How to Crate Train a Puppy

Creating a space where your puppy can feel comforted and at ease is a great step toward training your puppy. Since dogs are naturally den animals, they can have much less anxiety and stress when they are crate trained from a young age.

Crate training your puppy can have many benefits such as assisting with house training, creating a comforting place for your pet when they feel stressed, and assisting with behavioral issues your pet may be having. At Mighty Pet, it is important to us that your pet learns good behavior through positive reinforcement, and our training methods embody this value. Below is our guide for crate training your puppy!

Pick the Perfect Crate for a Puppy

In order to train your dog with a crate, you will need the proper crate for your puppy. The size of your crate does matter. The crate should be big enough for your puppy to get up and turn around, but if it’s any bigger than that, it could cause your puppy to soil in its crate.

An adjustable crate that your dog can grow into is a great option as it can help you keep up with the growth of your pup, giving them the exact space they need to thrive with crate training.

The Crate Training Process

Crate training is a process, and you definitely don’t want to go from no crate to your puppy being locked in a crate for hours at a time. There are steps you can take to make your dog comfortable in their kennel for longer periods of time, but you must start from the very beginning.

Step One: Let Your Dog Get Familiar With Their Crate

Make your puppy’s crate a comfy, cozy place for them to relax. To do this, add a soft dog bed and soft blankets to your puppy’s kennel. To get your dog interested in their crate, put a few of their favorite treats in it and near it and leave the door propped open or take it off, so it cannot frighten them.

Don’t try to put your puppy in the kennel, let them take interest in it on their own. This could happen within minutes or hours, but it can also take your dog days before they are comfortable enough to enter their kennel.

Step Two: Feed Your Dog In Their Crate

A great way to get your dog more familiar with its crate is to feed them in their crate! (If you need food recommendations, we’ve got you covered.) You don’t need to close the door of the crate while you do this, but allowing them to eat in their crate will give them a positive association with it.

Your dog may not be willing to go all the way into its crate to eat at first, so start out putting it as far into the kennel as your puppy is willing to go. You can slowly start feeding them farther into their kennel as they get more comfortable with it.

Step Three: Slowly Acclimate Your Dog to the Crate

When crate training your puppy, start out by locking them into their crate for short amounts of time. It’s good to start out with 10-15 minute periods, and when your dog can easily stay in their kennel for 30 minutes, you can venture to try longer periods of time. Make sure you are always using the same saying such as “crate,” “kennel,” or “house,” so your dog understands the cue for their crate.

If you’re going to be leaving your puppy in the kennel while you aren’t home, you may want to install a camera or recording device to see how they handle being kenneled. Young puppies will need to be let out every three to four hours, so they can relieve themselves.

Create a Puppy Crate Training Schedule

To help house train your puppy with crate training, be sure to stick to a schedule of letting your dog out of the crate and outside to relieve themselves every three to four hours until they are at least six months old. Young puppies cannot control their bladders or bowels longer than this. Eventually, your dog will be able to control its bladder and bowels more, and it can be on a better schedule that works for your lifestyle.

Crate Training a Puppy at Night

To crate train your puppy at night time, use a treat and your regular command. Especially for puppies, you will want to keep the crate in your bedroom or nearby while you sleep, so you can hear if your dog needs to be relieved in the middle of the night. As your dog gets older, you can move their crate, or even start to train your puppy to sleep outside of their crate in a bed near you at night.

Crate Training Tips

• Keep your dog “naked” while in their crate, as tags on their collar can become a hazard.
• Incorporate games into your puppy’s crate time. Some ideas for this could be giving them a puzzle toy when you give them food or treats in their kennel as well as playtime with their favorite toy.
• Never use your dog’s crate as punishment for negative behavior. The best way to use the crate is to put your pup in it to prevent negative behavior when you know it could happen. This tactic can help your dog know it’s time for them to rest and be calm in their kennel.
• Don’t leave your dog in a crate all day long. Dogs need human interaction and playtime every day or they can become anxious or depressed. A great way to reduce their kennel time is to have a dog sitter spend time with your puppy or enroll them in doggy daycare.
• If you don’t plan to use crate training long term, you can slowly graduate your dog to larger spaces in your home when they stop having any destructive habits and accidents.
• Don’t try to cure separation anxiety with crate training because your dog could injure themselves trying to escape. There are other tactics to work on separation anxiety and you may need a behavioral specialist to help you address the condition.
• Never shove, push, or force your dog into their crate as this can make them fear the crate in the future.
• Focus on making this a positive experience for your pup. The more positivity your dog associates with their crate, the more they will feel it is a safe place for them.

FAQ

How Long Does It Take To Crate Train a Puppy?

Crate training a puppy can be much easier than training an adult dog, but it can still take anywhere from days to months for your dog to get used to its crate. You can expect crate training to take you a minimum of two months.

Should I Lock My Puppy In His Crate At Night?

If your puppy has destructive behavior or accidents at night, putting them in their crate at night is a good idea. Having your dog sleep in their crate can especially help with getting their bladder and bowel habits under control at night since they are less likely to soil their crate.

What Do I Do When My Puppy is Crying in Crate At Night?

If your puppy is whining in their crate at night, first take them outside to make sure they do not need to relieve themselves. Put them back in their kennel, and if the whining ensues for several more minutes try letting them outside again. If the whining continues after this, it is best to ignore your dog’s whining until they stop.

Should I Leave Water in My Puppy’s Crate At Night?

It is best not to put water in the crate for your puppy at night. Water in your puppy’s crate can increase the chance of them having an accident at night, especially for puppies, because they can fill their bladder quickly.

Training your puppy can be a long and difficult process, but it greatly improves the quality of life for your dog as well as the bond and relationship you have with your pup. At Mighty Pet, we believe in the power of positive reinforcement. Our experienced dog trainers in Menominee, MI are ready to help you achieve your behavioral goals for your dog. To get started with our training, download your training checklist and fill out your registration form today!