The Great Crate Mutiny: When Your Frenchie Decides Rules Are Optional

Alright, fellow Frenchie parents, let's talk about the absolute nightmare that is crate training regression. If you currently have a six-month to eighteen-month-old low-rider gremlin who previously considered their crate a five-star hotel, but now treats it like a maximum-security prison, you are not alone.

Barnaby, my chief snack dispenser and certified chunky potato, went through his rebellion phase right around nine months. Up until that point, he willingly marched into his little den, ready to be rewarded with a kiss and a nap. Then, one Tuesday, I asked him to "go to bed," and he looked at me like I had just tried to sell his favorite squeaky toy on the black market.

He decided that instead of sleeping, he would stage a full-scale protest, involving a truly spectacular screaming fit usually reserved for when I take the remote control away. He then proceeded to dismantle the comfy orthopedic bed I bought him (the one that cost more than my first car payment) in a fit of rage only a dramatic land seal can manage. It was less "den training" and more "WWE wrestling match with a disgruntled potato."

The Teenager Phase: Testing the Limits

The absolute worst part of the Frenchie rebellion is that it feels personal. You spend months building positive associations, giving them the best chew toys, and reinforcing that their crate is a safe space. Then suddenly, your squishy-faced overlord decides they’re too mature for rules.

Welcome to adolescence! This is the phase where your little alien gargoyle realizes they have options, and they want to test every single one of your boundaries. They understand the "crate rule," they just want to see if this is the day you break. If you give in even once—say, by letting them out because their whining sounds suspiciously like a human infant—you just taught your genius potato that protest works.

We also have the issue of the "Second Fear Period." Around 6 to 14 months, your Frenchie might suddenly become scared of things that never bothered them before. Maybe a shadow falls differently, or the neighbor’s trash truck rumbles by while they are in the crate, and suddenly, they associate that scary noise with confinement. It only takes one bad experience for a previously crate-loving dog to decide, "Nope. I hate it here."

Is It Attitude, or Is It Pain?

Before we declare your Frenchie a CEO of Chaos who simply needs a timeout, we have to rule out one very serious, Frenchie-specific concern: physical discomfort.

These dogs are built like furry bricks with surprisingly delicate spines. They are extremely prone to back problems, including IVDD. If your Frenchie suddenly hates the crate—especially if they whine when settling down, shift uncomfortably, or are reluctant to jump up before being crated—you need a vet check immediately. Pain makes the crate a miserable experience, and we need to eliminate medical issues before we blame bad manners.

Assuming your veterinarian gives the all-clear, the issue is likely rooted in energy and boredom. You can't stick an under-exercised gremlin into a small box and expect peace. If your potato hasn't had a proper brain game or a solid walk (or at least a robust wrestling match with the nearest throw pillow) before crating, they are going to erupt. They are bored, they are wired, and they have the destructive power of a tiny bulldozer.

Back to Basics: Reintroducing the Crate as a High-Value Destination

When regression hits, the only solution is to swallow your pride and treat your adult dog like a brand-new puppy. We are starting over, and the crate needs to be the highest-paying gig in town.

The first step is checking comfort. Is the crate the right size (large enough to stand, turn, and sprawl)? Barnaby's first crate was a MidWest iCrate, and it worked well, but we upgraded his bed to something more substantial, like a soft, supportive K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Pad, to make sure he was cozy and pain-free.

Next, we need the high-value stuff. Forget their boring kibble. We are talking about treats they only see inside the crate. I’m talking about frozen, peanut-butter-stuffed KONG Classic toys, or a scattering of super stinky, high-reward treats like Zuke's Mini Naturals. They need to realize that the crate is where the literal gold lives.

The Strict No-Wiggle Rule

Consistency is your new religion. If your furry brick starts throwing a tantrum—whining, barking, pawing at the door—you absolutely cannot let them out while they are actively protesting. That teaches them that their drama works.

Instead, wait them out. Wait for that precious, three-second gap of quiet—even if it's just a pause between whines—and that is when you open the door. You are rewarding quiet, not the noise.

Start with tiny, supervised sessions again. Ask them to go in, give them the high-value chew, close the door, and then walk away for literally 60 seconds. Come back before they finish the chew, open the door calmly, and let them out. Gradually increase the time. We are aiming for stress-free acceptance, not forced compliance. If you hear them crunching on that high-value bone, you know they are relaxed.

Above all, never, ever use the crate as punishment. If you yell at your dog and then shove them in the crate, you’ve just wrecked months of positive association work. The crate must remain their safe den—the place they go to escape the chaos of being a Frenchie. If you stay consistent, even the most rebellious gremlin will eventually realize that protesting is simply too much effort, and napping is a much more worthy endeavor for a potato.

Stay Weird,
Sophie & Barnaby 🐾

P.S. Want to turn your potato into a fashion icon? Check out our latest collection at Frenchie Vault.

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