How to Crate Train a Puppy

If you&#;re bringing home a new puppy, you may want to consider crate training. By crate training your puppy, you&#;ll be giving them a cozy place to nap and take breaks&#;which a growing pup needs to do. It can help you house train your puppy and teach your new friend how to behave appropriately, and during storms or times when your pup may feel stressed, their crate can become a safe space where they can retreat and feel comfortable.

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However, it&#;s important to note that crating should never be misused. It should never be used as punishment or for very long periods of time. Your puppy should come to see their crate as a safe and happy little home.

What Are the Benefits of Crate Training?

A crate can be a big help while house training a puppy. That&#;s because dogs typically don&#;t like to relieve themselves where they sleep. This means that when they do feel the urge to go, it&#;s very likely they&#;ll vocalize to let you know a potty break is needed, rather than soiling the crate.

Crate training can also be useful for preventing unwanted behaviors. For instance, if your puppy is chewing on the furniture, crating can be used for short periods of time when they can&#;t be supervised. This prevents unwanted behaviors from becoming habits.

In addition, if you use a portable dog crate, it can come in handy when you need to take your puppy somewhere, like the veterinarian&#;s office. Your puppy will be used to the crate and should jump right in. You can also bring the crate along if you stay at a hotel or friend&#;s house. It gives your puppy a private &#;room&#; to sleep in where they will be comfy, safe, and prevented from getting into potentially troublesome behaviors.

How Long Can I Keep My Puppy in the Crate?

The amount of time you can safely leave your puppy in the crate depends on their age. You should ask your veterinarian for specific guidelines, but these timeframes can be used as a rule of thumb:

Another common recommendation is one hour of crate time for each month of age.

In any case, you should avoid crating your puppy for long periods of time. This goes for adult dogs too. If you need to use a dog crate during the 8 or more hours you&#;re at work, go home for a midday visit or consider hiring a dog walker.

Puppies can get into and sometimes eat many things they shouldn&#;t. Learn more about how pet insurance could help you cover your pet&#;s eligible veterinary care expenses.

10 Puppy Crate Training Tips

Ready to crate train your new best friend? Keep these crate training tips in mind.

1. Choose a sturdy crate

   You can buy a wire, plastic, or mesh crate for your puppy online or at a pet supply store. They each have different pros and cons, so pick one that meets your needs.

   • WIRE CRATES:

     These are typically collapsible when not in use and are easy to store or bring along when you travel with your puppy. Their design allows for great ventilation, but they can also be covered with a blanket or towel for added privacy. There are also a variety of crate covers available that provide a nice, secure fit around the crate.

   • MESH CRATES:

     Mesh crates are lightweight and can offer a lot of privacy but are not as durable or reliable as wire versions. Puppies and dogs have been known to chew through the mesh sides.

   • PLASTIC CRATES:

     Crates made of plastic (sometimes referred to as airline crates) can feel very den-like and provide a space that feels secure to your puppy. They offer more privacy than a wire crate but don&#;t forget to remove your puppy&#;s collar before they are left alone in their crate.

   No matter which type of crate you choose, it&#;s essential that you get the correct size. For smaller breed dogs, such as Chihuahuas or Pugs, who don&#;t have such a dramatic change in size between puppyhood and adulthood, you may be able to keep the same crate the entire time. However, with larger dog breeds, such as Golden Retrievers or Saint Bernards, whose size will increase drastically, you may need to start out with a smaller puppy crate and then transition to an adult crate after a few months. Wire crate designs often include an extra divider panel that you can use to adjust the space that&#;s available within the crate. Then, as the puppy grows, you can move the position of this panel to create more space. With a crate like this, you&#;ll only need to purchase one, since you can adjust the space available as your puppy grows.

   The size of the crate should be large enough for the puppy to stand, lie down comfortably, and turn around. If the crate is too big, you may increase the chances of the puppy having an accident because they&#;ll be able to move away from the soiled area and rest comfortably in a clean area.

2. Place it in a central room

   In many cases, it&#;s a good idea to set the crate up in an area where you and your family tend to spend time, like the kitchen or a family room, so being crated doesn&#;t feel like an isolating experience for your puppy. Occasionally, however, a more private location will be best, especially if there&#;s a lot of family activity that makes it hard for the puppy to nap peacefully.

3. Make it cozy

   Put a warm blanket, small pillow, and maybe a favorite dog toy or chew inside the crate. You can also add a shirt you&#;ve worn so your puppy can curl up with something that has your scent. Keep in mind, however, if you will be leaving your puppy alone in their crate, particularly if you won&#;t be home, it&#;s best not to leave anything in the crate that they could accidentally ingest. For instance, if your puppy is a tough chewer, stuffed toys may not be the best idea, since they could rip up the toy and eat the stuffing.

4. Coax your puppy in

   Scatter bits of food or small treats around the front of the crate as well as inside it. Encourage your puppy to go in and get the goodies. It&#;s OK if they won&#;t go inside at first. Be patient and keep at it. Never force your puppy to go into their crate as this could cause them to dislike it.

5. Use the crate for mealtimes

   If your puppy is having trouble getting used to the crate, you can try serving meals in it. Begin by placing the food bowl just outside the crate and gradually move it in, finally placing it all the way at the back of the crate. Keep the crate door open at first. Once your puppy is relaxed about going all the way in and eating the meal, you can begin closing the door. You can also hide a few treats in the crate as a surprise and let your puppy discover them as they&#;re exploring.

6. Use a cue word

   Once your puppy is readily walking into the crate, you can introduce a cue (command), like "Kennel up" or "Go to bed," saying it just before they step inside. Once inside the crate, toss in a treat to reward this behavior. If you live in a multi-person household and other people are helping to train the puppy, be sure they are also using the same cue words.

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7. Stay with your puppy

   When you first start crate training, stay in the room so your puppy won&#;t associate the crate with you going away. Once your puppy is comfortable with the crate, you can begin leaving them alone for short periods of time.

8. Extend crate time gradually

   Only leave your puppy in the crate for a few minutes at first, and then slowly increase the time. If your puppy whines, you may have increased the time too quickly. Be sure to wait until they stop whining before opening the door, so they won&#;t learn that whining gets you to let them out.

   When it is time to let your puppy out of their crate, you may notice that they are incredibly excited, perhaps leading them to jump or nibble on you. It can be helpful to work on your puppy&#;s patience by teaching them &#;wait&#; or &#;stay.&#; Before you open their crate door, use your cue word to encourage them to stay put, even when the door is opened. You can then use another cue word such as &#;OK,&#; &#;free,&#; or &#;break,&#; to signal that they&#;re allowed to exit their crate. Teaching them to not bolt out the second a door is open can be incredibly helpful, especially since this method can also be used to teach them not to run out the front door of your house or jump out a car door.

9. Avoid scolding

   If your puppy whines or barks in the crate, avoid scolding, as this will only add to his stress. Instead, do your best to make him feel comfortable in the crate. For instance, you can place him in it when he&#;s already tired; give him a yummy chew or food puzzle to keep him content; or stay close to the crate for a little while, until you see the puppy relax. Whining in the middle of the night might mean your puppy needs to pee. You can take them out to go to the bathroom, but remain low-key and avoid play so that it&#;s easier for them to settle back into the crate afterwards.

10. Get plenty of exercise

    The more energy your puppy has stored up, the more frustrating the crate training process can be. If you tucker your pal out by taking them for a walk or playing a game of fetch, your puppy may not mind being left alone in the crate for a few hours to sleep.

In most cases, puppies adjust to crate training fairly easily. If you can&#;t seem to get your puppy comfortable in the crate, a professional trainer can provide helpful tips. If you suspect there are medical concerns that are making the process of crate training more difficult, consult with your veterinarian.

If you adopt an adult dog from a shelter, there&#;s a possibility they may have never been crate trained before. If this is the case, these same puppy tips could help you to crate train a full-grown dog as well.

If you need additional assistance, please don&#;t hesitate to reach out to a professional trainer. You can reference the Behavioral Help for Your Pet webpage from our partners at the ASPCA® to determine what type of trainer may be best for you and your pet.

Reminder: Treats should not make up more than 10% of a pet&#;s caloric intake. Also, stomach upset may occur in pets who do not tolerate dietary changes well.

An ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance plan can help you with eligible costs for covered conditions like surgery expenses for accidents and help provide peace of mind that your pet can receive the care they need. Check out our online resources to learn more about your insurance options and get a free quote today. The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.

The training process

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training: The crate should always be associated with something pleasant and training should take place in a series of small steps. Don't go too fast.

Step 1: Introduce your dog to the crate

Place the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room. Put a soft blanket or bed in the crate. Take the door off or keep it propped open and let the dog explore the crate at their leisure. Some dogs will be naturally curious and start sleeping in the crate right away. If yours isn't one of them:

• Bring them over to the crate and talk to them in a happy tone of voice. Make sure the crate door is open and secured so that it won't hit your dog and frighten them.
• Encourage your dog to enter the crate by dropping some small food treats nearby, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate. If they refuse to go all the way in at first, that's OK; don't force them to enter.
• Continue tossing treats into the crate until your dog will walk calmly all the way into the crate to get the food. If they aren&#;t interested in treats, try tossing a favorite toy in the crate. This step may take a few minutes or as long as several days.

Step 2: Feed your dog meals in the crate

After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding them their regular meals near the crate. This will create a pleasant association with the crate.

• If your dog is readily entering the crate when you begin Step 2, place the food dish or interactive puzzle toy stuffed with food all the way at the back of the crate.
• If they remain reluctant to enter, put the dish only as far inside as they will readily go without becoming fearful or anxious. Each time you feed them, place the dish a little further back in the crate.
• Once your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat their meal, you can close the door while they&#;re eating. The first time you do this, open the door as soon as they finish their meal. With each successive feeding, leave the door closed a few minutes longer, until they&#;re staying in the crate for 10 minutes or so after eating.
• If they begin to whine to be let out, you may have increased the length of time too quickly. Next time, try leaving them in the crate for a shorter time period.

Step 3: Practice with longer crating periods

After your dog is eating their regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine them there for short periods of time while you're home.

• Call them over to the crate and give them a treat.
• Give them a voice cue to enter, such as "crate." Encourage them by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand.
• After your dog enters the crate, praise them, give them the treat and close the door.
• Sit quietly near the crate for five to 10 minutes and then go into another room for a few minutes. Return, sit quietly again for a short time and then let them out.
• Repeat this process several times a day, gradually increasing the length of time you leave them in the crate and the length of time you're out of sight.
• Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you mostly out of sight, you can begin leaving them crated when you're gone for short time periods and/or letting them sleep there at night. This may take several days or weeks.

Step 4, Part A: Crate your dog when you leave

After your dog can spend about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving them crated for short periods when you leave the house.

• Put them in the crate using your regular command and a treat. You might also want to leave them with a few safe toys in the crate.
• Vary the moment during your "getting ready to leave" routine that you put your dog in the crate. Although they shouldn't be crated for a long time before you leave, you can crate them anywhere from five to 20 minutes prior to leaving.
• Don't make your departures emotional and prolonged&#;they should be matter-of-fact. Praise your dog briefly, give them a treat for entering the crate and then leave quietly.

When you return home, don't reward your dog for excited behavior by responding to them in an enthusiastic way. Keep arrivals low-key to avoid increasing their anxiety over when you will return. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you're home so they don't associate crating with being left alone.

Step 4, Part B: Crate your dog at night

Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat. Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when they whine to be let outside. Older dogs should also initially be kept nearby so they don't associate the crate with social isolation.

Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with the crate near you, you can begin to gradually move it to the location you prefer, although time spent with your dog&#;even sleep time&#;is a chance to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

Potential problems

Whining: If your dog whines or cries while in the crate at night, it may be difficult to decide whether they&#;re whining to be let out of the crate, or whether they need to be let outside to eliminate. If you've followed the training procedures outlined above, then your dog hasn't been rewarded for whining in the past by being released from their crate. If that is the case, try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, they'll probably stop whining soon. Never punish them for whining.

If the whining continues after you've ignored them for several minutes, use the phrase they associate with going outside to eliminate. If they respond and become excited, take them outside. This should be a trip with a purpose, not play time. Stand in one spot in your yard where they normally go to the bathroom and wait. If you're convinced that your dog doesn't need to eliminate, the best response is to ignore them until they stop whining. If you've progressed gradually through the training steps and haven't done too much too fast, you'll be less likely to encounter this problem. If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to start the crate training process over again.

Separation anxiety: Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety won't solve the problem. A crate may prevent your dog from being destructive, but they may get injured in an attempt to escape. Separation anxiety problems can only be resolved with counterconditioning and desensitization procedures. You may want to consult a professional animal-behavior specialist for help. 

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