Nashville's Trusted Dog Trainer
DogMoore's professional crate training program in Nashville, TN teaches your dog to love their crate as a safe, comfortable space. Proper crate training prevents destructive behavior, aids in house training, reduces anxiety, and gives your dog a place to decompress — all while making your life easier.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Matthew. His training and advice have had a profound impact on my six-year-old bully. She now walks on a leash without pulling me down and interacts with strangers in a friendly manner. Her behavior has undergone a significant transformation. Matthew Moore has successfully debunked the myth that you can't teach an old dog new tricks!
So thankful for Matt and Tarin at DogMoore. I was overwhelmed trying to learn how to train my first 'big dog' and they moved mountains. We did a 6 week training course and it was perfect! She has all her basic commands down and turned into an amazing dog that listens! When I am out walking her or take her places people are amazed at how well behaved she is.
I did an e-collar/off-leash training class with DogMoore and it was amazing! I had a very defiant and mischievous 1 year old border collie mix who is now an amazing listener. He can run and play without the restrictions of a leash now that I know he won't ever be going into the street.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Matthew. His training and advice have had a profound impact on my six-year-old bully. She now walks on a leash without pulling me down and interacts with strangers in a friendly manner. Her behavior has undergone a significant transformation. Matthew Moore has successfully debunked the myth that you can't teach an old dog new tricks!
So thankful for Matt and Tarin at DogMoore. I was overwhelmed trying to learn how to train my first 'big dog' and they moved mountains. We did a 6 week training course and it was perfect! She has all her basic commands down and turned into an amazing dog that listens! When I am out walking her or take her places people are amazed at how well behaved she is.
I did an e-collar/off-leash training class with DogMoore and it was amazing! I had a very defiant and mischievous 1 year old border collie mix who is now an amazing listener. He can run and play without the restrictions of a leash now that I know he won't ever be going into the street.
A crate is not a cage — it's a den. When introduced properly, a crate becomes your dog's favorite place in the house. Dogs are natural den animals, and a properly sized, comfortable crate satisfies their instinct to have a secure, enclosed space of their own. At DogMoore, we help Nashville, TN dog owners transform their dog's relationship with their crate from resistance to enthusiasm.
Crate training is the foundation of multiple training goals. It's the most effective tool for house training because dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area. It prevents destructive behavior when you can't supervise — saving your furniture, shoes, and sanity. It provides a safe space for anxious dogs to decompress during stressful situations like thunderstorms, fireworks, or house guests. And it makes travel, vet visits, and emergencies dramatically less stressful for everyone.
The most common mistake we see in Nashville and Nashville, TN is using the crate as punishment. When a crate is associated with negative experiences — being locked up when the dog misbehaves, being crated for excessive hours, or being forced into the crate — dogs develop crate aversion or anxiety. Our program builds positive associations from the ground up, so your dog chooses to go to their crate voluntarily.
Matthew Moore has helped hundreds of dogs across Nashville, Spring Hill, Pulaski, and surrounding areas develop a healthy, positive relationship with their crate. Whether you have a puppy that needs proper crate introduction, an adult dog that panics in the crate, or a rescue with unknown crate history, we have a proven approach that works.
Our crate training program follows a systematic, positive approach that builds your dog's comfort level gradually — never forcing them past their threshold.
Proper setup: We start by selecting the right crate size, type, and location. The crate should be just large enough for your dog to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. We help you choose between wire, plastic, and soft-sided options based on your dog's temperament and your household setup.
Positive introduction: Your dog's first experiences with the crate set the tone for their entire relationship with it. We use treats, meals, and high-value chews to create powerful positive associations. The door stays open initially — your dog discovers that good things happen inside the crate.
Graduated duration: We build crate time gradually, starting with seconds and working up to hours. At no point do we rush this process. If your dog shows stress at any stage, we back up and reinforce the previous level before moving forward.
Departure conditioning: For dogs with separation anxiety or crate anxiety, we implement specific desensitization protocols that break the association between crating and being left alone. This is often the most critical step for dogs that panic in the crate.
Maintenance routine: Once your dog is crate-comfortable, we establish a daily routine that includes crate time for rest, meals, and high-value activities. This maintains the positive association and prevents regression.
Our crate training program is available as a standalone service or integrated into any of our other training programs. We serve families throughout Nashville, Spring Hill, Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, and Maury County.
Many dogs we work with in Nashville already have negative associations with the crate. Maybe they whine for hours. Maybe they panic and try to escape. Maybe they eliminate in the crate despite being house trained otherwise. Each of these problems has a specific cause and a specific solution.
Whining and barking in the crate: This is usually caused by insufficient positive conditioning or premature duration increases. We rebuild the positive association from scratch and establish clear criteria for when the dog earns release from the crate.
Crate anxiety or panic: Dogs that drool, pant, shake, or attempt to break out of the crate are experiencing genuine anxiety — not stubbornness. Our desensitization protocol gradually reduces anxiety through counter-conditioning, teaching the dog to associate the crate with relaxation rather than fear.
Eliminating in the crate: This is usually a sizing issue (crate too large), a schedule issue (dog left too long), or a medical issue (urinary tract infection, digestive problems). We diagnose the cause and implement the appropriate solution.
Resistance to entering: Dogs that refuse to enter the crate have usually been forced in at some point. We never push, lure with the door closing behind them, or physically place dogs in the crate. Instead, we make the crate so rewarding that entering becomes the dog's choice.
Matthew works with dogs of all ages and backgrounds, including rescues with unknown histories. Every dog can learn to love their crate — it just takes the right approach and patience.
We provide professional crate training to dog owners throughout the greater TN area.
Join hundreds of Nashville families who've built better relationships with their dogs through DogMoore. Your free consultation is the first step.
Serving Nashville, Spring Hill, Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, and surrounding areas
