Crate Training a Toy Fox Terrier in a Noisy Flat

Crate training works when the crate becomes a genuinely positive space — and for a dog living in a noisy city centre flat, that's a real challenge worth thinking through carefully. The right crate size and type matters more than most people realise, and so does the introduction approach. A Toy Fox Terrier at 8 months is past the peak socialization window but still very trainable — though terriers can build negative associations fast if rushed. A few quick questions: are you starting from scratch, or is there already some wariness around the crate? And is this primarily for home use, travel, or both?

That makes a lot of sense. Toy Fox Terriers are naturally high-alert dogs — sharp hearing, quick to react — so Midge is probably picking up every sound that comes through those walls. The good news is that a crate can genuinely become her quiet refuge, but the environment around it matters as much as the training. A few things I want to understand: where in the flat are you thinking of putting the crate — away from exterior walls, or is space limited? And does Midge have anywhere she currently retreats to when startled, like under furniture?

Behind the sofa tells you she's already seeking a den — that's actually a really positive sign. She understands the concept of a safe enclosed space; you're just formalising it. For a small terrier in a noisy environment, I'd strongly recommend pairing a wire crate with a dedicated sound-dampening cover rather than a fabric crate or uncovered wire. Fabric crates don't give the same structural den feeling, and bare wire does nothing to buffer noise. The cover makes a measurable difference to how much ambient sound reaches her inside. For Midge's size — Toy Fox Terriers are typically 4–6 kg — you want a small crate, around 61–76 cm length. The cover I'd point you to is the Frisco Plush Microfiber Dog Crate Cover. It's widely available on Amazon UK, fits standard wire crates in small sizes, and the thick microfiber construction genuinely cuts down on sound and light. It also has a roll-up door panel so she can see out when she wants to, which helps with the initial introduction — you don't want her feeling shut in the dark from day one.

Keep the door off entirely for the first week. Leave the crate in the corner with the cover on but the front panel rolled up, and put something that smells like you inside — an old jumper works well. Let Midge investigate on her own terms and scatter a few treats near and then just inside the entrance. Don't lure her all the way in yet. Once she's going in voluntarily, start feeding her meals just inside the entrance, then gradually move the bowl further back over several days. Only once she's relaxed eating fully inside do you start gently closing the door — initially for 30 seconds while you're right there, building slowly. With a noise-reactive terrier, never close the door during a loud episode outside. You want the crate associated with calm, not with confinement during stress.

Bedding inside is a good idea and won't reduce the cover's effect — the cover works on the outside, the bedding just adds to the comfort inside. For a small terrier like Midge, a low-sided flat mat rather than a bolster bed gives her the option to stretch out or curl up. Avoid anything too thick or heat-retentive in a flat that may already get warm. A thin fleece mat or a washable flat pad works well. The main thing is keeping the interior consistent so it always smells the same and feels familiar — that predictability is half the battle with a sound-sensitive dog.