite the crate bars, shred crate liners, dig furiously as if trying to escape a crate, or destroy nearby furniture or belongings if left to roam free.

• Escape artists: If a puppy is pushed past their tolerance for frustration, they may experience an adrenaline surge and take extreme actions to reunite with their guardian—such as breaking out of a crate, jumping out a window, chewing through a door, or leaping over a baby gate or fence

• Anxious body language: Watch for signs like a furrowed brow, pinned-back ears, tucked tail, or “whale eyes” (where the whites of the eyes are visible)—all indicators of acute stress.

Symptoms generally appear immediately or within the first few minutes of being confined or left alone, and if left unresolved, may persist for hours on end (or all night) until your puppy is released from confinement or reunited with you.

Why Your Puppy Cries in a Crate or When You Leave the Room: Understanding Pack Instincts and Separation Anxiety

Staying close to you and watching your every move is completely natural for a puppy—after all, puppies are pack animals. In the wild, pack members feel safest when they’re together, and baby animals instinctively follow their caregivers to stay protected and secure.

Now that you’re your puppy’s primary caregiver, they see you as their pack. That’s why it’s common for puppies to follow you from room to room, sleep at your feet, and become distressed if they can’t keep you in sight or follow you.

However, when you confine your puppy to a crate or playpen and leave the room or the house, that separation can feel unnatural and terrifying. Your puppy may panic when they can’t see or follow you, leading to distress vocalizations like whining, crying, barking, or howling for hours—especially if they feel trapped and isolated.

In many cases, puppies with early signs of separation anxiety may also engage in destructive behaviors like chewing, biting, digging at the crate, or trying to escape from exit points around the home. These aren’t signs of disobedience—they’re emotional responses to fear and frustration.

It’s essential to understand: your puppy isn’t being difficult—they’re scared, confused, and overwhelmed.

Common Triggers for Puppy Separation Anxiety

• First separation from littermates: The transition to a new home is a major life event. It’s often the first time a puppy has been separated from their mother and littermates—an overwhelming experience for many.

• Crate confinement or being left alone: Puppies who have never been in a crate or introduced to alone time before may feel confused and frustrated. Even closing the bathroom door behind you can be upsetting for some pups.

• Sudden changes or isolation: A big move, a change in routine, or extended periods of alone time (such as when you return to work) can make your puppy feel insecure and abandoned.

• Hyper-attachment: Puppies who receive constant attention and physical closeness without breaks may never get the chance to develop the confidence to be alone. As a result, even short separations can feel unbearable.

How Long to Leave a Puppy Crying in the Crate and When to Intervene

How long you leave a puppy crying in their crate—or alone in general—depends on the intensity and duration of the crying. Not all vocalizations are signs of distress; some are just part of your puppy settling in.

Here’s how to tell the difference and respond appropriately:

Ignore Short, Low-Level Whining

Sometimes, puppies (aka your baby pack animal) emit contact calls to check if you're nearby. If the whining is soft, low-level, and fades within a minute or two, no intervention is usually necessary.

To help them settle, stay in the same room—within sight but not engaging. This way, your puppy feels reassured by your presence without being rewarded for whining.

🐾 Crate Training Tip:
In the first few days of crate training, place the crate in your bedroom at night and in a visible spot near you during the day. Being close to you helps your puppy feel safe and settle more easily during scheduled crate time.

Comfort When Distress Is Real

If your puppy’s cries escalate into howling or become high-pitched, frantic, or prolonged like they’re screaming—and last more than 5–10 minutes, it’s a sign your puppy is overwhelmed.

In these cases, it’s okay to comfort them. Responding to genuine distress won’t “spoil” your puppy; instead, it builds trust and helps prevent long-term fear or resistance to confinement.

That said, avoid letting your puppy out of the crate right away. Instead, sit quietly next to the crate or playpen without interacting. Avoid eye contact and talking—just let your calm presence offer reassurance until they begin to settle.

Once your puppy calms down, you can let them out of the crate for a short break. This teaches them that calm behavior—not crying—leads to getting what they want.

After the break, return them to the crate and sit nearby again until they settle. Repeat this process up to five times, or until your puppy goes into the crate calmly with no fuss.

For a step-by-step breakdown, check out the steps to Decompression Training—our gentle, stress-free approach to crate training—at the end of this post. 🐾

Should I Let My Puppy Out of the Crate and Stop Crate Training Altogether?

It’s tempting to give in when your puppy cries in the crate, especially if the crying lasts for hours or causes stress for you, your family, or your neighbors.

But letting your puppy out every time they whine can unintentionally reinforce the behavior, teaching them that crying is the quickest way to get what they want.

While it's normal to question whether crate training is the right choice, especially during tough moments, quitting too soon can create bigger problems down the road:

• Without gradually teaching your puppy to feel safe and confident on their own, you risk raising an adult dog with separation anxiety—a far more challenging behavior issue to solve.

• Puppies given too much unsupervised freedom too soon often develop undesirable behaviors like chewing on furniture, potty accidents, or nuisance barking tendencies.

Ultimately, helping your puppy learn to tolerate short separations by relaxing and resting in their crate (or another form of confinement like a playpen) is essential for raising a well-behaved, independent adult dog. The key is to use a gentle, positive approach to crate training—one that fits into your daily routine while honoring your puppy’s emotional development.

Supporting Your Puppy’s Emotional Development

Understanding your puppy’s natural desire to stay close to their “pack” is key to helping them feel more secure. Your goal isn’t to eliminate this instinct—but to teach them how to feel safe and calm, even when you’re not right beside them.

That’s where gentle and positive crate training comes in. When introduced gradually and paired with enrichment, the crate becomes a safe space where your puppy can rest, self-soothe, and learn that being alone doesn’t have to be scary.

It’s also important to:

• Introduce crate time and alone time slowly, starting with short periods where you can stay nearby and in sight.

• Avoid leaving your puppy alone for too long, especially during the early stages of adjustment. If you can’t be with them, perhaps a friend, neighbor, or pet sitter can stop by to check on them or look after them.

• Use calming activities and enrichment (like food-stuffed toys or chews) to help your puppy associate crate time and separation with positive experiences. This teaches a puppy to self-entertain when you can’t spend time with them.

With the right approach, you can turn separation into a skill—one your puppy will carry with them for life. That’s why early crate training, paired with playpen training, plays a crucial role in their emotional development.

Crate and Playpen Training: Creating Safe, Calm Spaces for Your Puppy

Crate and playpen training—when done right—isn’t just about confinement. It’s about creating a safe, comforting space where your puppy can relax, build independence, and learn how to self-soothe when you can’t give them your full attention.

Used properly, a crate can become your puppy’s favorite place to rest. Confining your puppy at night, during meals, or for naps helps teach them the crate is a cozy, undisturbed spot to relax, eat, or enjoy a quiet chew—while slowly helping them get used to being alone for short periods.

During the day, a playpen is especially helpful when your puppy is awake and full of energy, but you’re busy working, cooking, or just need a break. It keeps them safe and out of trouble, while gently encouraging them to settle, play independently, and build confidence in being on their own.

How to Set Your Puppy Up for Crate and Playpen Success

• Start slow and go at your puppy’s pace. Introduce the crate and playpen gradually, without pressure or force. Let your puppy explore and sniff these spaces on their own terms, so they don’t feel trapped or anxious.

• Build positive associations. Feed meals, offer enrichment toys, or give long-lasting chews inside the crate or playpen. This helps your puppy connect those spaces with comfort, fun, and rewarding experiences.

• Make it cozy and comforting. Add soft bedding (if safe), a snuggly stuffed animal, or calming items like a worn t-shirt that smells like you or a heartbeat toy to help your puppy feel more secure.

With consistency and a gentle approach, your puppy will begin to see the crate as a calm place to nap or eat, and the playpen as a fun, engaging spot to explore, chew, and play safely—even when you’re not right by their side.

Best Places to Put Your Puppy’s Crate or Playpen to Prevent Separation Anxiety

When it comes to crate training your puppy, choosing the right location for their crate is important to ensure their comfort and your peace of mind.

Nightime Crate Placement

The best place to put the crate overnight is in your bedroom, near the head of the bed. You can even place the crate on top of a chair so your puppy can see you and hear you breathe at night, if they are particularly distressed.

Here’s why this setup works effectively for both you and your puppy:

1. Proximity for Potty Breaks

Placing the crate in your bedroom allows you to hear your puppy if they need a potty break during the night. Puppies have small bladders and may need to go out several times, especially during their early months. Being nearby ensures you can respond promptly to their needs.

2. Providing Comfort and Security

Newly separated from their mother and littermates, puppies are not accustomed to being alone. Puppies are babies; they need to feel safe. Having their crate next to your bed can provide that sense of security. If your puppy wakes up, your presence will help calm them down.

3. Easy Reassurance

If your puppy cries and you’re confident it’s not for a bathroom break (for instance, if they’ve just been out or have access to pee pads), you can easily reach down and place your hand on the door of the crate to comfort them. This reassurance can help soothe their anxiety without necessarily letting them out of the crate, reinforcing that it is a safe space.

4. Gradual Transition

If your ultimate goal is for your puppy to sleep in a different location, you can gradually move the crate to that area once they are house-trained and more comfortable being alone. This transition can help them adapt to their new sleeping arrangement while still feeling secure.

Daytime Crate & Playpen Placement

During the day, place your puppy’s crate or playpen in a common area where you spend time—such as the living room, kitchen, or home office.

This allows your puppy to nap in their crate or play safely in their pen while still being near you. Staying close to “the pack” helps them feel secure and builds positive associations with confinement.

Not sure which to use and when?
Use the crate for naps or overnight sleep when your puppy is tired and needs a quiet, cozy space to rest. Reserve the playpen for daytime use when your puppy is alert and playful, but you’re busy and can’t supervise them directly. It keeps them safely contained while still feeling like part of the family.

How to Stop a Puppy from Crying and Help Them Settle Down in a Crate

Watch a Bernedoodle puppy with separation anxiety learn to relax in his crate through gentle, specialized training designed to build comfort and confidence.

Puppy separation anxiety is very common, especially in those early days of adjustment. That’s why it’s so important to know how to respond with patience, empathy, and a clear plan.

While some “old school” advice still recommends letting puppies “cry it out,” this method often backfires. Instead of learning to self-soothe, many puppies become more anxious, distressed, and mistrustful of confinement.

The good news? With the right approach, puppies can learn to feel calm, safe, and secure when confined or left alone.

At Dog Savvy, we use a gentle, effective method of crate training called Decompression Training—a compassionate way to teach your puppy how to settle and relax in a crate or playpen.

Decompression Training uses your calm, nearby presence to provide reassurance while teaching your puppy that relaxation leads to freedom.

By rewarding calm behavior with brief releases from the crate or pen, your puppy begins to associate confinement with safety, predictability, and positive outcomes. Over time, this builds confidence and emotional resilience—key skills for navigating the world.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Put Your Puppy in the Crate and Stay Nearby Until They Settle

It’s a common myth that letting a puppy "cry it out" will help them adjust. In reality, leaving an anxious puppy alone can heighten their distress.

Instead, stay within your puppy’s line of sight—even if that means sitting right next to the crate. Your calm presence reassures them that they’re not abandoned, even if you're not engaging directly.

2. Ignore the Crying—Without Leaving—and Wait for Your Puppy to Settle Down

While remaining close, avoid giving attention to vocalizing. That means no talking, petting, or prolonged eye contact—you can side-eye your puppy, but don’t maintain their gaze.

Your goal is to wait calmly and quietly for your puppy to stop crying and settle down. This helps them learn that calm, quiet behavior—not fussing—leads to getting what they want, which is to be released from the crate or playpen.

3. Reward Your Puppy with a Break for Calm Behavior

Once your puppy has fully settled (lying down, no signs of distress), reward them with a short break. Take them outside to potty, offer a drink, or let them stretch—just keep it low-key.

This teaches your puppy that settling down is what earns their freedom, and with repetition and consistent training, helps reduce anxiety over time.

4. Use Treats to Build Positive Associations

Make the crate a place your puppy wants to go. Toss a handful of treats inside every time they enter the crate (and consider feeding meals there).

You can also offer a long-lasting chew (like a bully stick) or an enrichment toy (like a stuffed Kong) to create strong, positive associations with crate time.

5. Repeat and Gradually Increase Crate Time

Practice several short crate sessions each day. Gently place your puppy in the crate and let them out once they’ve calmed down—even if it's just for a few seconds at first. Gradually increase the amount of time they spend inside.

With consistent repetition, your puppy will start to understand that the crate is a safe, predictable space. Over time, they’ll learn that being confined or alone doesn’t mean they’ve been abandoned—it just means they’re learning to self-soothe and relax on their own.

6. Gradually Increase Alone Time

Start with very brief absences—just a few seconds at first—and gradually increase the duration as your puppy becomes more comfortable. Always return before your puppy becomes overwhelmed to avoid reinforcing panic.

Troubleshooting Crate Training

If your puppy is struggling to calm down in a crate, here are some additional tips:

• Use a soft crate at night: Place a soft-sided carry crate on your bed at night so your puppy can feel close to you while still being safely contained. This setup offers comfort and security by allowing your puppy to see, hear, and smell you—helping ease their transition and reduce nighttime anxiety.

• Try a playpen during the day: Set up a playpen in an area where you spend most of your time and where your puppy can easily see you. This provides your puppy with a sense of security and a bit more room to move, play, and relax—helping reduce anxiety while still keeping them safely contained.

• Soothing strategies: Place a familiar object—like a t-shirt that smells like you—inside the crate to help comfort your puppy. You can also sit nearby and gently rest your hand on the side of the crate or playpen, allowing your puppy to sniff and touch your fingers. This small connection can be incredibly calming and reassuring as they settle.

Common Crate Training Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the crate as punishment: The crate should always be a positive space. Never use it to discipline your puppy.

• Expecting too much too soon: Some puppies need more time to adjust. Pushing too hard can make anxiety worse.

• Not addressing the root cause: If anxiety persists, it’s essential to seek help from a professional to ensure you’re addressing the problem effectively.

In Conclusion, Be Patient and Consistent

Placing your puppy’s crate in your bedroom at night and in a spot where they can see you during the day helps them feel secure while supporting potty training and crate acclimation.

Make the crate a positive place by feeding meals inside, offering special treats, and providing toys or chews they only get when crated. These small steps help your puppy build a positive association with being confined.

Crate training and learning to tolerate short separations take time—and every puppy is different. While many will start improving within a few weeks, others may need up to six weeks or more to fully settle into a routine.

Avoid pushing your puppy beyond their comfort zone. If needed, lean on friends, family, or neighbors for support, or plan to stay home with your puppy while they adjust. With patience and consistency, your puppy can grow into a confident, independent dog.

Puppy Keeps Crying in a Crate? Get Help from a Puppy Separation Anxiety Expert Now

If your puppy keeps whining and crying—despite your best efforts—don’t hesitate to seek professional support.

Separation anxiety can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

At Dog Savvy, we specialize in helping anxious puppies adjust to their new homes with confidence and calm.

Start with a 90-Minute Intro Session

Kick things off with a comprehensive virtual intro session where we’ll assess your puppy’s behavior, answer your questions, and map out the first steps of your customized training plan. This session is the foundation for long-term success.

Enroll in a Program

Our 6-Week Puppy Separation Anxiety Training Program is designed to set you and your puppy up for lasting success, with:

• A customized training plan tailored to your puppy’s unique needs

• One-on-one coaching with a certified puppy separation anxiety specialist

• Unlimited support and guidance until your puppy feels safe and secure being alone

Click the link below to book your intro session and start seeing positive changes today!

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👉 Want to learn more?

Read our blog posts: How to Teach a Dog to Settle Down, Understanding Dog Separation: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions, Dog Separation Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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About the Author

Alexandra Bassett is the lead dog trainer and behavior consultant at Dog Savvy, a private dog and puppy training company specializing in game-based dog training and behavior modification solutions for issues such as dog separation anxiety, leash reactivity, excessive barking, and aggression.

She is certified as Knowledge Assessed by the Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA) and is available for online dog training sessions via Zoom.

To discuss your dog or puppy’s behavior with Alexandra and start training your puppy to settle down in a crate today, book an introductory session using the link below.